January 2, 2019
The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes – The Secret to Happiness
Key Takeaways
- Happiness is a choice, and it starts with YOU
Intro
- Everyone wants happiness, but most people don’t know what happiness really is
- This is a compilation episode, with clips about happiness from some of Lewis’ past guests
Here’s what Marisa Peer (@MarisaPeer) had to say
- “There is no destination called happiness. Happiness is the journey.”
- You have to choose to be happy now, because happiness is not something that you’ll “eventually arrive at”
- Happiness is a choice
- “Choose to be happy in adversity, rather than believing that when there’s no adversity, then you’ll be happy” – There will ALWAYS be adversity and stress in your life
- “You cannot go to happiness, you have to be happy now”
Susan David (@SusanDavid_PhD)
- “Happiness cannot be a goal”
- But we live in a society that tells us that we should pursue and chase happiness
- Research shows that when people pursue happiness as a goal, they actually become less happy over time
- “Happiness comes from not chasing positive emotions”
- It comes from being willing to experience whatever emotion you’re feeling – whether sadness or anything else – and not wishing it away
James Clear (@JamesClear)
- “Happiness is just the absence of desire”
- By craving one state, you are more likely to not be enjoying your current state
- “Happiness is just not wanting something. It’s like observing your life, without craving a change in it.”
Rachel Hollis (@msrachelhollis)
- “Happiness isn’t dependent on outside influence. Happiness is something that you create for yourself.”
- Happiness is up to YOU
Rich Roll (@richroll)
- Many people think that happiness can be achieved through the external – accomplishments, relationships, finances, and career
- “But the ability to be happy resides within YOU”
- It’s about the relationship you have with yourself
Shaun T (@ShaunT)
- “Happiness is not connected to material things in any way, shape, or form”
- Happiness is connected to interpersonal relationships, and it starts with the relationship you have with yourself
- If you have a great relationship with yourself, you can have a great relationship with other people – this leads to happiness
- “If you DO things that make you feel great about who you are, then happiness is going to happen”
Trent Shelton (@TrentShelton)
- “As long as you’re dependent on someone else to give you happiness, then you’re bound to be unhappy”
- Happiness is inside of you, it’s not something that you go look for
Brook Ence (@brookeence)
- “Happiness all starts with how you think about yourself”
- Live your best life – that’s a good start
- Talk to yourself, like you would talk to your best friend
- But it’s okay to derive happiness from external objects – it just shouldn’t solely be where your happiness comes from
- Really examine why that object makes you happy – if that new car you bought is nice, but your sole reason for buying it was to impress others, it won’t make you happy
