Everyone’s obsessed with being happy—but what if that obsession is the very thing making us miserable? In this episode of Solved, Drew and I explore what actually makes us feel good—and why most of us are chasing it in all the wrong ways.We unpack what philosophers like Aristotle and the Buddha got right thousands of years ago—and how modern science is just now catching up. We talk about hedonic vs. eudaimonic happiness, why more money and status don’t necessarily move the needle, and why most self-help advice completely misses the point. Happiness isn’t something you get. It’s a side effect of doing the right things for the right reasons.So, if you're tired of chasing "more" and ready to actually feel a little less miserable, this one’s for you.We also put together a free companion guide for this episode with all the takeaways, references, and tools to help you get your sh*t together once and for all. Download it here: https://solvedpodcast.com/happinessReady to stop listening to podcasts and actually start taking action? Join Momentum, a community of like-minded people who are taking small steps every day to make big changes in their lives: https://findmomentum.com/happinessSign up for my newsletter, Your Next Breakthrough. It will help make you a less awful person: https://markmanson.net/breakthroughFollow me:https://instagram.com/markmanson/https://twitter.com/IAmMarkMansonhttps://facebook.com/Markmansonnet/https://linkedin.com/in/markmanson/https://www.tiktok.com/@iammarkmansonChapters:0:00 Introduction10:42 Chapter 1: The Origins of Human Happiness11:04 Hedonia vs Eudaimonia15:11 Epicureanism23:20 Eastern Perspectives27:15 Modern Happiness Research29:30 Chapter 2: The WEIRD Problem: When Happiness Research Goes West40:47 Chapter 3: The Three Components of Happiness46:44 Hedonic Adaptation59:53 Chapter 4: What Does—and Doesn't—Make Us Happy1:00:35 Drugs and Alcohol1:07:23 Sex1:15:09 Money1:23:10 Fame and Status1:37:26 Geography and Environment1:39:51 Love and Relationships1:41:19 Friendships1:44:04 Having Children1:49:10 The Experiencing vs. Remembering Self1:52:53 Chapter 5: Baseline vs. Circumstantial vs. Intentional Happiness1:53:35 Genetics1:59:50 Circumstances2:02:16 Intentional Actions2:06:13 Relationships2:10:51 Gratitude2:13:13 Altruism2:18:47 Experiences vs. Stuff2:22:12 Implementing Intentional Happiness2:24:21 Chapter 6: Don't Pursue Happiness; Remove Unhappiness 2:29:05 Social Comparison2:31:30 Maximizers vs. Satisficers2:34:19 Chapter 7: How Happiness Changes Across the Lifespan2:51:44 Chapter 8: Happiness Myths3:04:47 Chapter 9: The 80/20 Guide to Happiness 3:16:22 Lessons Learned
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