Dr. Marc Brackett

Like happiness and contentment. Yeah, that's a tough one.

Like happiness and contentment. Yeah, that's a tough one.

Yeah, this is why I do what I do.

Yeah, this is why I do what I do.

Yeah, this is why I do what I do.

Yes, you are. When you think about happiness, it's usually about when you're achieving something. I'm going to be happy when this will bring me happiness. Contentment is the opposite. Contentment is everything is just great as it is. I feel complete. I have enough. And part of my argument against the happiness research is

Yes, you are. When you think about happiness, it's usually about when you're achieving something. I'm going to be happy when this will bring me happiness. Contentment is the opposite. Contentment is everything is just great as it is. I feel complete. I have enough. And part of my argument against the happiness research is

Yes, you are. When you think about happiness, it's usually about when you're achieving something. I'm going to be happy when this will bring me happiness. Contentment is the opposite. Contentment is everything is just great as it is. I feel complete. I have enough. And part of my argument against the happiness research is

is that we don't spend enough time helping people strive for contentment and we push people to strive for happiness, which there's research to show, you know, backfires. You know, if you're waking up every day saying, what am I going to do to be happy? What am I going to do to be happy? Chances are, you know, it's not going to work out a lot. And that kind of backfires to create more despair.

is that we don't spend enough time helping people strive for contentment and we push people to strive for happiness, which there's research to show, you know, backfires. You know, if you're waking up every day saying, what am I going to do to be happy? What am I going to do to be happy? Chances are, you know, it's not going to work out a lot. And that kind of backfires to create more despair.

is that we don't spend enough time helping people strive for contentment and we push people to strive for happiness, which there's research to show, you know, backfires. You know, if you're waking up every day saying, what am I going to do to be happy? What am I going to do to be happy? Chances are, you know, it's not going to work out a lot. And that kind of backfires to create more despair.

Exactly. I think the idea that we have to be happy all the time is also ridiculous. I mean, I'm a neurotic professor. I'm never happy. It's tough. And also, I don't know about you, but given that my dispositional affect, another term, is more on the lower energy, kind of contented, a little anxiety. When I'm around the people who are high energy and pleasant all the time, I have a difficult time.

Exactly. I think the idea that we have to be happy all the time is also ridiculous. I mean, I'm a neurotic professor. I'm never happy. It's tough. And also, I don't know about you, but given that my dispositional affect, another term, is more on the lower energy, kind of contented, a little anxiety. When I'm around the people who are high energy and pleasant all the time, I have a difficult time.

Exactly. I think the idea that we have to be happy all the time is also ridiculous. I mean, I'm a neurotic professor. I'm never happy. It's tough. And also, I don't know about you, but given that my dispositional affect, another term, is more on the lower energy, kind of contented, a little anxiety. When I'm around the people who are high energy and pleasant all the time, I have a difficult time.

No, I just feel overwhelmed and smothered by it. It's like, stop being so happy all the time.

No, I just feel overwhelmed and smothered by it. It's like, stop being so happy all the time.

No, I just feel overwhelmed and smothered by it. It's like, stop being so happy all the time.

That's okay. That's you. You know what I mean? Part of being emotionally intelligent with colleagues, romantic partners, with children, whoever, is picking up on that. Now that I know that about you, it makes me think differently about you in terms of what your needs are. That's emotional intelligence. And for me, I am like I wake up every morning like having an existential crisis.

That's okay. That's you. You know what I mean? Part of being emotionally intelligent with colleagues, romantic partners, with children, whoever, is picking up on that. Now that I know that about you, it makes me think differently about you in terms of what your needs are. That's emotional intelligence. And for me, I am like I wake up every morning like having an existential crisis.

That's okay. That's you. You know what I mean? Part of being emotionally intelligent with colleagues, romantic partners, with children, whoever, is picking up on that. Now that I know that about you, it makes me think differently about you in terms of what your needs are. That's emotional intelligence. And for me, I am like I wake up every morning like having an existential crisis.