Happiness

Meaning

Can Money Buy Meaning in Life?

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, February 10 2021

Everyone asks about whether money can buy happiness, and research says that happiness increases with income up to a certain point (~$75,000/year is where monetary increases no longer reduce stress; ~$200,000/year is where there's no further impact on emotional state).  In a related question, people might ask whether money can buy meaning in life....

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Happiness

Why It's Difficult to Figure Out What Will Make You Happy

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, January 27 2021

Ahhh, happiness.  It's what people think the whole point of life is.  But happiness seems to be so evasive.  You don't always know what will make you happy, and even if you do then it seems so fleeting.  What is going on here?  Can you truly live happily ever after?  Can you buy happiness?  What even is happiness, and can you define it?  Once you d...

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Happiness

Don't FIND Happiness...CHOOSE Happiness

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, December 30 2020

A lot of people this time of year will be asking, "How do I find happiness?"  That's what people are really looking for: more happiness and fulfillment in their lives.  They're looking outside themselves and trying to find what will make them happy.  In doing so, they're missing a key part of the happiness formula where they can choose to make thei...

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Truth

Don't Confuse the Goal, Morals, and Happiness in Your Search for Meaning

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, September 16 2020

In my 30 years of studying psychology, philosophy, religion, and how the world works, one thing always bothered me: every system that exists to give you a comprehensive view of how life works or how you should live always lays it all out as one complete package without explaining how the concepts relate to each other.  For example, if you believe t...

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Emotions

Self-Loathing Is Never the Answer—Seek to Have a Positive Impact Instead

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, June 17 2020

There are plenty of times when you might feel so bad about the world that you might want to blame and hate someone for it.  There are plenty of things to be angry or sad about in the world if you look for them.  When it comes to broad issues without a specific perpetrator, though, you might begin to blame yourself as if you had some part in it.  Ma...

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The Meaning of Life

5 Incorrect Conclusions About the Meaning of Life

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, June 3 2020

Because the meaning of life has been asked by billions of people, dozens and dozens of conclusions have been drawn about what it is for them and for society. While meaning is personal and unique to each individual, many people have come to conclusions about what the meaning of life is for all humans or all life on Earth. The Meaning of Life: A guid...

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Happiness

7 Ways That You Might Be Holding Yourself Back in Life

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, April 29 2020

Everyone has asked, "What have I been doing wrong in my life?" at one point in time.  It's often hard to see the mistakes that you might be making since you are in the moment.  While it's hard to give general advice that's universally applicable, there are several common self-limiting activities that, based on probability, you’ll likely be partakin...

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Truth

10 Fundamental Truths That Everyone Would Be Happier if They Accepted

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, April 22 2020

From my high-view-count Quora post on the subject.  In no particular order:

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Happiness

How to Be Happy When Others Are Not

Nathanael Garrett Novosel, March 25 2020

When thinking about the world and the universe, many questions about how we fit in and how we should look at our lives start to spring up: You'll notice that these questions can be used to justify either opinion: you could argue that the universe is large->nothing I do matters->so who cares about life, or you could argue that the universe is large-...

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