About this episode

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar discusses the paradox of happiness and the importance of embracing unhappiness for a meaningful life.

Tal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned scholar, teacher, and author specialising in positive psychology and the science of wellbeing. He is best known for teaching two of the most popular courses in the history of Harvard University, which attracted thousands of students and helped bring the science of happiness into the mainstream. Tal is the co-founder of the Happiness Studies Academy, where he works to bridge academic research and practical application, helping individuals, organisations, and educators cultivate greater wellbeing, resilience, and fulfilment. Today, we discuss a simple question. That is, what if the pursuit of happiness is the very thing making us unhappy? We explore one of the most misunderstood ideas in psychology: that a meaningful life is not free from sadness, anxiety, grief, or disappointment - but is shaped by how we relate to them. We discuss why resisting painful emotions often intensifies suffering, the psychology behind lasting change, the knowing-doing gap, the power of tiny habits, attention in the age of distraction, meaningful relationships, awe, gratitude, and what it truly means to live a well-lived life. This is a conversation about…

People in this episode

Hosts: Joseph, Lewis

Guest: Tal Ben-Shahar

Topics covered

• happiness
• positive psychology
• wellbeing
• emotional resilience
• meaningful life
• psychology

Keywords

• happiness
• unhappiness
• psychology
• wellbeing
• resilience
• meaningful relationships
• tiny habits
• gratitude

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Happiness Studies Academy, Harvard University

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