In his article "Some Dark Thoughts on Happiness," Daniel Gilbert argues that happiness is not something that can be achieved or pursued directly. Rather, it is a byproduct of other things, such as meaningful relationships, personal growth, and a sense of purpose. Gilbert also discusses the role of genetics and luck in happiness and argues that external circumstances often have a greater impact on our happiness than our own actions or thoughts.
The main idea of the article is that happiness is not something that we should chase or strive for directly, but rather something that comes as a result of living a meaningful and fulfilling life.