Discover a refreshing take on happiness with this animated gem from Dr Russ Harris, author of The Happiness Trap:

What’s inside this video?

• Myth 1: Happiness is our natural state. Reality check: life brings a mix of emotions, and that’s perfectly normal.

• Myth 2: Happiness means feeling good. Truth: genuine happiness often involves embracing the full spectrum of emotions, joy and discomfort both included.

• Myth 3: If you’re not happy, something’s wrong with you. Fact: emotional suffering is a shared human experience, not a flaw.

Through clear storytelling and warm animation, Dr Harris offers a kinder, more holistic view of happiness, one that reminds us growth and meaning often accompany challenge.

Why This Matters

Understanding these myths can help us:

• Release the pressure to “feel good” all the time

• Cultivate emotional resilience and self-compassion

• Embrace meaning and connection, even in tough moments

Suggested Use

• Watch this when you’re feeling stuck in a cycle of chasing happiness or feeling “not enough.”

• No special tools needed, just pause, breathe, and reflect on which myth might be holding you back.

Further Inspiration & Applications

If you found this video meaningful, you might also like:

• The Choice Point – Learn how everyday moments can align with your values or pull you away.

• The Struggle Switch – How acceptance turns down the internal resistance.

• Surf Therapy, Golf Therapy or Nature-Based Sessions by Mindswell Therapy – where emotional tools are learned through embodied movement and ocean immersion.

Reflection Prompt

Try this journal entry after watching:

• Which of these happiness myths resonates most with you?

• How have you felt pressure to “be happy” even when life was hard?

• What small shift in perspective could help you live more meaningfully, hellos and hardships both?