Euphoria overdose: The pitfalls of happiness
Like traveling the length of a rainbow expecting to reach a pot of gold, everyone yearns to have a fulfilling day—but some stretch their abilities to its limit and go against all odds in search of happiness. And by “against all odds,” we mean meditating, listening to upbeat songs 24/7, and pasting a smile on their faces so often that their cheeks ache. Perhaps we ought to step back a little from all those corny quotes that encourage you to “unearth serenity like a long lost treasure” and maybe do just the opposite: don’t exert too much effort in pursuing joy.
Take it from psychiatrist Iris Mauss of University of Denver who conducted a study with other experts and discovered that focusing and striving to be cheerful can cause more harm than good. The reason behind this is because some people who seek happiness so often find themselves not being able to obtain it. Mauss says people who strive to achieve happiness set high standards that aren’t usually met, making them anxious and dissatisfied. It’s almost like unrequited love.
The myth according to Mauss is that if we want to be happy, we usually find it within ourselves and not in others. That’s why some people apply self-contentment methods like meditating and over-sleeping, which sometimes becomes a wrong practice. Frankly, this approach can leave people’s social lives on an extreme edge, when they should instead learn how to balance both their personal and social time.
If ever you did try (and we hope not) all the unimaginable and straining methods to be ecstatic, DLSU-D Student Wellness Center’s Dr. Ann Margaret T. Martin says, “Happiness is something that comes naturally.” So when you exert too much effort in attaining it, you’re basically bringing an imbalance to its “natural” sense. Martin believes that joy shouldn’t be chased, but something that should be experienced in the moment. Happiness, akin to love, can’t be hurried, and as that Colbie Caillat song goes, “You don’t have to try so hard” in achieving contentment.
