Happiness isn't a reward for a job well done. It’s not a destination you reach after you’ve finally paid off the mortgage or found "the one." Honestly, most of us treat joy like a software update we keep delaying because we’re too busy running old, glitchy programs.
Mo Gawdat, the former Chief Business Officer at Google [X], thinks about it differently. He’s an engineer. Engineers don't do "vibes"—they do systems. When his 21-year-old son, Ali, died unexpectedly during a routine surgical procedure in 2014, Gawdat didn't just collapse into the grief. He used the very algorithm he’d been perfecting for years to survive it.
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That algorithm is the heart of Mo Gawdat Solve for Happy. It’s a book that basically treats your brain like a machine that needs debugging.
The Equation That Changes Everything
Most people think success leads to happiness. Mo says that’s backwards. Success is a byproduct of being happy. But how do you actually "solve" for it? He puts it into a simple formula:
$$Happiness \ge Your\ Perception\ of\ the\ Events\ of\ Your\ Life - Your\ Expectations\ of\ How\ Life\ Should\ Be$$
It’s almost too simple, right? But look closer.
The math tells us that unhappiness doesn't come from what happens to you. It comes from the gap between what happened and what you thought should happen. If it rains on your wedding day, the rain isn't the problem. Your expectation of a sunny day is the problem. The rain just exists.
You’ve probably felt this. Think about a time you got a $500 bonus. If you expected nothing, you’re thrilled. If you expected $2,000, that same $500 feels like an insult. The money is the same; the expectation is the variable that broke the equation.
Why Your Brain Is a "Liar"
Mo argues that our default state is actually happiness. Look at a toddler. As long as they aren't hungry, tired, or in pain, they’re basically peaking. They don't need a reason to be happy; they just are. We, on the other hand, spend our adult lives coming up with reasons to be miserable.
He breaks this down into "The 6-7-5" model. To return to that default state, you have to dismantle the junk your brain has collected.
The 6 Grand Illusions
These are the big lies we believe that keep us stuck.
- The Illusion of Thought: You are not the voice in your head. That voice is just a biological tool, like your gallbladder. You don't have to believe everything it says.
- The Illusion of Control: Newsflash: you have zero control over the external world. You only control your actions.
- The Illusion of Time: We live in the past (regret) or the future (anxiety). Neither exists. Only now is real.
The 7 Blind Spots
Your brain isn't showing you the full picture. It’s "filtering" reality. It assumes things. It predicts the worst-case scenario because, 10,000 years ago, that kept us from being eaten by tigers. Today, it just makes us stressed about an email from our boss.
The 5 Ultimate Truths
These are the hard realities we have to accept to find peace. The biggest one? Death. Mo writes movingly about Ali’s passing, arguing that since death is inevitable, fearing it is a waste of the life we actually have.
It’s Not About Being "Positive"
One of the biggest misconceptions about Mo Gawdat Solve for Happy is that it’s just another "think positive" book. It really isn't. It’s actually quite cold and logical. Mo doesn't tell you to pretend bad things aren't happening. He tells you to look at them clearly, without the emotional "coloring" your brain adds.
When Ali died, Mo had a choice. He could focus on the thought "It’s unfair that he’s gone," which would lead to endless suffering. Or he could focus on "I had 21 years with an incredible human being." Both are true. One makes the equation work; the other breaks it.
Is This Actually Realistic?
Critics sometimes argue that Mo’s approach is a bit too "Silicon Valley." Can you really "algorithm" your way out of clinical depression or systemic poverty? Probably not entirely. Mo acknowledges that basic needs must be met first. If you’re starving or in danger, the equation doesn't apply the same way.
But for the millions of people who have "everything" and are still miserable, this perspective is a lifeline. It moves happiness from something that happens to you to something you perform.
How to Start Solving Your Own Equation
You don't need to read the whole book to start debugging your brain today. Honestly, just realizing that your "unhappiness" is a signal that your expectations are out of sync with reality is half the battle.
- Make a Happy List. Mo suggests writing down everything that makes you feel that "everything is okay" feeling. Not big stuff like "winning the lottery." Little stuff. The smell of coffee. The way your dog greets you. The feeling of clean sheets.
- Audit Your Expectations. Next time you feel that heavy, sinking feeling in your chest, ask: "What was I expecting to happen here?" Most of the time, you’ll find you were demanding something from the universe that it never promised you.
- The "Is it True?" Test. When your inner monologue starts spiraling ("I'm going to get fired," "Nobody likes me"), treat it like a bug report. Ask: Is this 100% factually true? Usually, it's just a "blind spot" or an "assumption."
Happiness is a choice, but it’s a difficult one that requires daily maintenance. It’s more like going to the gym than winning a trophy. You have to keep showing up for the "now."
Actionable Steps for Today
- Silence the Notifications: Your brain can't find "now" if it's being pinged by "then" or "later" every five minutes. Turn off non-human notifications.
- Write Your First 5: Take a piece of paper right now and finish the sentence "I feel happy when..." five times.
- Practice "Glancing": When you think about the past or future, do it intentionally. Set a timer. "I will think about my schedule for 5 minutes, then I’m coming back to my coffee." Don't let your brain wander off without a leash.
The goal isn't to never feel pain. The goal is to stop the unnecessary suffering that comes from fighting reality. Once you accept the "is," you can finally start to enjoy it.
Practical Next Steps
Start by identifying one recurring "unhappy" thought you have this week. Apply the equation: Is this thought based on a reality I can't change, or an expectation I haven't let go of? Document the "Happy List" items that occur naturally throughout your day to retrain your brain's filtering mechanism toward the positive. Over time, these small shifts in perception serve as a "manual override" for the brain's default settings.