Happiness = Reality - Expectations

if Expectations are greater than Reality, you have negative Happiness (Disappointment).

If Reality exceeds expectations, you're happy.

So keep your expectations low and you'll always be happy.

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Tat's the instantaneous effect, so really:

H(t) = R(t) - E(t)

But over time, our expectations can also shape our reality right? As our expectations increase, our reality generally does as well:

E(t) = A*t

where t is time and A is some factor by which our expectations rise. Lifestyle creep, could be one example.

and R(t) = mE(t) + C

where C is your reality spawn-point (trust fund kid vs inner city slums kid, perhaps?), and m is the factor by which your expectations are able to influence your reality.

You'll note time (t) isn't in this equation directly. Some might disagree, but I don't think it makes sense to include time as a contributing factor If your expectation of reality doesn't increase, your Reality won't either.

But we know that expectations can't drive reality linearly, at least not forever, and eventually our reality will level off even as our expectations continue to rise. In fact, each increase in expectations is likely to lead to a smaller and smaller increase in reality (diminishing returns).

R(t) = a * E(t) / (E(t) + n)

where 'a' represents your reality 'cap' and n is a factor that affects your ramp-up speed.

And at the end of it all, if reality tops out but expectations continue to grow, then as reality falls further and further short of expectations, happiness continues to increase.

Limit[H,E->∞]= -∞

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Don't ask me why I decided to write this out.