Happiness is something that every person on earth aspires to. The relentless pursuit of positive emotions is prevalent in our culture. However, are all beliefs about happiness true? Our misconceptions about it can force us into a "happiness trap." The sides of this trap consist of four of the most common myths. Let's consider each of them.

The first myth is the misconception of happiness as the default state. Russ Harris, the author of this book, does not believe that happiness is innate. Instead, he assures that unhappiness is a more common human experience. This is proved by statistics, as one in five people is likely to be suffering from depression. Approximately 30% of the adult population will suffer from a recognized mental disorder. And then there are also issues like loneliness, rejection, work stress, and others that show how rare happiness actually is. People just tend to get the impression that everyone else is happy except them.

The second myth is equating unhappiness with deficiency. The global belief that mental suffering is something abnormal makes people who experience it feel uncomfortable. They feel weak and incomplete due to their emotions. Inaccurate self-criticism strengthens the happiness trap. This makes people believe they are inadequate and wrong.

The fallacy of eliminating negative thoughts is the third myth. The main thing to understand and remember is that life comprises both black and white, positive and negative. You cannot live fully by getting rid of some key elements. Therefore, it's normal to experience anxiety, discomfort, and despair while being in a loving relationship and achieving goals. When people run away from the same discomfort, they deprive themselves of the opportunity to feel the richness of life. It leads them into the trap.

Another myth is the illusion of total control over thoughts and feelings. People can control their thoughts to some extent, and that's wonderful. However, they don't have total control over them. Believing in absolute control only distracts a person from a purposeful life. As a result, unsuccessful attempts lead to disappointments, as uncontrollable thoughts constantly surface.

Therefore, we must realize and analyze these myths to break the happiness trap. People understand the meaning of their existence when they recognize that suffering is an essential element of human experience and development. Learn to embrace the imperfections, letting go of the beliefs about what happiness must be like. This will help you live a much fuller life.