Traditional research into subjective well-being treats it as something that fluctuates with changing life conditions, thoughts, and emotions. This inquiry explores the possibility of a nondual experience of well-being that remains unaffected by such fluctuations, drawing on traditional mindfulness concepts. It examines evidence that the sense of self is constructed and can be deconstructed through mindfulness practices, potentially leading to increased positive affect, decreased negative affect, self-lessness, emotional self-regulation, and resilience. Findings suggest mindfulness training may target psychological dimensions that contribute to a stable well-being transcending life conditions. The authors recommend collaboration between subjective well-being research and mindfulness to further investigate nondual well-being.
Happiness has been studied through life areas and subjective well-being, but these approaches yield only partial and unstable happiness. This chapter examines whether lasting, full happiness is possible by turning to traditional mindfulness and ancient wisdom traditions. These traditions argue that the constructed sense of self causes fluctuations in happiness. The chapter explores a model of robust happiness that could be a stable attribute of a fully functional human being.