Albert Einstein discovered the theory of relativity. The great physicist was also concerned with the rules governing time and space. The rules of our internal state of mind were something he was interested in.
Einstein spoke about the search for happiness a lot. He told the interviewer that happiness was what humans wanted most in 1931. He wondered if any student of history would agree that the inhabitants of an American city are happier than those of a Greek or Babylonian city.
The genius was interested in the question of what constitutes a happy life. Did he find an equation that solved the eternal question? He wrote it down in 17 words.
One year after he won the Nobel Prize, Einstein traveled to Japan for a lecture series and was surrounded by curious admirers. Einstein gave a bellboy a pair of signed notes instead of a tip one day, and he was turning over in his mind the question of happiness.
One of them said that a calm and modest life brings more happiness than the pursuit of success.
It's not clear if Einstein was passing a note to someone or just a guy who knew his signature would be worth a lot more than a tip. Einstein's gesture was incredibly generous. The note sold for over $1 million at an auction.
Einstein had a good grasp of the market for future collectibles. What about his happiness advice? Einstein advocated for contentment rather than never-ending strivers in his note. The last century's best mind understood a few things about happiness before modern research confirmed them.
The concept of happiness is not self-defined. When people talk about happiness, they mean momentary pleasures like eating a slice of chocolate cake or cuddling a puppy, according to Daniel Kahneman. Sometimes they mean something more like life satisfaction or the sense of contentment you get from feeling you've achieved important things or lived in line with your values.
These two types of happiness are not always happy. It feels terrible to chase big dreams and face tough ethical decisions. If you pet puppies, you could leave yourself feeling empty if you don't fill your life with other things.
Other psychologists add to that. Having rich and varied experiences is a form of happiness called psychological richness. It's the joy of knowing you've seen and experienced a part of the planet that is amazing.
Each of us must decide how much of each type we're chasing, because there are multiple definitions of happiness. Einstein acknowledged two possible paths in his note.
We all have to make the right choice. Did he recommend the right decision? It depends on an individual's character. It's hard to imagine a person like Musk who is wired for happiness finding it in a calm and modest life.
Einstein's secret of happiness is very similar to the modern psychological concept of the hedonic treadmill.
We work very hard to reach a goal, anticipating the happiness it will bring. After a brief fix, we slide back to our normal way of being and start chasing the next thing that we believe will make us happy.
Einstein linked the pursuit of success with constant restlessness in his note. Einstein and modern psychology agree that if you're aiming for an external marker of success, you're never going to reach your destination. Einstein should have known that he had reached the top of his field.
It is a balancing act to be happy. Too much effort will leave you lonely and miserable. Not enough will make you sad. It depends on how you mark your progress. Are you judging by internal and external measures? Everyone needs to know about happiness in 17 words.
His "theory of happiness" note was still relevant to something that we can all benefit from. It isn't a simple concept. We need to define it for ourselves, but whatever definition you choose, be very careful with endless strivers. We get no close to contentment when we chase external success.
Einstein was the world's most successful scientist in 1922. It's true for all of us.
