David’s Substack

David’s Substack

Most People Don’t Pursue Happiness – But They Think They Do

Understanding this paradox will help you immensely.

David Gerken's avatar
David Gerken
Jun 26, 2025
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person carrying yellow and black backpack walking between green plants
Photo by Holly Mandarich on Unsplash

If you ask most people if they’re trying to be happy in their lives, they’ll say yes. They’ll say they’re not fully there, but they’re giving it their best shot.

In almost every case, this isn’t true. They are not pursuing happiness.

Why? Because when asked a separate question: “What do you want from life?” people offer…

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