Have you spent your entire life learning to be happy … or unhappy? According to Dr. Srikumar Rao, Ph.D., most of us have lived our lives learning to be unhappy, even though happiness might be our true goal.
In this simple yet profound TED video created at Arbejdsglaede Live! 2009, Dr. Rao teaches us how to un-program ourselves from the “I’d be happy if …” mental model, and tap into the happiness in our very DNA.
I admit that I was skeptical of more “be happy” psychobabble when I first began watching this TED video, but Dr. Rao’s message grew on me and I began looking at all the ways I have learned to be unhappy. Importantly, Dr. Rao doesn’t just identify the problem, he offers simple yet effective suggestions and the fascinating rationale for his theories.
Srikumar Rao was an executive at Warner Communications and McGraw-Hill before he created the MBA course, “Creativity and Personal Mastery.” According to TED.com, “The course — the only business school course that has its own alumni association — shows students how to discover their unique purpose, creativity and happiness, through group work and a philosophical perspective. Its popularity has led to write-ups in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Business Week.”
Dr. Rao is the author of Are You Ready to Succeed: Unconventional Strategies for Achieving Personal Mastery in Business and Life.
With thanks to TED.com
Part I:
Part II:
Photo Credit
“Mission 172: This morning draw small happy faces on all your fingers, and a big smiley face on your tummy” peyri @ flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved.
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Kerry,
this is so freaking true!!
Uh, also.. LOVE the pic, too funny!!