EP 244: The Science of Happiness with Guest Expert Stephanie Harrison

The Bridge to Fulfillment

How long have you been chasing happiness?

For most of us, this has been a lifelong endeavor. Society would have us believe that once a certain goal has been achieved, then our feeling of being “happy” should be sustained.

But the science of happiness tells us that this definition is false and fleeting, and pursuing it only adds to our misery.

If you want to know how to be happier in life, then it’s time to redefine what happiness really looks and feels like.

Today on The Bridge to Fulfillment Ⓡ, Blake welcomes happiness expert Stephanie Harrison.

Since receiving her master’s degree in positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Harrison has devoted her life to the study of well-being. Her company, The New Happy, has revolutionized the way that people understand and pursue happiness. Through artwork, their newsletter, videos, and podcast, they reach millions of people around the world every month. Her first book, NEW HAPPY, will be released by Penguin Random House in May 2024.

In this episode, you’ll learn to understand the disconnect between the idea of happiness we’re conditioned to believe in and what it truly means to live a happy and fulfilled life. You’ll hear why our search for this perpetual bliss is unrealistic, and why the road often feels rocky and misaligned. You’ll begin to understand the science behind happiness, the importance of a supportive community, and how you can start living a life of fulfillment and ease right now.

What You’ll Learn:

• The breakdown point that led Stephanie to seek change (6:35)

• Why our pursuit of happiness often results in pain and misery (10:12)

• Understanding what really brings happiness into your life (17:38)

• What to seek out when healing from trauma (23:58)

• How to create change if you’re feeling stuck right now (29:47)

Favorite Quotes:

1. “We can justify an intense amount of misery because we think there's going to be a pot of gold at the end. And unfortunately, it's an ideology that is so harmful, not only to ourselves but to the ways in which we internalize that and then perpetuate it in our culture.” –Stephanie Harrison

2. “We need to be able to distinguish between the pain of doing something that is wrong for you, and the pain of doing things that are right for you.” –Stephanie Harrison

3. “There's this beautiful symbiotic relationship when you're in environments with people who are healthy, who support your growth, and who challenge you to see the world differently. That’s where the trauma healing process can begin.” –Blake

4. “Life is opinion-based. And when you begin to see that there is no should, there are just opinions based on values and experiences, you realize there isn't a right or wrong. There's only what's right for me.” –Blake

Additional Resources:

Connect with Stephanie:

IG: @stephaniehson

Website: https://www.thenewhappy.com/about

For programs and opportunities to work with Blake, go to www.BlakeSchofield.com