Fun & Wellbeing - Escaping the Happiness Trap

"Emotions, if we sit with them, help us start to understand their purpose. To be emotionally healthy, you should have a wide range of emotions. We can still invite joy and delight even in areas where the emotional state of happiness might not be appropriate."

We're back for Season 12 and we're having fun! We're talking about the science of fun and how to make it work for you at home and at work.

My co-host for this mini-series is Dr. Mike Rucker, author of The Fun Habit: How the pursuit of joy and wonder can change your life. Mike is a behavioural scientist and a health technology entrepreneur. He is a charter member of the International Positive Psychology Association and a member of the American Psychological Association.

You can get to know Mike in this short Q&A.

As a scientist Mike made a commitment to implementing the science of happiness in his everyday life - until misfortune intervened and he found himself more miserable than ever. He was left with the burning question: 'If deliberately chasing happiness made me miserable, where do I turn?'

His answer? To have fun. Mike says that, unlike happiness, fun isn’t a subjective condition that might arise under the right circumstances. Having fun is something you can engage in almost anywhere, anytime. It’s also enormously beneficial, physically and psychologically.

In this episode, Mike and I explore:

The 'happiness paradox'. What is it and how does it stop us from living our best life? And what should we seek instead of happiness for better wellbeing?
How sitting with your thoughts can lead to better emotional health and reframe our understanding of happiness.
How autonomy can help us reclaim the lost art of fun and wonder.
The science of fun (yes, it's a science), its components (fascinating!) and how Mike's book came to be.

You can now join the discussion! Share your thoughts via the Q&A feature on Spotify.

This week's point to ponder:

What ideas do you have for incorporating more fun and whimsy into your life?

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mike's book: The Fun Habit: How the pursuit of joy and wonder can change your life.

A wandering mind is not a happy mind - Killingsworth & Gilbert

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Ready for calm after the chaos? Join Ellen's new mini online program "Thriving Post Pandemic."

One hour of video lessons with downloadable planner to help you shift from surviving to thriving.

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Want to hear more? It's all at potential.com.au/podcast

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