Good news for everyone really: Happiness tends to happen at 50 and later

The results, published online May 17 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were good news for old people, and for those who are getting old. On the global measure, people start out at age 18 feeling pretty good about themselves, and then, apparently, life begins to throw curve balls. They feel worse and worse until they hit 50. At that point, there is a sharp reversal, and people keep getting happier as they age. By the time they are 85, they are even more satisfied with themselves than they were at 18.

 

views
4 responses
really? interesting!!
I read this article and thought it was fascinating. It bolsters my faith that things have a way of working out =)
Is anyone else saddened by this? I don't want to feel worse and worse until I hit 50. I'm happy now. And I'm actually confident that I'll be happier and happier growing older as I get married, have kids, have more free time...

I wonder if it's all about work/life balance. Until hitting 50, people work too much and neglect their personal life. Around 50, something clicks and people start to enjoy more.

I hope people don't use studies like this one to justify being unhappy.

I think its good to be the exception =)