Happiness is subjective revenue is objective

Revenue is a measure of objective usefulness to people.

Happiness is a measure of subjective valuing of what we do.

Self-esteem is a measure of subjective usefulness to other people.

Gratitude is a measure of valuing what others do for me.

Let’s bring some formalisation and define a notation:

Revenue equals how others value what I do. Symbolically:

Happiness equals how I value what I do. Symbolically:

Self-esteem equals how I value what I do to others. Symbolically:

Gratitude equals how I value what others to do me. Symbolically:

There are a few observations:

• You can be happy merely by valuing what you do.
• You can feel happy without being objectively useful to others.
• You can not be happy unless you subjectively feel valuable to others.
• You won’t be happy if you do not value what you do, no matter how much you earn.
• We can increase others’ self-esteem by encouraging them to value what they do.
• You can feel more gratitude merely by noticing people doing something to you.
• Revenue is the only source of objectiveness.