TED Talk Tuesday #263 – The surprising science of happiness

TED continues to spread ideas and help us all be better critical thinkers. Watching, listening and talking about TED Talks is a popular pastime for many in the CN&CO community. We visit TED.com regularly to clear our heads, have a laugh, learn or get inspired. TED Talks open our minds, spark new ways of thinking and can lead to some very interesting conversations and business opportunities. Each week we pick a favourite and publish it on a Tuesday, because we like how “TED Talk Tuesday” sounds. It’s also a way that the CN&CO team play their part in spreading ideas and helping to make the world a better place.

This weeks TED talk is titled – “The Surprising Science of Happiness” by Dan Gilbert

Most of us are always in pursuit of happiness, and Dan Gilbert’s talk offers an interesting perspective on what truly makes us happy. I chose this talk because he took the time to do research and he explains it in a way that is relatable, engaging and has thought-provoking points on happiness.

The talk is fascinating, as a psychologist- Dan Gilbert challenges common assumptions about what makes us happy. He starts by explaining how our minds generate happiness and how we often misjudge what will bring us lasting satisfaction.

Drawing upon his research, Dan explores the idea of what he calls “synthetic happiness”—the happiness we create when things don’t go as planned. He shares experiments that demonstrate how we have a remarkable ability to adapt and find happiness even in unexpected circumstances.

Dan delves into the idea of impact bias, the tendency to overestimate the long-term emotional impact of both positive and negative events. He explains how our predictions about what will make us happy or unhappy often deviate from reality.

Throughout the talk, Dan’s humour and storytelling make it even more enjoyable and questions our own assumptions about happiness. He ends with a powerful message, “that our ability to create our own happiness is far greater than we might think”.

I hope you enjoy this fresh perspective on happiness, and I encourage you to revaluate what your pursuit of happiness is.