To be happy, don't chase it. Be anti-fragile

Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, Big Think, 1/26/22; Dhr. Seven, Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

Don’t chase happiness. Become anti-fragile | Tal Ben-Shahar | Big Think

(Big Think) Hey, Little Snowflakes, don’t chase happiness. Become anti-fragile, with Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar. Anti-fragility is the idea of putting pressure on a system (such as a human) because by doing so that system grows bigger and stronger.

Antifragile systems are all around us. One example of this is our muscular system. We go to the gym to lift weights. By doing so we are putting pressure on our system to help it grow stronger. The human body is an antifragile system.

From a psychological perspective, antifragility comes in the form of PTG, or "post-traumatic growth." After we experience a stressful event, we learn and grow to become more resilient.

To learn even more from the world's biggest thinkers, get Big Think+ for business: bigthink.com/plus. Read the video transcript: bigthink.com/videos/happiness

Subscribe to Big Think on YouTube ► bigthink. Up next: The science of happiness, motivation, and meaning | Dan Ariely

ABOUT: Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an internationally renowned teacher and author in the fields of happiness (positive psychology) and leadership. After graduating from Harvard with a BA in philosophy and psychology and a PhD in organizational behavior, he 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, his books have appeared on bestseller lists around the world and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Dr. Ben-Shahar consults and lectures executives in multinational corporations, educational institutions, and the general public. Topics include leadership, education, ethics, happiness, self-esteem, resilience, goal setting, and mindfulness.

He is also the co-founder of The Happiness Studies Academy. Learn more here: happinessstudies.academy. He is an avid sportsman and a certified yoga instructor, whose work bridges Eastern and Western traditions, ancient wisdom and modern technology, science and art.

Read more stories on happiness:

• Epicurus and the atheist’s guide to happiness https://bigthink.com/thinking/epicure...
• The meaning of happiness, according to a baker in ancient Pompeii https://bigthink.com/the-past/ancient...
• How to avoid “toxic positivity” and take the less direct route to happiness https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/avoid...