We turned happiness into a checklist. Then wondered why it never feels like enough.

Dr. Marc Brackett sits down with Dr. Laurie Santos to unpack the "happiness trap" and the quiet ways we chase the wrong things. They talk about miswanting, why we get obsessed with the future, and how a life that looks good on paper can still feel empty on the inside. You'll hear what the research actually says helps, and the small shifts that make happiness feel more real and more sustainable.

In this conversation:

• Why our brains are so bad at predicting what will make us happy
• The "hyper-focus on the future" that steals joy from the present
• Happy in your life vs. happy with your life, and why that distinction matters
• Why social connection keeps showing up as a happiness "superpower"
• How emotional intelligence and RULER support real well-being, not fake positivity

Links

Marc Brackett: https://marcbrackett.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/marc.brackett

X: https://x.com/marcbrackett

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drmarcbrackett

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/drmarcbrackett

About the guest

Dr. Laurie Santos is a Yale psychologist and host of The Happiness Lab.

Listen to The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos:

https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/the-h...

Dr. Marc Brackett's Books

• Permission to Feel
• Dealing with Feeling

Explore Marc Brackett's work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, where he serves as founding director, and learn more about RULER—an evidence-based, systemic approach to SEL developed at Yale that supports leaders, educators, students, and families in building emotional intelligence and creating healthier school climates.

A special thank you to the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence for supporting this webcast. I also want to thank Oji Life Lab for their generous support. Visit https://ojilifelab.com and use promo code DEALINGWITHFEELINGS to save 25%.