Post Reports Can you choose to be happy?
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Oct 18, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Dr. Fuchsia Sirwa, a social and health psychology professor at Durham University, shares insights on optimism, well-being, and resilience. She highlights how mindset shifts and practices like gratitude can foster happiness. Atdhe Trepca, the filmmaker behind the viral 'Are You Happy?' project, reveals the surprising candidness in people's responses about joy amidst hardship. They explore whether happiness is a choice and the impact of social support on well-being, blending personal stories with research-backed evidence.
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From Day Job To Global Question
- Atdhe Trepca quit his job and spent years asking strangers "Are you happy?" across the world and online.
- His videos caught fire during COVID and became a documentary and nonprofit supporting other groups.
Looks Can Mask Emptiness
- A young man at a Miami gas station looks put-together but says he isn't happy because he feels days pass without accomplishment.
- The clip illustrates that outward appearance doesn't predict internal well-being.
Happiness Grows From Processed Pain
- Atdhe noticed the happiest people often endured the worst hardships and processed them constructively.
- He argues happiness often coexists with sadness and grows from working through painful experiences.