Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

5 Simple Ways To Transform Your Happiness in 2026 with Dr Rangan Chatterjee #606

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Dec 26, 2025

Is happiness a skill that can be developed? Dive into the contrast between junk happiness and core happiness. Explore how defining personal success can reshape your life perspective. Learn how reducing daily choices can alleviate mental fatigue, giving you more control. Discover the flow state and its power in enhancing well-being through engaging activities. Lastly, Rangan emphasizes the importance of dealing with social friction to build resilience and improve happiness. Transform your happiness journey with these practical tips!

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INSIGHT

Happiness Is A Trainable Skill

Rangan Chatterjee defines happiness as a skill built from three ingredients: contentment, control, and alignment.
Strengthening these ingredients raises your baseline happiness and resilience to life's stressors.

INSIGHT

Junk Versus Core Happiness

Distinguish 'junk happiness' (short-lived pleasures) from 'core happiness' (stable baseline).
Chasing junk happiness often reduces long-term wellbeing while core habits build lasting contentment.

ANECDOTE

Fridge Habits To Stay Aligned

Rangan shares his three weekly habits pinned to his fridge: five family meals, a weekly podcast episode, and playing guitar.
He credits these habits with keeping his values aligned despite external demands.

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Is happiness a skill you can develop? Or is it a place you find yourself, if you’re lucky? Today’s podcast is a bonus episode that I’ve recorded, from me to you, to demonstrate that yes, happiness is about more than just chance.

These special Boxing Day podcasts are becoming a bit of a tradition now (look out for one I’ll be releasing on New Year’s Day too). And in this one, I share five powerful ideas with you – five happiness habits that can transform your life in meaningful ways.

They’re all explored in much greater detail in my book Happy Mind Happy Life: 10 Simple Ways to Feel Great Every Day, which is being re-published in the UK in an exciting new format on 1 January 2026. But you can leverage your happiness levels right away by listening today.

Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll learn: 1. Happiness is a Skill - Discover the difference between ‘junk happiness’ and ‘core happiness’ to feel more content, in control, and aligned with your values. 2. Define Success for Yourself - Imagine yourself on your deathbed and identify three things you’ll wish you had done. What can you do now to move toward that ending? 3. Eliminate Choice - We make thousands of decisions a day, and each one drains mental energy. By creating routines and reducing choice, you can reduce that stress. 4. Make Time Stand Still - Identify ‘flow state’ activities that make you lose track of time, and schedule them as investments in your happiness. 5. Seek Out Friction - If someone upsets you, ask yourself why their words affected you so much. Rewriting their story with compassion will increase your own sense of control.

I hope this episode helps you and your family cultivate lasting happiness in 2026 and beyond. I explore all these ideas and many more in my newly formatted book Happy Mind Happy Life - available here as a paperback or as an audiobook, which I am narrating.

Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. Try FREE for 7 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.

Thanks to our sponsor:

https://drinkag1.com/livemore

Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/606

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.