Did I read this correctly that proposing caused an insanely strong 5 point reduction in happiness? And that having a kid was also quite negative?
It sounds like the takeaway is that if you're on the fence about any of these issues, you should quit your job, break up with your romantic parter, don't have kids, don't get engaged, and start your own business?
To me, it looks like the common thread through all of these is that happiness goes hand in hand with independence and freedom.
But not taking the step may send you over a cliff some later time. You might be quite happy now, but without a family or maybe a business you might be lacking a sense of purpose later in life. So investing 5 points now, may set you on a path to long-term happiness.
It's possible. This advice is reserved for people who have thought it over endlessly and have reached the end of what rational decision making can do. Probably they have considered a sense of purpose and had different thoughts on the matter.
> It sounds like the takeaway is that if you're on the fence about any of these issues, you should quit your job, break up with your romantic parter, don't have kids, don't get engaged, and start your own business?
Exactly how my life turned out and no one looks to me as a shining example of how one should achieve happiness in life...though I do have independence and freedom in droves.
Do you think you would have been any happier with your old job, kids, and spouse? Presumably if you made the choice to give those up you thought it was a good idea at the time. Did you change your mind about that?
It sounds like the takeaway is that if you're on the fence about any of these issues, you should quit your job, break up with your romantic parter, don't have kids, don't get engaged, and start your own business?
To me, it looks like the common thread through all of these is that happiness goes hand in hand with independence and freedom.