Retire Sooner with Wes Moss

Why Happiness Is Not Necessarily The Best Goal with Emily Esfahani Smith

Nov 8, 2021
Emily Esfahani Smith, author of "The Power of Meaning" and a renowned speaker, shares her insights on the importance of meaning over happiness. She discusses the four pillars of a meaningful life: belonging, purpose, transcendence, and storytelling. Drawing from her Sufi upbringing, she highlights the rising despair in today’s world and the significance of contributing to something larger than ourselves. She also emphasizes the transformative power of everyday moments, inviting listeners to cultivate connections and find purpose in life.
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INSIGHT

Meaning Versus Happiness

  • Positive psychology studies what makes life worth living, not just how to treat mental illness.
  • Emily Esfahani Smith highlights meaning as distinct from happiness and central to flourishing.
ANECDOTE

Sufi Upbringing Shaped Her Focus

  • Emily grew up in a Sufi meeting house where meditation and service were central practices.
  • Those early experiences shaped her lifelong interest in meaning and spiritual practices.
INSIGHT

Despair Linked To Lack Of Meaning

  • Rising rates of despair often stem from a lack of meaning, not just unhappiness.
  • Viktor Frankl's idea: happiness must ensue from leading a meaningful life, not be directly pursued.
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