Listening to the program, I began questioning our obsessive pursuit of happiness and whether the Finns might confuse happiness with satisfaction or success.

In today’s world, happiness is often equated with success, making its pursuit a cultural obsession. From self-help books to social media influencers, the message is clear: be happy, and you’ll have it all. But is this really true?

The illusion of choice and happiness

A common belief is that happiness stems from choice—if we have options and make the right decisions, happiness will follow. However, research by Barry Schwartz suggests that too many options can lead to decision fatigue, anxiety, and regret, ultimately diminishing happiness. When overwhelmed by choices, achieving happiness becomes more difficult, not easier.

The complexity of freedom and happiness

Another widely held notion is that freedom is the key to happiness. The U.S. Declaration of Independence even enshrines the pursuit of liberty and happiness. Yet, the U.S. ranks only 23rd in the latest Happiness Report, highlighting the complex relationship between freedom and happiness.

Conversely, happiness in the transition countries of pre-1989 Eastern Europe is rising, especially amongst the younger generations.

True freedom is often more of an ideal than a reality. We are all constrained by social, economic, and psychological factors that limit our freedom. Furthermore, unchecked freedom can lead to chaos rather than happiness, as Sheena Iyengar and Sanford DeVoe have noted. While freedom is valuable, it does not guarantee happiness.

The role of money in happiness

Money is perhaps the most commonly cited source of happiness. While financial security is essential, research by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton shows that additional income has diminishing returns on happiness beyond a certain point. Once basic needs are met, the relentless pursuit of wealth can lead to stress and exhaustion, undermining the happiness it was supposed to bring.

The path to fulfillment and contentment

Rather than chasing happiness through choice, freedom, or money, seeking fulfilment may be more fruitful. Fulfilment comes from engaging in meaningful activities, building relationships, and contributing to something larger than oneself.

The World Happiness Report notes that those born after 1980 generally provided more help and support during the COVID-19 pandemic and now experience greater happiness.

Given the fleeting nature of happiness, fulfilment offers a more enduring sense of satisfaction. By pursuing fulfilment and meaning, we will likely achieve contentment—a state of peace with ourselves and our circumstances. Paradoxically, by focusing on fulfilment rather than happiness, true happiness may follow as a natural byproduct.

Conclusion

Pursuing happiness is often overrated and can lead to frustration when it remains elusive. Instead of chasing happiness directly, we should focus on finding fulfilment. Doing so makes us more likely to achieve lasting contentment—and perhaps even happiness—as a natural consequence of living a fulfilled life.

Photo attribution

Photo by Eddy Klaus on Unsplash

Audio link

https://audio.com/jeremy_deedes/fulfilment/

Other attributions and references

How did food help Finland become the happiest country in the world? The Food Programme, 9 August 2024. BBC Radio 4

Helliwell, J. F., Layard, R., Sachs, J. D., De Neve, J.-E., Aknin, L. B., & Wang, S. (Eds.). (2024). World Happiness Report 2024.University of Oxford: Wellbeing Research Centre

Schwartz, Barry. The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less. Harper Perennial, 2004.

Iyengar, S. S., & DeVoe, S. E. (2003). Rethinking the value of choice: Considering cultural mediators of intrinsic motivation. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 146–191). University of Nebraska Press.

Kahneman, Daniel, and Angus Deaton. “High Income Improves Evaluation of Life but Not Emotional Well-Being.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 107, no. 38, 2010, pp. 16489–16493

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