Happiness vs. Meaning: Why We Often Confuse the Two

In this week's episode we dive into the fascinating research of social psychologist Dan Gilbert, who explores why humans are surprisingly bad at predicting what will make them happy. We cover the joys and challenges of parenting, to how we handle life’s biggest setbacks; divorce, job loss, or the death of a loved one. We unpack the science behind why our emotional forecasts often miss the mark. We also explore how resilient we really are, even when we don’t think we will be, and why being realistic about happiness, rather than chasing an idealized version of it, can lead to deeper contentment. Plus, we reflect on how identifying your core values can serve as a better guide to happiness than chasing external goals, and how humans often fail to learn from their mistakes. Whether you’re navigating a tough life transition or just trying to understand yourself better, this episode offers insights and tools to rethink what it truly means to be happy.