[quote=Arraya][quote=davelj] And we have to recall that many folks SAY they’re happy because it’s the path of least resistance. In your example, AN, how many of these couples in your family that have been married for 30+ years (who say they are happy) would admit they were unhappy in front of other family members? Probably none. Maybe they all are happy; maybe they’re not. But just because they say so, doesn’t make it so. Plenty of people in groups (1) and (2) above tell folks they’re happy, after all, even though they’re not. So, boiling it all down, I’d say the most generous estimate is that perhaps 20% of all married couples are “happy” (although, admittedly, “happy” is a tough term to define – perhaps “content” is better), although the number could easily be half that.[/quote]
Now scratch out married and couples replace it with single and people. Same thing.[/quote]
Agreed. Humans are not good at (1) figuring out what’s going to make them content, and then (2) executing a plan based on the results. I *think* it’s largely because humans too often look to others for answers to (1), instead of within themselves, thus rendering (2) highly unlikely except through accident.
