Absence of suffering isn't exactly the same as happiness

I think it's helpful to make a distinction between absence of suffering and happiness. Some things that we generally think of as making you positively happy in reality just relieve suffering. For instance:

Wealth: This is the most obvious example. It's commonly noted that wealth only correlates with happiness up to somewhere around the average income, enough to meet your basic necessities. Having excess money alleviates the suffering associated with poverty, but in general doesn't actually lead to sustained happiness in the long run. I once heard that winning the lottery only improves your happiness for the first 6 months, then you return to your baseline level of happiness, not sure if that's true but I wouldn't doubt it.

Physical Health: Being healthy and pain-free alleviates the suffering associated with illness and pain, but doesn't of itself lead to sustained happiness.

House: having a huge house probably doesn't lead to happiness, nor does the size of your yard if you're an adult. I'll admit that certain other things about a house could actually lead to happiness, for instance a location that lends itself to befriending your neighbors, or amenable to gardening, or close to fun activities, etc.

If you're looking forward to something that you think will make you really happy, sometimes it might be more accurate to expect this thing to alleviate suffering, but not actually lead to sustained happiness. For instance, if reading the news makes you depressed, and you look forward to the day that the president isn't in the White House, keep in mind that your actual happiness derived from his ouster will be fleeting when that day comes, albeit this particular source of suffering will no longer be there. Or if you think you'll be really happy when you you're retired, keep in mind that you may relieve any suffering associated with your job, but that doesn't necessarily mean of that you'll be happy. Likewise if you're looking forward to graduating, or completing some project or goal, the happiness derived from these achievements may be fleeting when the times comes around.

I'd contend that even at a time in your life where all the usual sources of suffering have been eliminated, you're pain free, comfortable, living without fear, you love and are loved, and your every desire has been satiated, that while that all this would be a wonderful thing, it won't necessarily guarantee that you're particularly happy.  Actual positive happiness is based on what you're doing/feeling/thinking this very instant. Laughing, dancing, singing, enjoying time with another person, enjoying this moment, enjoying whatever you're thinking about, "In the Zone" with some activity that's self-directed and challenging, enjoying your meal, enjoying your exercise, enjoying your book, enjoying your work, doing something that gives you a sense of meaning such as helping others or working on a project, etc. Of course enjoying this moment is much easier when there aren't background sources of suffering.

My main intent here is to avoid the misconception that one's current unhappiness will suddenly turn to happiness when X happens. While it may be that your chief source of unhappiness will be neutralized if X happens, to be positively happy will take more than that, it will take enjoyment in the moment. So try to be happy and enjoy the moment now, don't put it off to some later date.

Stamp Out Nostalgia

After reading Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker I've come to realize how important it is to celebrate the progress humanity has made in the past few centuries. Too many people feel things are getting worse. But on almost every measurable outcome things are improving worldwide and in our nation: US crime, infant mortality worldwide, extreme poverty worldwide, teenage pregnancies US, childhood obesity US, deforestation in Brazil is down, extinction rates are falling, wars are less frequent, children's IQ is improving for reasons unclear, etc etc.

And yet nostalgia abounds. It's suddenly occurred to me how dangerous nostalgia is. Hitler utilized nostalgia for a largely mythical German Aryan past, resulting in the genocide of Jews and other minorities. Brexit was partially fueled by nostalgia for a simpler time, and may lead to a serious economic downturn in the UK in March if no deal is reached. "Make America Great Again" plays on people's nostalgia for ~1950s, and manifests as Nationalism, anti-immigrant, pro-Christian. The Lost Cause movement (which preposterously re-imagines the American South battling for states' rights as opposed to preservation of slavery) also plays on nostalgia, with the ultimate intent of perpetuating suppression of Southern blacks. Nostalgia is a very effective tool of demagogues, and is closely tied to racism.

Who's nostalgic? I'd proffer the following groups are more susceptible: People that are struggling financially, especially if they're not doing as well as their parents did. People who aren't respected in society. Older people, perhaps uncomfortable with the pace of change, or perhaps looking upon their childhoods with rose-tinted glasses. People who live in places of decline, i.e. many rural places. People who live in a country that is or is perceived to be declining (pre-WWII Germany, the American South, UK, US).

I've been trying to gently correct people when they say something nostalgic. I tell them "Actually crime goes down every year." "Actually kidnapping by a stranger is now exceedingly rare." "Actually the world is rapidly improving on almost any measurable outcome." If I'm talking to a patient and have some good news to report, such that their condition is now treatable thanks to a particular medical advance, I also remind them that the world is always getting better. It's the perfect way to try to help people become more progressive in their thinking, and it doesn't sound at all political, so it gets past their instinctive defenses.