Is Happiness the Road to Fulfillment?

What makes us happy? That's the topic in this month's Atlantic. A 72-year longitudinal study of Harvard graduates suggests that fulfillment doesn't necessarily come from happiness, but from the wisdom, resilience and tolerance to stress and life adversity. Dr. George Valiant has been studying these Harvard men, circa class of 1942, over time in terms of how fulfilled they were at the ends of their lives. The study reveals the men who struggled or had something to prove in life tended to be more successful. Relationships, and the connections we make in life, are essential to fulfillment.

According to Dr. George Valiant "It is social aptitude, not intellectual brilliance or parental social class, that leads to successful aging...the only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people.” The article goes on to present Valiant's beliefs that positive emotions —awe, love, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, joy, hope, and trust (or faith)— are more powerful than negative emotions. Positive emotions make us healthier. However, they are more future-oriented and make us more vulnerable and open to risk of heartbreak and rejection. Negative emotions like fear and sadness, serve as psychological protections that insulate us from risk.

Some interesting anecdotes about the Grant study subjects: JFK and Ben Bradlee participated (JFK's file is sealed until 2040). How "normal" a man appeared to be early in life did not always predict a happy middle age or senior life. The lesson: always enjoy where are you now in your life.

www.theatlantic.com/doc/200906/happiness