Joseph Parcell's Theory of Happiness: The Snow Day Principle.
A kid goes to bed late on a school night, looking outside at the blizzard falling from the sky. He's got to get up at 6:30am, so he can get ready for school. He looks at his alarm clock wondering if he should just shut off the alarm. He can put himself in one of two mindsets. Either (A) We will have a snow day tomorrow, or (B) We will not have a snow day tomorrow. Now in one of two said mindsets, one of two things can happen, giving him four possibilities.
(A1) He believes he will have a snowday tomorrow, and there is a snowday: This allows him to have a good day, although this day is expected. So in a way, it's just another day. (0)
(A2) He believes he will have a snowday tomorrow, and there is no snowday: This means he has a terrible day. He expected no school, and he has to go anyway. So he's just angry all day. (-1)
(B1) He believes he will not have a snowday tomorrow, and there is a snowday: He wakes up, crawls out of bed, and mom comes in and says, "Guess what, no school." He is so excited, because this comes as somewhat as a surprise to him. He can't help but smile as he crawls back into bed. (+1)
(B2) He believes he will not have a snowday tomorrow, and there is no snowday tomorrow: He wakes up, crawls out of bed and goes to school. It's just another day. (0)
So, in conclusion, it is always better to expect the worst of situations. If you can do that, you will never be let down. If you never expect anything good, you can first of all not be let down when it doesn't happen or secondly, be mildly surprised when it does.
A kid goes to bed late on a school night, looking outside at the blizzard falling from the sky. He's got to get up at 6:30am, so he can get ready for school. He looks at his alarm clock wondering if he should just shut off the alarm. He can put himself in one of two mindsets. Either (A) We will have a snow day tomorrow, or (B) We will not have a snow day tomorrow. Now in one of two said mindsets, one of two things can happen, giving him four possibilities.
(A1) He believes he will have a snowday tomorrow, and there is a snowday: This allows him to have a good day, although this day is expected. So in a way, it's just another day. (0)
(A2) He believes he will have a snowday tomorrow, and there is no snowday: This means he has a terrible day. He expected no school, and he has to go anyway. So he's just angry all day. (-1)
(B1) He believes he will not have a snowday tomorrow, and there is a snowday: He wakes up, crawls out of bed, and mom comes in and says, "Guess what, no school." He is so excited, because this comes as somewhat as a surprise to him. He can't help but smile as he crawls back into bed. (+1)
(B2) He believes he will not have a snowday tomorrow, and there is no snowday tomorrow: He wakes up, crawls out of bed and goes to school. It's just another day. (0)
So, in conclusion, it is always better to expect the worst of situations. If you can do that, you will never be let down. If you never expect anything good, you can first of all not be let down when it doesn't happen or secondly, be mildly surprised when it does.
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