In today’s episode, we cover happiness and positive psychology with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. Tal Ben-Shahar taught two of the largest classes in Harvard University’s history, Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership, and now consults and lectures around the world to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations.

Finding happiness in the chaos of life has been a struggle for many in recent years, but what can be done about it, what role do technology and social media play, and how do we help our children navigate the increasing complexity of this world?

What to Listen For

Introduction Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar and Happiness - 1:20

What two groups of people don’t experience painful emotions and why would you not want to be in either group?
What are the biggest myths surrounding happiness and positive psychology?
What can 2020 teach us about happiness?
What are the fundamentals of happiness and what makes them fundamental?
When is distraction a positive thing to have in our lives and when should we avoid it?

Building Healthy Habits Around Media Consumption - 10:50

What healthy habits can you develop around media consumption so you don’t drive your mental health into the ground?
What are sanity islands and how can you use them to limit screen time and promote moderation?
What are the benefits of social media use?
What is the biggest contributor to depression and suicide in teenagers and what can we do about it?
What are the 3 strategies you can use as a parent to promote healthy mental and emotional growth for your kids in the world of smartphones and social media?

The Impact of Tech/Media Consumption on Our Daily Lives - 27:00
Why is it important to be comfortable with boredom and why do we need boredom to come up with our best ideas?
How does our addiction to stimulation impact our relationships and what can we do to prevent our relationships from collapsing as a result?
How do we overcome the paradox of choice so we can simply move forward with a choice rather than getting stuck trying to choose something?
When is it detrimental to our happiness and well-being to have unrealistic expectations and how can you determine when it is ok to have high expectations?
What is the most powerful gift we can give to people we care about who are suffering?
What is toxic positivity and is it a legitimate concern in society?

With mental health issues on the rise in modern society, it seems like happiness is taking a back seat to productivity and profit. Younger generations are experiencing spikes in depression and suicide as a direct result of mass adoption of smartphones and social media. The news is constantly bombarding us with fear and tragic events around the world.

What can we do? For one, we can start by limiting our exposure to all the screens in our daily lives. The devices we own and the software on them are all engineered to keep us using them as long as possible. If you want to feel happier, replace screen time with face time, and not the kind of face time that requires a device. Real in-person face time. The same goes for your kids. Children aren’t going to learn social skills by sitting in front of a screen all day.

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Resources from this Episode

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar’s website

Happiness Studies Academy

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