What if your pursuit of happiness is the very thing making you miserable? It sounds counterintuitive, right?

We live in a world obsessed with happiness. But chasing happiness is a trap.

On today’s episode, I’m breaking down why the pursuit of happiness often backfires and what you can do instead to build a life that feels truly fulfilling.

Some of the things I talk about are:

• Why treating happiness like a goal sets you up for disappointment
• The science behind the “happiness trap” and how it makes you lonelier
• How hedonic adaptation keeps you chasing the next thing
• Why embracing all your Emotions—even the uncomfortable ones—leads to a richer life
• Four things you can do to stop chasing happiness and start living meaningfully

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Related Episodes ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

• 164 — 7 Science-Backed Ways to Boost Your Happiness
• 138 — 7 Things to Spend Money On if You Want to Be a Happier Person

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Amy Morin Therapist, Bestselling Author, Host of the Mentally Stronger Podcast

Amy Morin is a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and the host of the Mentally Stronger podcast. Her books on mental strength, including 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, have sold more than 1 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages.

She’s practiced therapy for over 20 years and she’s a sought after speaker whose TEDx talk, The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong, has become one of the most popular talks of all time with more than 22 million views.

Amy lives on a sailboat in the Florida Keys.