Thinking it could be worse makes us grateful that it is not. Thinking it could be better makes us desire for more. In that way I think the two ideas are differe

Thinking it could be worse makes us grateful that it is not. Thinking it could be better makes us desire for more. In that way I think the two ideas are different. I think there is great wisdom in the buddhist idea of desire being the root for all suffering. But if we want to make progress we have to desire for more. So then we have to embrace the Buddha's idea that "life is suffering". Another factor I haven't seen mentioned much in this thread, which undoubtedly plays a role in our happiness is genetics and upbringing. Some of our brains are just wired in ways that predispose us to being (un)happy.