Category: Happiness
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New Ways to Be Happier: Practical Wisdom from Vanessa King and a Growing Global Movement
We all want to feel happier and more resilient, especially when life gets messy. But what does it really take to build lasting wellbeing—not just for ourselves, but for the people we care about? For me, this question became personal. I’ve not only championed the Action for Happiness movement in my own life, but also…
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The Journey Is All There Is: Naval Ravikant on Time, Happiness, and Success
Part 2: In a deeply reflective conversation, entrepreneur and philosopher Naval Ravikant sits down with Chris to dissect the complex interplay between time, happiness, success, suffering, and fame. It’s not a motivational soundbite session, but rather an honest, often self-revealing discussion on how to live a good life—not just by chasing goals, but by understanding…
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Press Pause and Reflect: The Power of a Life Audit
We live in a fast-moving world. Days blur into weeks, and before we know it, months have slipped by. We chase goals, tick off tasks, juggle responsibilities—but how often do we actually stop and ask ourselves whether we’re on the right path? That’s where a life audit comes in. It’s not just another to-do; it’s…
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When Life Slows Down, You Begin to Wake Up
Sometimes, you come across a video that feels like someone is speaking the words you didn’t know you needed to hear. That’s what happened when I watched Reflections Of My Life on YouTube. It wasn’t just a personal story — it was a mirror. A wake-up call. A gentle but powerful reminder that life is…
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Die With Zero: A Wake-Up Call to Stop Wasting Your Life
There’s a person out there—you might be one of them—living life on autopilot. Following the script. Cookie-cuttering every step, afraid to break the mold. Deep down, they yearn for more. They want to move to a new city, say “I love you” first, run the marathon, chase the dream, live the story. Yet the fear…
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A Simpler Way: Thoreau’s Bold Economics of Living
When Henry David Thoreau retreated to the woods around Walden Pond in the mid-19th century, it wasn’t to escape society but to see it more clearly. In the first chapter of Walden, aptly titled “Economy,” Thoreau turns a sharp and contemplative eye on the economic systems of his time—and what he saw remains disturbingly familiar…
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Life Truly Begins at 40: Embracing the Journey to Authenticity
There’s a reason why the old adage, “Life begins at 40,” resonates so deeply with so many. It speaks to more than just age—it captures a pivotal moment of transformation that many of us quietly sense as we approach this milestone. At 40, something shifts. It’s as though the road behind us, lined with expectations…
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The Hidden Cost of Comfort: Why Seeking Discomfort Might Just Save You
Imagine standing at the edge of a vast frozen wilderness. The cold slices through every layer of clothing. Your breath turns to crystals in the air. There’s no phone signal, no Wi-Fi, and certainly no cozy couch waiting at the end of the day. It’s just you, the elements, and a primal need to survive…
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The Unexpected Riches of Having Less
Is it possible that having less can actually give us more? At first glance, it may sound like one of those frustrating clichés designed to console those who are struggling. Many people would rightly push back, arguing that when your basic needs aren’t being met, romanticizing scarcity is offensive and out of touch. But what…
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The Secret to Lasting Happiness: Spend Less, Live More
In a world where success is often measured by wealth and possessions, it might feel counterintuitive to claim that happiness doesn’t lie in how much we earn or own. Yet, page after page of psychological research tells us something surprisingly liberating: we can be happier with less, and the key lies in embracing the ancient…
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Why Money Might Not Buy Happiness—But Poverty Can Steal It
There’s a raw, often unspoken truth buried in modern life: being broke hurts. Not just practically, but emotionally, psychologically, and even existentially. When we lose our job, our home, our savings—or live under the constant threat of losing them—our sense of safety and dignity takes a hit. Words like foreclosure, bankruptcy, eviction, and pink slip…
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Your Happiest Days Are Behind You—And That’s a Good Thing
When we think about happiness, we tend to look ahead. We imagine it waiting for us in the future, just around the next corner—after the promotion, the relationship, the vacation, the next big change. But what if that’s the wrong direction to look? In his heartfelt and humorous TEDx talk, psychologist Robert Biswas-Diener flips the…
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Tiny Experiments, Big Shifts: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World
In a world that’s constantly evolving, many of us find ourselves drowning in cognitive overload. We absorb more information than ever before, build endless to-do lists, and cling to routines in a desperate attempt to keep up. But our brains haven’t evolved to match this speed. We’re running ancient software on modern hardware. Social media…
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Daniel Kahneman on Well-Being: The Pursuit of Happiness vs. The Story of Our Lives
Title: Daniel Kahneman on the Science of Happiness: From Experience to Memory and Back Again In a conversation as illuminating as it was honest, Nobel Laureate Daniel Kahneman sat down to reflect on his decades of groundbreaking work—not just in behavioral economics and decision-making, but in the complex world of human well-being. Best known for…
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Don’t Waste Your Life: Lessons on Risk, Wealth, and Time from Bill Perkins
The Fear of Wasting Life If you’ve ever felt stuck in the mundane rhythm of life, hesitating to take that leap—whether it’s moving to a new city, chasing a dream, or telling someone you love them first—Bill Perkins has a message for you: Don’t waste your life. Bill Perkins, the author of Die With Zero,…
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We Can Do Better Than Happiness: Insights from The Big Picture
In our modern quest for happiness, we often treat it as the ultimate goal—a prize waiting at the end of life’s journey. Books, podcasts, and motivational speakers eagerly promise the secret formula to attain and sustain this elusive state. The message is clear: if only we were happy, everything else would fall into place. But…
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The Big Picture by Sean Carroll
The idea of the “Ten Commandments” is fascinating. It mixes two things we love: making lists of ten and telling others how to live. The most famous list comes from the Hebrew Bible, handed from God to Moses on Mount Sinai. Over time, people outside religion have also made their own lists—like atheist or socialist…
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The Secret to Happiness: A Journey Beyond Wants
For Harvard Professor, Arthur Brooks, what does it mean to be a “professor of happiness”? It’s not about teaching people to chase fleeting feelings or superficial joys. It’s about understanding happiness as a profound, multidimensional experience. At its core, happiness is not just a feeling. It’s a combination of three essential elements: enjoyment, purpose, and satisfaction. Let’s dive…
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Finding the Present Moment – Insights from Sam Harris
In a profound reflection, Sam Harris sheds light on a universal paradox of human life: we often regret the things we cared about when life was “normal.” It’s not just about how we spent our time but about how our attention was bound to trivial concerns. This realization, though inevitable, rarely transforms the way we…
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Life Lessons for Personal Growth: 20 Powerful Paradoxes
1. Embrace Life’s Unfairness Life isn’t fair, and that’s a hard truth we often resist. But the sooner you accept this, the more freedom you’ll feel. Letting go of expectations of fairness frees you from unnecessary frustration and disappointment. 2. Seek True Freedom True freedom isn’t tied to money. It’s about having the power to…
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The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: Lessons in Living from Bronnie Ware
As we move through life, caught up in daily routines, career ambitions, and endless to-do lists, it’s easy to forget what really matters. But when people reach the end of their lives, they have the gift—or burden—of hindsight. Bronnie Ware, a palliative care nurse who spent years caring for terminally ill patients, captured these reflections…
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The Question to Ask Yourself at 40
Turning 40 can be a strange milestone. It’s a time when many of us pause, look around, and ask, “How did I get here?” By this age, we’ve often checked off many of the big life boxes—career, family, home—but something still nags at the edges. Maybe it’s the weight of responsibilities or the realization that…
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Aristotle’s Guide to Happiness: Virtue, Wisdom, and Friendship
In our previous discussion, we concluded that happiness is living a life of virtue. But this raises two important questions: What exactly is virtue, and how do we live according to it? What is Virtue? Aristotle believed that virtue is something we develop through habit. The Greek word for habit, “ethikē,” is where we get…
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Aristotle’s Concept of Eudaemonia & the Highest Good
Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, had a unique and complex view of what it means to live a good and fulfilling life, which he called “eudaimonia.” This concept is often translated as “flourishing” or “happiness,” but it’s more than just feeling happy—it’s about living a life that is truly excellent and meaningful. Aristotle believed that…
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Cultivating Genuine Human Connection: Lessons from David Brooks
In an age where digital communication often overshadows personal interaction, David Brooks’ insights into human connection provide a crucial reminder of the importance of making others feel genuinely known and valued. His discourse on the art of interpersonal relationships underscores four fundamental skills: physical attention, creating a sense of freedom and space, delighting in others,…
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David Brooks’ Speech: ‘World On Fire: The Root Causes of Populism, Authoritarianism and The Whole Global Mess’
In a compelling speech, David Brooks discusses a global shift towards pessimism, authoritarianism, and societal discontent, highlighting trends, providing an overview of the issues, and suggesting potential solutions. It’s essential to read and reflect on this to understand the deep-rooted societal issues, offering a critical perspective on rebuilding foundational values for a more resilient society.…
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Beyond the Ladder: Expanding Your Self, not Your Ego, in Work and Life
We’re constantly bombarded with messages to “climb the ladder,” “hustle harder,” and “achieve more.” While striving for goals and self-improvement is valuable, the relentless pursuit of external validation can lead down a treacherous path: the inflation of the ego. But what if there was another way? What if, instead of expanding our ego, we focused…
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From Spectator to Participant: Why Playing a Game Beats Watching It
I have seen first-hand the frustration and heartbreak that a billion people experienced when India lost the Cricket World Cup finals yesterday to Australia, despite being unbeaten in all the previous games. All the wishes, cheering, prayers and tears amounted to nothing. That can hurt and haunt people for a long time. I even watched…
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Joy vs. Pleasure: What’s the Difference?
Joy and pleasure are two closely related emotions, but they have some key differences. Pleasure is a short-lived, intense feeling of enjoyment often triggered by something external, such as eating a delicious meal, listening to music, or having sex. Conversely, joy is a deeper, more lasting feeling of happiness and contentment that comes from within.…
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The most beautiful human bond is Friendship
Friendship is the most beautiful relationship because it is based on mutual trust, understanding, and support. Unlike romantic or familial relationships, friendships are not bound by obligation or societal expectations, making them more freely chosen and thus, more authentic. Friendship is also unique in that it allows for vulnerability without fear of judgment. Friends can…
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Eating Right
I love mental models and I use them wherever possible. They are not always perfect but they are sufficient to help you make better choices. There are five components to fitness viz. cardio vascular endurance, Muscular strenth, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. The formula to achieve the right body composition that supports the other…
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On Living: Bertrand Russell, in his words
This page forms the Prologue to Bertrand Russell’s Autobiography and is titled ‘What I have lived for. Bertrand Russel is my hero and I have loved him, been influenced by him and been inspired by him since my college days. Today, I can relate better to him as a person and the way he conducted…
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Thumb Rules for Financial Planning
1. Calculating your risk appetite for asset allocation. Mutual Funds are one the of the most popular instruments of investing. They spread the risk across companies in their portfolio and can in the long term stable returns. But how much to invest in equity and how much in debt instruments? This is the most common…
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The Four Human Motivations
Most of us are familiar with only one model of human motivation: Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. I have been researching some models besides this one trying to sieve new perspectives. One such model is Steven Reiss’s 16 Desires, which I plan to discuss in a separate blog post. This time, I was especially looking…
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