Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar is an absolute superstar in the fields of happiness, positive psychology, and peak performance. After graduating from Harvard with a PhD in Organizational Behavior, Tal went on to teach the most popular course in the history of Harvard University, write multiple groundbreaking books, and speak to 1000s of people around the world on what it takes to bring happiness to life. We took a deep dive into what happiness really is, the most effective ways to reach it, and why it`s a skill that takes work just like running a marathon.

Max Out Insights:

Hedonic adaptation: Success and things can`t lead to lasting happiness

Relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness

Embracing painful emotions is a key component of a happy life

Lifelines vs. deadlines: Goals are about lifelines because they provide us with meaning and enliven us in many ways, but only if they are self-concordant goals, meaning goals that are personally meaningful

Journaling through asking yourself deep questions is a powerful way to gain self-awareness and pursue the right goals

Max Out Quotes:

“There`s a reverse relationship between happiness and success. While success does not lead to lasting happiness, happiness does lead to more success.”

“What are the things that are really meaningful in my life?”

“Stopping and thinking, that is a key element of a happy life. And after stopping to think, then going into action.”

“Somehow people think that if they decide to be happy, they can just be happy like that without planning and working hard.”

“People say they want to live happily ever after, but that decision is not enough. You have to invest in your relationship just like you need to invest at work or playing music or running a marathon.”

“When it comes to psychological skills, people have a deep misunderstanding of what it takes to excel in these areas.”

“Learn to fail, or fail to learn.”