A psychologist insists: the greatest stage of a person’s life begins when they start thinking this way
In a world where everyone’s chasing happiness, a new angle is starting to turn heads. The idea that happiness belongs to a particular life stage is being questioned by modern psychologists. Rafael Santandreu, a well-known Spanish psychologist, throws in an interesting idea: the best stage of life doesn’t start at a certain age but when you consciously change your way of thinking. That claim nudges people to reassess how content they feel now compared with past phases of life.
How we see different life stages
Across the ages, each part of life has been put on a pedestal. Childhood is often remembered through rose-tinted glasses (seen as a time of innocence and play), yet psychologists point out it also comes with dependence and limits. Teen years are usually linked with chances and discovery, but studies flag the insecurities and anxiety that frequently come with youth — supported by “many studies” into youth mental health that show how widespread these problems are.
When it comes to old age, some research suggests older adults may see an improvement in emotional well‑being — sometimes referred to as a “regain de bien‑être émotionnel” — but that view isn’t accepted across the board by scientists. Because there isn’t a clear scientific consensus, no single life stage can claim to be the universally happiest, which pushes the discussion towards what really makes a period of life the best.
Why a fresh state of mind matters for happiness
Contemporary psychology puts a lot of weight on moving away from nostalgia and finding happiness in the present. The point is that no one past stage is automatically the happiest; each comes with its own problems. Childhood’s dependence, youth’s anxieties, and the mixed findings around older age all show that every phase has downsides. As Rafael Santandreu suggests, the difference lies less in age and more in mindset.
Santandreu argues the “best stage of life” kicks in the moment someone takes up “the right way” of thinking. He explains, “The best stage of a person’s life is the one where they begin to think in the right way, to stop complaining and to appreciate the incredible, magical, even spiritual things that surround them at every moment.” That change means deliberately turning attention to the positive around you, and it calls for real focus and effort.
How to get to that mindset
This way of thinking doesn’t come automatically; it takes conscious work and practice. As Santandreu puts it, “When you decide to do that, that you begin to do it with intensity and concentration, it begins to take effect on your mind.” Over time, that clearer, more positive outlook can bring about what he describes as a life stage “much happier and more intense” than childhood or adolescence.
The idea is empowering: you can take charge of your own happiness regardless of your age. By shifting how you look at things and learning to appreciate the present, you can open up a richer, more intense life. Santandreu stresses it’s a practical process — you have to choose to think and act differently to notice the change in your mental state.
Think about it — then act
In today’s consumerist swirl, where happiness is often sold as something you can buy, Santandreu’s thesis stands out as a reminder that mindset matters for genuine contentment. It encourages people to look inward and realise their happiest moments might not be found in memories but in choices made now. Adopting that outlook isn’t easy — it involves unlearning long-held patterns of thought — but the potential reward is a life enriched more by attitude than by time.
This take on happiness challenges common beliefs and asks everyone to play an active role in their own journey to well‑being. While scientists haven’t reached agreement on which life stage is the happiest, the possibility of creating your own peak experience through mindfulness and appreciation is, for many, readily within reach.