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Why We Do What We Do · Wednesday · 1 hr 3 min

Happiness

One of the most enduring values, mottos, or goals is the pursuit of happiness. We strive for it implicitly or explicitly for much of our lives. So, what is happiness? How do we achieve it? Why can't you just be happy? Because it depends :D Recommendations Abraham: Fix My Frankenhouse (seasons 1-2; https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fix-my-frankenhouse) Shane: A Short Stay In Hell by Steven Peck Holidays (9/30/2026): My mom’s birthday! Happy birthday, P-Nut! Banned Websites Awareness Day Blasphemy Day Chewing Gum Day Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day International Podcast Day International Translation Day National Hot Mulled Cider Day National Love People Day National Microcephaly Awareness Day National Mud Pack Day National Women’s Health and Fitness Day Orange Shirt Day Time for Yoga Thunderbirds Day World School Milk Day National Chimney Safety Week National Dog Week National Fall Foliage Week Links and References: Harris, R. (2022). The happiness trap: Stop struggling, start living (2nd ed.). Robinson https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/the-quest-for-the-good-life-ancient-philosophers-on-happiness/ https://www.weforum.org/stories/leadership/13-great-philosophers-on-the-secret-of-happiness/ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278667273_EMOTIONS_AND_EMOTIONAL_BEHAVIOR_A_CONSTRUCTIONAL_APPROACH_TO_UNDERSTANDING_SOME_SOCIAL_BENEFITS_OF_AGGRESSION https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3160511/ https://arnoldspumpclub.com/blogs/newsletter/why-chasing-happiness-makes-you-miserable-and-what-science-says-to-do-instead?srsltid=AfmBOornkPKnjN9wQWbXZB8QQh_5fHqMbgEbdpiVJkW6kGlSi9jONIuM https://ls.berkeley.edu/news/stop-worrying-about-being-happy-new-berkeley-psychology-research-suggests-doing-so-makes-people https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10224953/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546638/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1279874/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284106/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support. Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast

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One of the most enduring values, mottos, or goals is the pursuit of happiness. We strive for it implicitly or explicitly for much of our lives. So, what is happiness? How do we achieve it? Why can't you just be happy? Because it depends :D 

Recommendations
  • Abraham: Fix My Frankenhouse (seasons 1-2; https://www.hgtv.com/shows/fix-my-frankenhouse)
  • Shane: A Short Stay In Hell by Steven Peck 

Holidays (9/30/2026):
  • My mom’s birthday! Happy birthday, P-Nut!
  • Banned Websites Awareness Day
  • Blasphemy Day
  • Chewing Gum Day
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day
  • International Podcast Day
  • International Translation Day
  • National Hot Mulled Cider Day
  • National Love People Day
  • National Microcephaly Awareness Day
  • National Mud Pack Day
  • National Women’s Health and Fitness Day
  • Orange Shirt Day
  • Time for Yoga
  • Thunderbirds Day
  • World School Milk Day
  • National Chimney Safety Week
  • National Dog Week
  • National Fall Foliage Week

Links and References: 
  1. Harris, R. (2022). The happiness trap: Stop struggling, start living (2nd ed.). Robinson
  2. https://ndpr.nd.edu/reviews/the-quest-for-the-good-life-ancient-philosophers-on-happiness/
  3. https://www.weforum.org/stories/leadership/13-great-philosophers-on-the-secret-of-happiness/ 
  4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278667273_EMOTIONS_AND_EMOTIONAL_BEHAVIOR_A_CONSTRUCTIONAL_APPROACH_TO_UNDERSTANDING_SOME_SOCIAL_BENEFITS_OF_AGGRESSION 
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3160511/
  6. https://arnoldspumpclub.com/blogs/newsletter/why-chasing-happiness-makes-you-miserable-and-what-science-says-to-do-instead?srsltid=AfmBOornkPKnjN9wQWbXZB8QQh_5fHqMbgEbdpiVJkW6kGlSi9jONIuM
  7. https://ls.berkeley.edu/news/stop-worrying-about-being-happy-new-berkeley-psychology-research-suggests-doing-so-makes-people
  8. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10224953/
  9. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546638/
  10. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1279874/
  11. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284106/




Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/why-we-do-what-we-do--3419521/support.

Support our podcast: www.patreon.com/wwdwwdpodcast
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