"So what will make me happy, Cracked.com writers?"

For the next 10 seconds, stare at this picture of a guy hugging a tiger.

Notice how you weren't worrying about your job during those 10 seconds?

Experts have figured out that the brain has no ability to actually predict your emotional reaction to life changes that haven't happened yet. In other words, you physically do not know what you want. The act of sitting around pondering it is apparently what fucks you up.

This might be because for most of human history, we didn't have time to do that. We were too busy gathering berries and running from wild animals. Now that we've got things so under control that the animals hug us. . . well, we're like the guy up there who didn't know what to do with his lotto winnings.

This may be why studies show friendships, altruism and religious practices bring happiness. It may be that taking the focus off your own happiness is what makes happiness possible.

If that sounds like a mind-boggling, ridiculous paradox, clearly arranged by the gods to torment us. . . well, we agree. Here's a video of a baby porcupine eating a banana.

By David Wong, Elizabeth Benefiel February 17, 2009 (via Cracked.com)