As Eric Hoffer once wrote, "The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness." I grew up chasing a version of happiness that everyone told me was the ideal version. I believed that checking all the right boxes would somehow make me feel fulfilled. But in reality, I felt more disconnected from myself.I'm not someone who has it all figured out. I'm simply someone living through the mess. This talk isn't about perfection, but about being honest and admitting happiness isn't a destination, bu ...

Core Concepts - The report explores the experience of living "in between" cultures and identities, focusing on the challenges and adaptations involved in finding happiness in new environments [1][2][5] - It introduces three concepts: liminality (the state of being in between identities), identity negotiation (adapting oneself in intercultural spaces), and code-switching (adjusting communication style) [2] - The speaker uses the analogy of cooking a traditional dish (Tavcha Grache) to illustrate these concepts, relating each ingredient and step to the experience of cultural adaptation [2] Personal Growth and Adaptation - The speaker shares personal experiences of adjusting to life in the US, highlighting differences in social interactions, relationships, and cultural norms [2][3][4] - The report emphasizes that nostalgia and moments of sadness are integral parts of the happiness-seeking process, not its opposite [5][6] - It highlights the importance of creating new rituals and finding joy in unexpected places, such as thrift stores and secondhand bookstores [6][7][8] Universal Themes - The feeling of being "not fully here or there" is presented as a universal experience, resonating with anyone who has felt like an outsider or has undergone significant life changes [5] - The report celebrates the resilience and adaptability of individuals who cross cultural boundaries to build new lives for themselves [11] - It frames happiness as an ongoing process of experimentation and adaptation, rather than a fixed destination or recipe [10][12]

Problem Identification & Solution - The founders identified loneliness and dissatisfaction among people in Tier 1 cities, who often feel disconnected despite being surrounded by others [1] - The proposed solution is a run club, "Daud," designed to foster social connections and improve mental and physical well-being through group fitness activities [2][3] - The run club integrates running with social elements to make it more appealing and sustainable for participants [3] Run Club Model & Community Impact - The run club started with 30-50 people and grew to over 400-500 participants per run, creating a movement that attracts a diverse crowd [3] - The model includes a run followed by a social venue with music, coffee, and games to encourage interaction and networking [3] - The run club provides a sense of community and family for individuals who have moved away from their hometowns, combating loneliness [3] - Participants have experienced physical transformations, with many running for the first time and achieving significant weight loss [3] Business Philosophy & Growth Strategy - The founders emphasize the importance of acting on ideas promptly and using available resources, rather than waiting for perfect conditions [4][5] - The company focuses on creating a valuable experience for participants, even through small gestures like providing a ₹20 (approximately $0.25 USD) cup of coffee [5] - The company aims to expand the run club concept across India, building on the success and community impact achieved in the first year [3] - The company values consistency, discipline, and continuous effort as key drivers for building a successful community and achieving personal growth [5]

[Music] Binad Vinit. [Applause] So I'd like to invite you to join me in a small exercise. um to just calm the mind down, center your mind.So if you can please uh move kind of uh towards the center of your seat like keep your back away from the back of the seat. Put your feet flat on the floor for those of you who can and then uh put your hands maybe on your knees or your lap. Then you can gently close your eyes.You can imagine uh from the top of your head, the crown of your head, a piece of string tied to t ...

[Music] I'm Vive Katray and I'm delighted to be speaking on the portrait of a mind. It's a great event. It's been put together very well.Young minds at work. What about older minds. They get tired, but they're also working hard.And minds are cluttered. They're cluttered. Is life cluttered. Life is cluttered.Life would be nothing if it were not so busy, so engaging, so entertaining. We think that the mind is disturbed, but if someone else is watching, it's all a comedy show. A person sitting on the ceiling h ...

Core Concept of Happiness - Happiness is largely determined by how circumstances unfold in relation to expectations, rather than absolute conditions [1] - A $10,000 gain elates someone with limited funds, while a $100 million loss depresses someone with billions, highlighting the relativity of happiness [1] - Attachment to expectations can hinder experiencing joy from the journey itself [2] Dilemma of Expectations - Becoming overly attached to expectations can create a dilemma [1][2] - Letting go of expectations and embracing the journey may lead to greater joy [2]

Happiness and Bicycling - Happiest countries in the world, such as Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, and the Netherlands, have high rates of bicycling [1][2] - Bicycling can positively impact public health, access to opportunity, tourism, recreation, and community connection [3] - Mental health experts suggest getting outside and moving your body to improve happiness and mental health, which bicycling provides [8][9] - Bicycling boosts serotonin and dopamine, lifting mood and easing pain [9] - Just 15 minutes of bicycling can lower cortisol levels and improve mood; regular riding reduces depression [10][17] Infrastructure and Policy - Studying best practices from happy countries helps create happier communities by understanding policy frameworks, safe infrastructure, and social culture [12][13] - Protected bike lanes lead to 44% fewer deaths and 50% fewer serious injuries for all road users [19] - 62% of Americans would ride bikes more if separated from cars [19] - Nearly 1,000 bike projects have been built or are nearly complete in the last three years [20] - Cities rated good for bicycling in the US increased from 33 in 2019 to 234 this year [21] Bicycling Trends - A record 112 million Americans rode a bike last year [21] - Youth cycling is up 11% after a steady decline [21] - Over 50% of trips in the United States are three miles or less, easily bikable in about 15 minutes [17]

Key Takeaways - The speaker reflects on a childhood ambition to "be happy" and how traditional career paths are being disrupted by AI [1][2][3][4] - The speaker introduces two models: the "if-then" model (chasing external achievements) and accepting the world as it is [9][10][11] - Different things bring different levels of happiness to different people, and happiness is not a horizontal box [12][13][14][15][16][17] The Five (Six) Fs of Happiness - Fame: Making an impact on other people's lives and becoming part of their stories [20][21][22][23] - Family: Emotional anchors who provide support during difficult times [23][24][25][26] - Friends: Having 3:00 a m friends, people you can count on and share your problems with [26][27][28][29] - Fortune (Money): Important for getting out of toxic situations and choosing your own life [29][30][31] - Fitness: Maintaining physical health to live a long and happy life, potentially into the 100s [31][32][33] - Future: A work in progress, where happiness depends on the other five Fs [33][34] Conclusion - The speaker concludes by reflecting on their teacher's initial assessment and emphasizing the importance of diversity and the path to happiness [34][35][36]

[Music] Well, this morning I had a lovely walk in your beautiful campus resting in the lap of beautiful mountains and the blessings of Sri Chinayanji. It was a lovely walk and I was speaking to a few students and one of the students mentioned to me that he's joined this particular course that he has joined because his parents want him to join their business. Now I was a medical doctor.Uh nobody forced me to become a doctor but when I was 18 years old uh like most 18 years olds I did not know uh what exactly ...

Arthur Brooks, Harvard University professor, ‘Office Hours With Arthur Brooks’ podcast host and ‘The Happiness Files’ author, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the keys to happiness, mood of the nation, impact of AI on happiness, ...