We have always tended to compare ourselves to others, which prevents us from being satisfied with our lives. Modern society reinforces the desire for a rarely attainable ideal, preventing us from feeling truly happy. The truth is, happiness is not determined by objective living conditions, but rather by how well our expectations match reality. Therefore, the less you expect, the more likely you are to feel satisfied with what you have.

Life is full of personal and generalized examples that support this thesis. For instance, immigrants in the United States are grateful for even the most ordinary things, such as delicious food. They ignore difficulties since their previous lives were much worse. At the same time, a business person from Silicon Valley may feel dissatisfied as they don't have the same level of wealth as their wealthier friends.

Surprisingly, despite a much lower median family income in the 1950s ($29,000, including inflation), many Americans felt more satisfied with their lives than they do today, when it has reached almost $71,000. Back then, the average family owned a small house and two cars and could afford a vacation. Despite their modest wealth, people felt happy because everyone had a roughly similar standard of living. Nowadays, glossy pictures on social media create high expectations and increase the feeling of inferiority.

The same goes for success and worldwide fame. Naomi Osaka, one of the world's most famous tennis players, once said that after a victory, she often feels more relieved of pressure than happy. On the other hand, Harry Truman’s presidency was not expected to succeed. This absence of high expectations helped him to achieve significant results and become one of the most well-known US presidents. Without unrealistic expectations, we will appreciate what we have and experience less disappointment.