---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A substantial amount of research over the…"
description: "\"“A substantial amount of research over the past decade has reinforced the idea that although internal happiness can deviate from its \"resting state\" in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png"
---

#  A substantial amount of research over the past decade has…

![“A substantial amount of research over the past decade has reinforced the idea that although internal happiness can deviate from its &quot;resting state&quot; in reaction to life events, it usually returns toward its baseline over time.” quote by Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png)

> ““A substantial amount of research over the past decade has reinforced the idea that although internal happiness can deviate from its "resting state" in reaction to life events, it usually returns toward its baseline over time.””

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Happiness tends to return to a personal baseline after events, showing resilience but also a hedonic set‑point.

**In simple terms:** Happiness rebounds to a normal level over time.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the temporary nature of emotional swings.

Themes

psychology well‑being resilience

Mood

reflective optimistic

Type

self‑help scientific

When to use this quote

- personal setbacks
- career changes
- relationship issues
- health challenges

Key Concepts

hedonic adaptation behavioral economics

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you sustain positive change beyond the baseline?
- What practices help maintain well‑being?

A Different Perspective

Baseline may mask deeper issues.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life events](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-events/) [Pessimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pessimism/) [Realism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realism/) [Social sciences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social-sciences/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/)

## Related quotes

> [Whatever your religion, you have to find internal happiness, which I found.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-baggio/whatever-your-religion-you-have-to-find-internal-happiness-which-i/)

[Roberto Baggio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-baggio/)

> [“If one does not develop, one goes down. In life, in ordinary conditions everything goes down, or one capacity may develop at the expense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-d-ouspensky/if-one-does-not-develop-one-goes-down-in-life-in-ordinary-conditions/)

[P.D. Ouspensky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-d-ouspensky/)

> [“Freedom and respect for the individual are rooted in the Old Testament, which convinced man that he makes his own history, that he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joost-a-m-meerloo/freedom-and-respect-for-the-individual-are-rooted-in-the-old-2/)

Joost A. M. Meerloo

> [“Memories are permanent impressions over mind”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravikant-dubey/memories-are-permanent-impressions-over-mind/)

Ravikant Dubey

> [“Difference between Intelligent and intellectual is. An intelligent person knows how to use any situation to their advantage; an intellectual takes responsibility and stands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-zaki-ansari/difference-between-intelligent-and-intellectual-is-an-intelligent/)

[Mohammed Zaki Ansari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-zaki-ansari/)

> [“Spectacles, forced mask of certain personality, self-hatred and life-long traumas, that are hidden behind curated theatrics, which remain unhealed, eventually will swallow your bravado…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-levon/spectacles-forced-mask-of-certain-personality-self-hatred-and-life/)

[Elena Levon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-levon/)

> [By far the most significant event in finance during the past decade has been the extraordinary development and expansion of financial derivatives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/by-far-the-most-significant-event-in-finance-during-the-past-decade/)

[Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/)

> [I think in the wake of 9/11, like a lot of Americans, you know, we were all very traumatized by the attacks, traumatized in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-waldman/i-think-in-the-wake-of-9-11-like-a-lot-of-americans-you-know-we-were/)

[Amy Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-waldman/)

> [I've spent a great deal of time over the past decade as a caregiver for various family members. It gives me a perspective on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-spent-a-great-deal-of-time-over-the-past-decade-as-a-caregiver/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“While we still have much to learn about the complex ecosystem in our gut, over the past decade themes have emerged regarding”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristina-campbell/while-we-still-have-much-to-learn-about-the-complex-ecosystem-in-our/)

Kristina Campbell

> [Duncan Aldrich has been my partner in most recording projects, and touring projects, for the past decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-zevon/duncan-aldrich-has-been-my-partner-in-most-recording-projects-and/)

[Warren Zevon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-zevon/)

> [Calling a young artist 'great' these days can give one the heebie-jeebies: The word has been denatured in the past decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-saltz/calling-a-young-artist-great-these-days-can-give-one-the-heebie/)

[Jerry Saltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-saltz/)

> [“The internet has become a political space. I think that is one of the most important developments in the past decade.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/the-internet-has-become-a-political-space-i-think-that-is-one-of-the/)

[Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/)

> [Wicca has been, up until the past decade or so, a closed religion, but no more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cunningham/wicca-has-been-up-until-the-past-decade-or-so-a-closed-religion-but/)

[Scott Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cunningham/)

> [Over the past decade, I've been lucky to have witnessed and played a part in Manchester City's rise as a club and a brand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-kompany/over-the-past-decade-i-ve-been-lucky-to-have-witnessed-and-played-a/)

[Vincent Kompany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-kompany/)

## More by Dan Ariely

> [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [ “\[..\] we human beings are ready and willing to steal something that does not explicitly reference monetary value - that is, something that lacks… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/we-human-beings-are-ready-and-willing-to-steal-something-that-does/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [It is true that from a behavioral economics perspective we are fallible, easily confused, not that smart, and often irrational. We are more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/it-is-true-that-from-a-behavioral-economics-perspective-we-are/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“Contrafreeloading,” a term coined by the animal psychologist Glen Jensen, refers to the finding that many animals prefer to earn food rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/contrafreeloading-a-term-coined-by-the-animal-psychologist-glen/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [One of the big lessons from behavioral economics is that we make decisions as a function of the environment that we're in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-of-the-big-lessons-from-behavioral-economics-is-that-we-make/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Not all debt is bad. From time to time we should get into debt when there's a good reason for that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/not-all-debt-is-bad-from-time-to-time-we-should-get-into-debt-when/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“This result suggests that cheating is not driven by concerns about standing out. Rather, it shows that our sense of our own morality is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/this-result-suggests-that-cheating-is-not-driven-by-concerns-about/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“ONE OF THE main differences between standard and behavioral economics involves this concept of “free lunches.” According to the assumptions of standard economics, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/one-of-the-main-differences-between-standard-and-behavioral-economics/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Money is all about opportunity cost. Every time you spend on something, that's something you can't spend on something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/money-is-all-about-opportunity-cost-every-time-you-spend-on-something/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [The people that lend you money basically give you an answer based on the risk that they are willing to take. But just because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/the-people-that-lend-you-money-basically-give-you-an-answer-based-on/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“Upton Sinclair once noted, “It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.”)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/upton-sinclair-once-noted-it-is-difficult-to-get-a-man-to-understand/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [If you get people to feel that they are putting something, that they are creating it and so on, their love for the project…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-get-people-to-feel-that-they-are-putting-something-that-they/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [If I gave you now, $10 as a gift, how happy would you be? Would you be happy, is the marginal $10, the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-i-gave-you-now-10-as-a-gift-how-happy-would-you-be-would-you-be/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [Imagine you have six loans, small to huge. People want to close loans and because of that, they try to pay off the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/imagine-you-have-six-loans-small-to-huge-people-want-to-close-loans/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

> [“he started by selling his Porsche Boxster and buying a Toyota Prius in its place.4 “I don’t want to live the life of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/he-started-by-selling-his-porsche-boxster-and-buying-a-toyota-prius/)

[Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

[Explore all 198 Dan Ariely quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/)

## More Happiness quotes

> [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/)

[Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/)

> [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/)

[Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/)

> [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/)

[MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/)

> [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/)

[Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/)

[Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/)

> [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/)

[Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

[Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“A substantial amount of research over the past decade has reinforced the idea that although internal happiness can deviate from its \"resting state\" in reaction to life events, it usually returns toward its baseline over time.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dan Ariely"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-the-past-decade-has-reinforced/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Happiness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-the-past-decade-has-reinforced/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c09/dan-ariely-1899_happiness_a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-th_1366909.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A substantial amount of research over the past decade has reinforced the idea that although internal…” — Dan Ariely",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Dan Ariely",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“A substantial amount of research over...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-the-past-decade-has-reinforced/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/a-substantial-amount-of-research-over-the-past-decade-has-reinforced/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
