The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos Fighting that "Meh" Feeling of Languishing
62 snips
Feb 14, 2022 
Adam Grant, an organizational psychologist at Wharton and bestselling author, shares his journey through the 'meh' feelings of languishing. He describes how this emotional state crept in during the pandemic, affecting his productivity and motivation. Grant emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing languishing for mental health. He reveals how rediscovering joy through playful activities like Mario Kart helped him overcome this stagnation. The conversation also highlights the need to foster connections and engage in fulfilling pursuits to combat feelings of emptiness.
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Adam's Pandemic Habits
- Adam Grant habitually avoided mindless TV and social media.
- During the pandemic, he found himself breaking his own rules, staying up late, and binge-watching.
Not Depression, Not Burnout
- Adam Grant realized he wasn't experiencing depression or burnout.
- He felt a sense of aimlessness and joylessness, distinct from typical exhaustion.
Defining Languishing
- Languishing is a sense of emptiness and stagnation, a neglected middle ground between mental illness and flourishing.
- It's the absence of mental health rather than the presence of illness.
