How Smart People Can Stop Being Miserable
Intelligence can make you happier, but only if you see it as more than a tool to get ahead.
TL;DR
- Intelligence does not consistently correlate with happiness or life satisfaction.
- Some components of intelligence, like vocabulary, may even be negatively linked to happiness, possibly due to self-selection into more stressful environments.
- True happiness is found in faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others, not in the pursuit of money, power, pleasure, or prestige for personal gain.
- Using intelligence to share ideas and help others succeed, rather than for personal advantage or criticism, can lead to a higher quality of life.
- Viewing the world as a positive-sum environment where helping others benefits everyone is key to using intelligence for happiness.