“There are several predictable thinking errors people commonly make that lead them to incorrectly predict their own future emotions in general, and future happiness in particular:
1 Focusing on a single salient feature or period of time in a choice, rather than looking at the big picture.
2 Overestimating the long-term impact of our choices.
3 Forgetting that happiness is an ongoing process, not a destination.
4 Paying too much attention to external information while overlooking personal preferences and experience.
5 Trying to maximize decisions rather than focusing on personal satisfaction.
6 Confusing wanting something for liking it later, and forgetting to evaluate whether we will enjoy the choice once its novelty wears off.”