There's a concept of a 'hedonic treadmill' that we have a base level of happiness that we tend to return to. When good things happen to us, we're happier for a while and then go back to our normal level. When bad things happen to us, we're unhappier for a while, then we go back to our normal level. An example might be a big lottery win. Getting rich will usually make you happy, but a year later, with much more in the way of financial security and material luxuries, you'll likely have returned to your previous state of happiness.
The mark of a society with a lot of well-being isn't lack of complaint, but what there is to complain about. In my opinion, people complaining about how long their city is keeping Christmas decorations up is much more likely to have citizens who are better off than a community where people are complaining about how so many of their children are dying.
It's our nature to never be satisfied, and that's not going to change short of Brave New World measures. We'll always spot things that can be improved, because physics will never allow us truly perfect lives that can't possibly be improved, though those who construct virtual realities may come close.
The mark of a society with a lot of well-being isn't lack of complaint, but what there is to complain about. In my opinion, people complaining about how long their city is keeping Christmas decorations up is much more likely to have citizens who are better off than a community where people are complaining about how so many of their children are dying.
It's our nature to never be satisfied, and that's not going to change short of Brave New World measures. We'll always spot things that can be improved, because physics will never allow us truly perfect lives that can't possibly be improved, though those who construct virtual realities may come close.
I'm not anti-Christian. I'm anti-stupid.
