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Episode 30 – Suffering
Suffering is linked to happiness. Some people seem to think that you have to suffer to discover happiness. And they may not be wrong. But how much do you have to suffer? What is suffering? Suffering is caused by pain or distress. It is an unpleasant emotion, usually associated with the experience or expectation of…
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Episode 28 – Rituals
Rituals are part of all cultures and traditions. We pass rituals down from generation to generation. In this episode, I reflect on the link between rituals and happiness. What are rituals? Rituals are activities (or gestures, words or sounds) performed in a certain order. These activities are symbolic, and the ritual doesn’t have to be…
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Episode 27 – Happy Hormones
Happiness hormones are powerful in ensuring consistent happiness. I have talked about these hormones in previous episodes. Because they are so powerful, I am dedicating this episode to happy hormones. Happy hormones help us feel good. They are dopamine, oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin. Understanding how they are triggered gives you the tools to get out…
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Episode 20 – Mindset
After introducing the Exploring Happiness Framework in the last episode, this episode is dedicated to the first pillar of the framework: Mindset. I’m diving into all the things we can influence but also those which influence us more than they should. While our thoughts can dominate us, we can also work out how to control…
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Episode 18 – Happiness & Success
The final episode 18 of the first season of the Exploring Happiness podcast, it’s all about success. One reason is that I see my start in podcasting as successful. Maybe not award-winning successful… yet… but successful in terms of starting from scratch and building up something. That is exactly the point of this episode. Success…
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Episode 16 – Energy
In episode 16 of the Exploring Happiness podcast, I discuss Energy. I get into acupuncture and Feng Shui as methods to stimulate the flow. I discuss the importance for happiness, indeed that it might be happiness at some point. Positive energy means that everything works out or feels easy. If there are obstacles, there are…
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Episode 14 – Free Will & Freedom
In episode 14 of the Exploring Happiness podcast, I discuss free will and freedom. Free will is when you make your own choice and act upon it. That is then freedom when you can make your own choice and implement it. Free will and freedom are safe paths to happiness. What is the problem then?…
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Episode 13 – Affirmations
In this episode (13) of the Exploring Happiness podcast, I share my recent experiences with affirmations. While I have been aware of this tool for a long time and have tried them out before, I have only now discovered it for me. Affirmations can be powerful tools to help change beliefs, brain patterns, and overwriting…
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Episode 15 – Productivity
In episode 15 of the Exploring Happiness podcast, I discuss productivity. Productivity is a buzzword. We are all meant to be productive. And score – if we are happy, we are 12% more productive, at least according to this study. But is productivity making us happier? Yes and no (as usual). It most certainly can…
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Episode 8 – Negativity Bias
In episode 8 of the Exploring Happiness podcast, I talk about the negativity bias. The negativity bias has been important for our survival. It still is but it often pops up when it is not that urgent. The negativity bias causes a lot of preventable stress which counteracts happiness. In this episode, I introduce the…
