[zoba]

This seems very similar to the old "Happiness = Reality - Expectations" equation. Great reality and low expectations? Large positive number. Poor reality and high expectations? Large negative number. If you want to be happy, then don't expect much, and don't expect often. Unfortunately for happiness, I don't know how to turn off the endless flow of "what if"s my mind produces - the flip side is that I'm always thinking of new things.

[hliyan]

I think we discussed that equation here before: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=8060404

According to that, the "what if"'s are a function of perceived happiness of others?