Introducing The A to Z of Happiness

[00:00:00] Anya: Every three to six months I will, I will be, find myself bawling in the shower with the unstoppable thought that I don't know how much more of this I can take.

[00:00:20] You know, I'm very aware of how easy it is to despair because in the same way that I have at my core happiness, my default emotion is sadness and despair. I found it very difficult to hope for things because of my childhood background. It doesn't feel safe to.

[00:00:50] Mark: Some people seem to find happiness effortless, like it just comes naturally to them. But for others it can feel like something just out of reach, or it's the cake and ice cream you get at the end of a lifetime eating nothing but sprouts. I'm Mark, but I'm not important to this podcast. Except that it's my job to introduce you to my friend Anya Pearse. So, what are we doing here?

[00:01:18] Anya: Wow. You tell me love. You got me into this mess.

[00:01:21] Why we here talking about happiness? It's because it's the thing which so many of us have in common is the desire to be happy or happier. Alongside the shared struggles of, you know, having a brain which is designed to keep you safe, not make you happy.

[00:01:39] Mark: Anya is the head of Positive Psychology at the Museum of Happiness and a lifelong student of the human condition. Yeah. I nearly said that with a straight face. As for me. I'm just trying to figure out how to get to sleep at night without my brain reminding me of seven different dumb things I did that day.

[00:01:57] Every week, you can join us both as we unpack happiness, one letter at a time from acceptance all the way through to, well, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. If like us, you feel like three toddlers in a trench coat masquerading as a functioning adult, then join us for the A to Z of Happiness, and we'll figure this whole thing out together.

[00:02:17] Anya: Yeah, just having a conversation about, I don't know, ideas, perspectives. Knowing me, probably a couple of resources cuz that's, that's how I roll.

[00:02:27] Mark: Yes. Expect copious show notes. That's not me setting Anna up. I just know that she won't be able to help herself.

[00:02:36] Anya: Like even in, just in this little conversation right now, I'm just thinking of about three different web pages to send you to, um, . wait, this is the trailer,

[00:02:43] Mark: That's Anya Pearse. I'm Mark Steadman, and welcome to the A to Z of Happiness. Find us in your favorite podcast app, and at atozofhappiness.com.