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2 critical misconceptions about happiness | Tal Ben-Shahar | Big Think

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March 11, 2022

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The 2 biggest misconceptions about happiness, with Tal Ben-Shahar

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Up next ►► Don’t chase happiness. Become antifragile

We study medicine, psychology, history, and geography but not happiness. This makes no sense, if happiness is one of life’s most important goals.

Many people believe that happiness is superficial — the absence of pain and the pursuit of pleasure. But a happy life is not necessarily devoid of pain.

Tal Ben-Shahar, Harvard's "happiness professor," says that the science of happiness can introduce us to new ways of thinking that will lead to contentment.

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Read the video transcript

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About Tal Ben-Shahar:

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned teacher and author in the fields of happiness and leadership. After graduating from Harvard with a BA in Philosophy and Psychology and a PhD in Organizational Behavior, Tal taught two of the most popular courses in Harvard’s history: Positive Psychology and The Psychology of Leadership. He then taught Happiness Studies at Columbia University. A prolific writer, Tal's books have appeared on best-sellers lists around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Tal BenShahar consults and lectures to executives in multinational corporations, educational institutions, and the general public. Topics include leadership, education, ethics, happiness, selfesteem, resilience, goal setting and mindfulness. Dr. Tal BenShahar is also the cofounder of the Happiness Studies Academy. Learn more here

Tal is an avid sportsman and a certified yoga instructor whose work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, ancient wisdom and modern technology, science and art.

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Read more of our stories on the study of emotions:

Feeling bad about feeling bad? Embrace negative emotions instead, study says

Emotions pass along a friendship network like a contagion, study finds

Scientists chart 27 distinct human emotions on this interactive map

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Guests & Subjects Covered

Tal Ben-Shahar SubscribeTal Ben-Shahar Harvard'sOrganizational Behavior TalPositive PsychologyThe PsychologyLeadership HeHappiness StudiesColumbia University A

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