The Shrink

To even wonder whether we should do what makes us happy might seem a silly question. But the pursuit of happiness is full of pitfalls, and people can easily fall into the trap of imagining there is something out there that, once achieved, will make our life a haven of contentment. Mesmerised by the goal of getting a new job, moving to a better house or finding a person to share our life with, we can end up putting the rest of our life on indefinite hold.

The unwary seeker can also become too entranced by expert pronouncements. True, a lot of this advice makes good sense – we should all realise that it is human relationships, altruism and gratitude that most enhance happiness, rather than the pursuit of selfish goals such as wealth and status. But if, say, we lack fulfilling work or a romantic relationship, being told that these are happiness “must haves” will only heighten our tendency to focus on a hypothetically rosy future.