--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a…" description: "\"“It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind caused by whatever is happening in your life. By that way of thinking, we’re largely victims of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/scott-adams-666_cold-world_it-s-tempting-to-imagine-happiness-as-a_464070.jpg" --- # It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind… ![“It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind caused by whatever is happening in your life. By that way of thinking, we’re largely victims of the cold, cold world that sometimes rewards our good work and sometimes punishes us for no reason. That’s a helpless worldview and it can blind you…” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/scott-adams-666_cold-world_it-s-tempting-to-imagine-happiness-as-a_464070.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/scott-adams-666_cold-world_it-s-tempting-to-imagine-happiness-as-a_464070.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/496/scott-adams-666_cold-world_it-s-tempting-to-imagine-happiness-as-a_464070.jpg) > ““It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind caused by whatever is happening in your life. By that way of thinking, we’re largely victims of the cold, cold world that sometimes rewards our good work and sometimes punishes us for no reason. That’s a helpless worldview and it can blind you to a simple system for being happier. Science has done a good job in recent years of demonstrating that happiness isn’t as dependent on your circumstances as you might think. For example, amputees often return to whatever level of happiness they enjoyed before losing a limb. And you know from your own experience that some people seem to be happy no matter what is going on in their lives, while others can’t find happiness no matter how many things are going right. We’re all born with a limited range of happiness, and the circumstances of life can only jiggle us around within the range. The good news is that anyone who has experienced happiness probably has the capacity to spend more time at the top of his or her personal range and less time near the bottom.”” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Happiness is largely a personal set‑point, not solely driven by external events, and can be cultivated within a limited range. **In simple terms:** Happiness depends more on inner set‑point than circumstances. Key Takeaway Focus on expanding your happiness set‑point. Themes psychology well‑being resilience Mood reflective optimistic Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal development - therapy - daily habits - stress management Key Concepts set‑point theory adaptation positive psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you identify your personal happiness baseline? - What habits help raise your happiness set‑point? A Different Perspective External events can still cause temporary dips despite a high set‑point. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-world/) [Good news](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-news/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [State of mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-of-mind/) [Way of thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-of-thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The pursuit of happiness is enshrined in the Declaration of Independence as a right of all Americans, as well as on the self-improvement shelves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-seligman/the-pursuit-of-happiness-is-enshrined-in-the-declaration-of/) [Martin Seligman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-seligman/) > [Happiness isn't a place in time, happiness is a state of mind. Don't let your bubble of happiness be burst because of anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-isn-t-a-place-in-time-happiness-is-a-state-of-mind-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can almost imagine a happiness without her, the ability to let her go, to feel our roots are connected even if I never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/i-can-almost-imagine-a-happiness-without-her-the-ability-to-let-her/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“The joy of having something comes from the length of time you have been wanting it, expecting it. Happiness really lies in the expectation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/the-joy-of-having-something-comes-from-the-length-of-time-you-have/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Give yourself up to this moment. Dare to see it. Now look down at your feet; slip out of those invisible tethers. Then ask:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-downie/give-yourself-up-to-this-moment-dare-to-see-it-now-look-down-at-your/) Chris Downie > [“I thank you wholeheartedly because you cannot imagine all the happiness you are giving me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/i-thank-you-wholeheartedly-because-you-cannot-imagine-all-the/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [“when the world comes crashing at your feet it’s okay to let others help pick up the pieces if we’re present to take part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupi-kaur/when-the-world-comes-crashing-at-your-feet-it-s-okay-to-let-others/) [Rupi Kaur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupi-kaur/) > [Happiness is not in our circumstances, but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bilal-zahoor/happiness-is-not-in-our-circumstances-but-in-ourselves-it-is-not/) [Bilal Zahoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bilal-zahoor/) > [Circumstances will never determine your amount of happiness. Circumstances only highlight who you already are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-miller/circumstances-will-never-determine-your-amount-of-happiness/) [Dan Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-miller/) > [Happiness Is Not In Our Circumstances, But In Ourselves. It Is Not Always Something We See, Like A Rainbow, Or Feel, Like The Heat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/happiness-is-not-in-our-circumstances-but-in-ourselves-it-is-not-2/) Pacifiersucker > [“Yes, happiness is dependent upon misery. For we all feel a swell of happiness after our circumstances improve from a misery recently suffered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/yes-happiness-is-dependent-upon-misery-for-we-all-feel-a-swell-of/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [If you confuse your happiness with your circumstances, you will never truly be happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-howard/if-you-confuse-your-happiness-with-your-circumstances-you-will-never/) [Trevor Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-howard/) > [It is not events and the things one sees and enjoys that produce happiness, but a state of mind which can endow events with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-maurois/it-is-not-events-and-the-things-one-sees-and-enjoys-that-produce/) [Andre Maurois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-maurois/) > [Happiness is a state a mind, not a dress size.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-budig/happiness-is-a-state-a-mind-not-a-dress-size/) [Kathryn Budig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-budig/) > [Happiness is a state of inner fulfillment, not the gratification of inexhaustible desires for outward things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthieu-ricard/happiness-is-a-state-of-inner-fulfillment-not-the-gratification-of/) [Matthieu Ricard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthieu-ricard/) ## More by Scott Adams > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. 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I don’t let it leave until I extract that value.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/failure-always-brings-something-valuable-with-it-i-don-t-let-it-leave/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The longer you verk here, diverse it gets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-longer-you-verk-here-diverse-it-gets/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“On all the important stuff, we are emotional creatures who make decisions first and rationalize them after the fact.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/on-all-the-important-stuff-we-are-emotional-creatures-who-make/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“What you rarely see is a stillborn failure that transmogrifies into a stellar success. Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. Sure, there's a lot more living to go, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-best-part-about-being-my-age-is-in-knowing-how-my-life-worked-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [If you see voters as rational, you'll be a terrible politician. People are not wired to be rational. Our brains simply evolved to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-see-voters-as-rational-you-ll-be-a-terrible-politician-people/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [E-books are impervious to analogy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/e-books-are-impervious-to-analogy/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) [Explore all 418 Scott Adams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## More Cold world quotes > [Its a cold world and am hot headed so I dont need a head warmer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mode-9/its-a-cold-world-and-am-hot-headed-so-i-dont-need-a-head-warmer/) Mode 9 > [Suicidal friends Nothing to say Just; don't and please Just pray to god they don't leave you in this cold world all alone with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-gonzales/suicidal-friends-nothing-to-say-just-don-t-and-please-just-pray-to/) [Kristin Gonzales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-gonzales/) > [You overrate my capacity of love. I don't posess half the warmth of nature you believe me to have. An unprotected childhood in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/you-overrate-my-capacity-of-love-i-don-t-posess-half-the-warmth-of/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [That was the way of this cold world, where men fished the sea and dug in the ground and died, whilst women brought forth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-was-the-way-of-this-cold-world-where-men-fished-the-sea-and-dug/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“A blanket could be used to reduce the weight of love, by exactly one person. It’s a cold world out there. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-blanket-could-be-used-to-reduce-the-weight-of-love-by-exactly-one/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Love was a sacred garment, woven of a fabric so thin that it could not be seen, yet so strong that even mighty death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/love-was-a-sacred-garment-woven-of-a-fabric-so-thin-that-it-could-not/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“We only give credence to that which we can prove exists. Since we cannot find evidence that gods, miracles, and other supernatural things are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/we-only-give-credence-to-that-which-we-can-prove-exists-since-we/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [Despite the numbness of the cold world, there will always be that one person who'll give you a warm hug...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/despite-the-numbness-of-the-cold-world-there-will-always-be-that-one/) Pacifiersucker > [It's a cold world, better pack your own heat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/redman/it-s-a-cold-world-better-pack-your-own-heat/) [Redman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/redman/) > [T Sixteen relised a cold world and relised my childhood was nothing but a dream.Then woke up and there it hit me the reall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcdonald/t-sixteen-relised-a-cold-world-and-relised-my-childhood-was-nothing/) Aaron Mcdonald > [“I don't blame anybody.  I deserve it all.  Let the cold world do its worst; one thing I know—there's a grave somewhere for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-don-t-blame-anybody-i-deserve-it-all-let-the-cold-world-do-its/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Forever Together I help him by holding his hand Through this cold world we will stand I would give you the world because you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/forever-together-i-help-him-by-holding-his-hand-through-this-cold/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Soon we'll be out amid the cold world's strife. Soon we'll be sliding down the razor blade of life. But as we go our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lehrer/soon-we-ll-be-out-amid-the-cold-world-s-strife-soon-we-ll-be-sliding/) [Tom Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lehrer/) > [You can tell them that, I been from hell and back. When the heat is on, I fire back. In this cold world, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessie/you-can-tell-them-that-i-been-from-hell-and-back-when-the-heat-is-on/) [Jessie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessie/) > [I am my own jacket in this cold world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-my-own-jacket-in-this-cold-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 70 Cold world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It’s tempting to imagine happiness as a state of mind caused by whatever is happening in your life. 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