"I Deserve to Be Happy" (and why that's a lie) cover art

"I Deserve to Be Happy" (and why that's a lie)

"I Deserve to Be Happy" (and why that's a lie)

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

What if our pursuit of happiness is all wrong?

What if our pursuit of happiness is the exact thing that's keeping us most unhappy?

Here’s what I think is the truth: The more we pursue happiness, the less happy we’re going to be.

Is happiness a product we should pursue?

Or is happiness a product of something else? Can we seek happiness unto itself? Or is happiness a natural byproduct when we’re pursuing something else meaningful?

When we pursue happiness unto itself we end up merely pursuing a distraction from our unhappiness.


When we pursue being happy we usually come back feeling more miserable than before. Like going on that epic road trip to find happiness, only to return, and having more problems there waiting for you than when you started. 

I do want you to be happy. So stop pursuing it. Instead, pursue these things instead. 

 Find a consistent spring of life rather than trying to drink from the dried-up creek of happiness.

Read more about this in my new book 25 Lies Twentysomethings Need to Stop Believing. 

No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.