Antifragility is the idea of putting pressure on a system, or human, the system or human actually grows bigger and stronger.
Antifragile systems are all around us. One example of this is our muscular system. We go to the gym to lift weights. By doing so we are putting pressure on our system to help it grow stronger. The human body is an antifragile system.
From a psychological perspective, antifragility comes in the form of PTG, or post-traumatic growth. After we experience a stressful event, we learn and grow to become more resilient.
Understanding Happiness and Antifragility
- Acceptance of Painful Emotions: A happy life does not mean being happy all the time. Only psychopaths and the dead do not experience painful emotions. Learning to accept, and even embrace, painful emotions is a crucial part of a happy life. The study of these emotions is integral to happiness studies.
- Antifragility as Resilience 2.0: This concept, introduced by Nassim Taleb, goes beyond mere resilience.
- Resilience 1.0: A system returns to its original form after pressure is lifted.
- Antifragility: A system actually grows bigger and stronger as a result of pressure. Examples include our muscular system growing stronger after lifting weights.
- Psychological Antifragility: This is known as Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG), where individuals grow stronger from stress, in contrast to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which involves breaking down. The science of happiness aims to identify conditions that increase the likelihood of growing from hardship.
The Paradox of Pursuing Happiness
- The Problem with Direct Pursuit: While happiness is undeniably a good thing, research by Iris Moss and others indicates that people who directly pursue happiness ("Happiness is important for me, I want to pursue it") often end up being less happy and are more likely to experience depression.
- The Indirect Approach: The way to resolve this paradox is to pursue happiness indirectly, much like admiring the colours of a rainbow rather than staring directly at the sun. Breaking down happiness into its constituent elements allows for its enjoyment and raises overall happiness levels.
The SPIRE Model: Metaphorical Colours of the Rainbow for Happiness
The SPIRE model is an acronym for five elements of well-being that can trigger the antifragile system and lead to the indirect pursuit of happiness.
- Spiritual Well-being (S): This involves finding a sense of meaning and purpose in life, both at work and at home. Waking up with a purpose makes one more likely to overcome barriers.
- Physical Well-being (P): The key here is managing stress, which is described as a "silent killer". The problem isn't stress itself, but the lack of recovery. Many employees in the US do not use their vacation time, and even those who do often remain tethered to work.
- Intellectual Well-being (I): This component highlights that people who are curious and ask questions are not just happier, but also live longer. Deep engagement with material, whether text, art, or nature, is another important element.
- Relational Well-being (R): This is very important, as the number one predictor of happiness is the quality time spent with people we care about and who care about us. The quality of relationships is also the number one condition that increases the likelihood of antifragility – growing through hardship.
- Emotional Well-being (E): While embracing painful emotions is critical, cultivating pleasurable ones is also important, specifically gratitude. As Cicero stated, "Gratitude is the mother of all virtues". Appreciating the good in life leads to more good.
Conclusion: Happiness as a Lifelong Journey
- Happiness is described as wholebeing, encompassing these five elements, and is much more than mere pleasure.
- Happiness resides on a continuum; it is not an either/or state, but a lifelong journey.
- Having this understanding helps in setting realistic expectations about what is possible.
- While things may not necessarily happen for the best, we can always learn to make the best of things that happen.