9 TED Talks That Will Explain the Subtleties of a Happy Life

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Every person wants to become happy and keep this feeling throughout his life. Frankly speaking, the task is difficult. But doable if you understand the structure of happiness and its catalysts, which you will learn about in our selection of TED Talks.

How to buy happiness

Michael Norton PhD in Psychology, Professor at Harvard Business School

Many of us are close to one phrase that is often found in religions and books of practical advice: "Money is not happiness." I want to say that this is not true. If you really think so, then you are simply spending your money wrong.

In his "How to Buy Happiness?" Michael Norton provides accurate proof that happiness can be bought. True, you need to spend your savings not on yourself, but on other people. The speaker is not busy with humor.

Happiness can be synthesized

Daniel Gilbert Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, bestselling author

We ourselves synthesize happiness, but we think that we must seek it. We grin, believing that synthesized happiness is not like natural happiness. Natural happiness is when we get what we want, and synthetic is what we produce when we don't get what we want. In fact, synthetic happiness is no less real and complete.

In his Surprising Facts About Happiness, Dan Gilbert talks about the human psycho-immune system - a unique property of the brain that makes people happy despite serious illness, financial difficulties, or career setbacks. The speaker gives a number of illustrative examples from personal practice, revealing the causes and circumstances of the emergence of a feeling of happiness.

Choice is not always good

Sheena Iyengar PhD, bestselling author

Virtually all people have a basic need for choice, but not all of us see choice in the same place or under the same conditions. When someone doesn't see how one is different or has too many options, the selection process can be confusing and frustrating. Instead of choosing the best, we are overwhelmed by the choice, and sometimes even afraid of it. Choice no longer implies opportunity, but pressure.

In her Art of Choice, Sheena Iyengar refutes the widespread belief that freedom of choice and its breadth can bring happiness. The speaker makes interesting comparisons when the same choice made in different regions of the world by people with different upbringing brings either satisfaction or negative emotions. The sensual ending of the video will not leave you indifferent.

How to make your life better

David Steindl-Rast Catholic monk, writer

If you are grateful, you are not afraid, and if you are not afraid, then you are not cruel. If you are grateful, you are acting out of a sense of sufficiency, not out of a feeling of lack of something, and you are willing to share. If you are grateful, you enjoy the differences between people and you are respectful to everyone.

In your “Do you want to be happy? Be grateful.”David Steindl-Rast gives extremely simple instructions on how to make your life meaningful and happy in three small steps. Do not think that the speaker is not preaching his own religious beliefs. David is an elderly man with interesting life experiences who have a lot to tell.

The use of skills leads to ecstasy

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi Professor of Psychology, Bestselling Author, Researcher Lack of livelihood, money and other material resources makes people unhappy. However, after a few thousand dollars above the poverty line, the growth in material well-being does not affect the level of people's happiness.

In his "Flow, the secret of happiness" Mihai Csikszentmihalyi describes the flow of experience - a special mental state experienced by real professionals in various fields of activity. Their many years of experience and skill allow them not only to create, but to truly create, which gives them a feeling of ecstasy.

The dual structure of happiness

Daniel Kahneman Nobel laureate, writer

Each person has a “remembering self” and a “experiencing self”. They are really quite different from each other. The biggest difference between the two lies in their approach to timing.

In his Riddle of the Experience - Memory Dichotomy, Daniel Kahneman proves the duality of perception of happiness by the person who experiences it and the person who remembers it. A complex topic is laid out on the shelves using the available everyday examples.

A smile is a terrible force

Ron Gutman Investor, Entrepreneur, Writer

Whenever you want to look better and more confident in yourself, reduce your stress levels or improve your marriage, feel like you've just eaten a bunch of great chocolate without the right amount of calories, or like you've found a ton of money in your old jacket pocket - smile!

In his Secret Power of Smiles, Ron Gutman talks about how smiling affects a person's life expectancy, mood, social connections, well-being and family happiness. Of course, you know the answer in advance, but watch the report anyway: this is a good reason to smile.

Why is it important to take a break

Pico Iyer Writer, traveler

In an age of constant acceleration, nothing can be more reassuring than slowing down. In an era of absent-mindedness, nothing can be more luxurious than sharpening your attention. In an era of breakneck speeds, nothing is as important as stopping and resting.

In his Art of Taking a Break, Pico Iyer encourages listeners to periodically turn off their mobile phones and internet. This is exactly what millions of people do in order to objectively assess their life and find their purpose in it.

Excessive things make life difficult

Graham Hill Designer, writer How can you live with few? First, you need to edit ruthlessly. We need to cleanse the arteries of our life. Secondly, our new mantra: compact is sexy. We want efficiency from space. Thirdly, we need multifunctional spaces and utensils: a sink combined with a toilet, a dining table that becomes a bed.

In his "Less Things, More Happiness" Graham Hill shares his own experience of "edited" life on forty square meters, where there is no place for unnecessary things, but full of versatile furniture and high-tech gizmos.

What performances would you add here?