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Why Pursuing Happiness Makes You … Less Happy | Emily Esfahani Smith | TED

Drawing on clinical research and psychological studies, writer and psychologist Emily Esfahani Smith shows why pursuing meaning — the experience of connecting to something beyond yourself — creates a deeper sense of well-being than comes from chasing happiness. Learn about the steps you can take to move from feeling stuck to living with intention. (This…

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Drawing on clinical research and psychological studies, writer and psychologist Emily Esfahani Smith shows why pursuing meaning — the experience of connecting to something beyond yourself — creates a deeper sense of well-being than comes from chasing happiness. Learn about the steps you can take to move from feeling stuck to living with intention. (This conversation, hosted by TED’s Whitney Pennington Rodgers, was part of an exclusive TED Membership event. TED Membership is the best way to support and engage with the big ideas you love from TED. To learn more, visit ted.com/membership.) (Recorded at TED Membership on January 14, 2026)

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The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

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#TED #TEDTalks #Happiness

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8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. @Yom67-s3q

    May 2, 2026 at 11:23 am

    so don’t pursue happiness?

  2. @art.alagna.design

    May 2, 2026 at 11:26 am

    You do not pursue happiness.
    You do not seek for happiness.
    You CREATE happiness.
    I didn’t watch the video, just skipped it because of the title. Ciao Ciao

    • @katiechisholm

      May 2, 2026 at 11:33 am

      YOU are the true alchemist of your life ✨

  3. @NarudiinMohamed

    May 2, 2026 at 11:28 am

    Now I am join this YouTube

  4. @basil8448

    May 2, 2026 at 12:18 pm

    I think we dont need to pursue neither happiness nor meaning. Ourself is the gift. Just try to keep it. I mean survive

    • @alexisdespland4939

      May 2, 2026 at 7:36 pm

      that sound rather sad and somewhat defeatest.

  5. @drumbum3.142

    May 2, 2026 at 2:18 pm

    For Some; Yes. Some folks.. …seemingly don’t like Happiness and/or Beauty.🎭❤️‍🔥🤝🫂
    For Others; this is Rubbish. 🤷🤷‍♀️🤷‍♂️

  6. @po5tm4n

    May 2, 2026 at 5:22 pm

    Hard to watch when the first thing out is to broaden your goals. What about SMART goals? Evidence-based. You don’t need to be broader to achieve relevance.

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When you can’t push any further, something has to shift #TEDTalks

Entrepreneur and TED Fellow Jane Marie Chen started a company that created a low-cost, portable incubator for premature babies in underserved communities, with the goal of saving more than one million babies around the world. After a decade of relentless challenges, the company shut down — pushing her into complete burnout and a profound personal…

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Entrepreneur and TED Fellow Jane Marie Chen started a company that created a low-cost, portable incubator for premature babies in underserved communities, with the goal of saving more than one million babies around the world. After a decade of relentless challenges, the company shut down — pushing her into complete burnout and a profound personal reckoning. In this powerful talk, she shares what happened next and how it taught her the secret to resilience.

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What Kosovo Can Teach the World About Freedom | Vjosa Osmani Sadriu | TED

“Truth is the real oxygen for democracy,” says Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, the 6th President of the Republic of Kosovo. As a child of war, she once longed for someone to save her people. Now she’s been in the rooms where decisions are made — and she’s never forgotten what brought her there. In conversation with…

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“Truth is the real oxygen for democracy,” says Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, the 6th President of the Republic of Kosovo. As a child of war, she once longed for someone to save her people. Now she’s been in the rooms where decisions are made — and she’s never forgotten what brought her there. In conversation with solutions journalist Angus Hervey, she reflects on what it takes to defend democracy in a world where truth itself is under threat. (Recorded on April 14, 2026) (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)

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#TED #TEDTalks #Democracy

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How to make sure your IRL is *actually* IRL

We’re so entangled with our devices that online has started to feel more real than IRL, says journalist Nayeema Raza. As screens reshape how we connect and relate, she offers three practical habits to reignite curiosity, restore presence and break free from our phones.

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We’re so entangled with our devices that online has started to feel more real than IRL, says journalist Nayeema Raza. As screens reshape how we connect and relate, she offers three practical habits to reignite curiosity, restore presence and break free from our phones.

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