Our present emotions heavily influence our predictions of future happiness from "summary" of Stumbling on Happiness by Daniel Gilbert
When we try to imagine how we'll feel in the future, we often rely on our present emotions as a guide. This can lead us to make inaccurate predictions about our future happiness. Our current emotional state can color our perspective, causing us to overestimate the impact of certain events on our future well-being. For example, if we're feeling sad or anxious in the present, we might mistakenly believe that we will never be happy again. Our emotions can create a distorted view of the future because they cloud our judgement and influence the way we interpret information. When we are in a negative emotional state, we tend to focus on the aspects of a future event that confirm our current feelings. This confirmation bias can lead us to discount evidence that contradicts our current emotional state, leading to inaccurate predictions about our future happiness. Additionally, our present emotions can influence the way we imagine future events unfolding. If we are feeling happy at the moment, we might envision a future scenario as more positive than it actually turns out to be. This rosy view of the future can set us up for disappointment when reality falls short of our expectations.- Our present emotions act as a filter through which we perceive and predict our future happiness. By being aware of this bias, we can make more accurate predictions about how future events will impact our well-being. It's important to recognize that our emotions are not always reliable indicators of future happiness and to take a step back to consider the bigger picture when making predictions about our future emotional states.
