New studies suggest that always chasing after joy may not give us the rewards we expect.

The whole “be happy or else” message tricks us into believing that life should be all sunshine, no rain, and endless good vibes. Just force a smile, right?

But here’s the kicker—even after devouring all the ‘how to be happy’ books, chanting positive slogans like a pro, and counting our blessings, life’s still tough. This is especially true if we’re burning ourselves out chasing some idea of perfect happiness.

Wanting to be joyful isn’t a bad thing. But aiming to be on cloud nine all the time? That might actually stop us from enjoying the good moments when they do come around.

Turns out, there are other signs that you’re doing okay in life, even when stuff goes sideways. Science says we can aim to be “psychologically rich,” which means we’re open to growing from all kinds of experiences.

While many people think happiness is all about living the easy-peasy, fun-loving life, there’s more to it. Being “mentally wealthy” isn’t about having a perfect, cookie-cutter life or ticking off a big to-do list for Instagram likes.

Nope, being mentally rich is like having a new kind of treasure. It’s about being curious, feeling content, and living life in full color. This makes it easier to deal with the fact that not every day is going to be a home run—or picture-perfect.

Stop measuring yourself against those who seem constantly happy and have it all together. If your life’s a rollercoaster with its fair share of ups and downs, you’re richer than you think.

Going for a fake or forced kind of happy? That could mean you’re stuck in a rut. Even if it looks all peaceful and cheerful from the outside, it might be just a mirage. The real gold? Embracing all sorts of feelings and experiences. That’s what adds real spice, depth, and lessons to our lives.

1.Dare to take chances.

Going out on a limb makes life way more interesting. It gives us all sorts of stories to tell and new ways to see the world. Without taking some risks, life can get kinda boring and we might stop growing.

2.Keep an open mind and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Let’s be real, life can sting sometimes. It’s easy to crawl into a shell and start feeling sorry for ourselves. But hang on a sec—if we stay open, even when times are tough, we get better at dealing with life’s ups and downs. We learn to be kinder to ourselves, and get a grip on our emotions and how we treat others.

3.It’s okay not to be okay.

Always being happy? That could be a warning sign of what’s called “toxic positivity.” Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Feeling down or angry is normal. And getting upset about being upset? Well, that’s just spinning your wheels.

So, here’s the deal: don’t think you need everything to go your way to be happy. Aim to be “tyranny of positive emotions.” instead. That means valuing all sorts of experiences, the good and the bad. It’s this mix that really makes life worth living and helps us grow in ways that matter.