A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment

What are the determinants of a happy and fulfilling life?

This is surely one of life’s biggest questions, and a question that has interested—perhaps even hounded—many of our ancestors. Buddha famously gave up his kingdom in search of happiness. Several Greek philosophers—from Aristotle to Epicurus and Plato to Socrates—had their own views on what it takes to lead a happy life. And of course, we all have our own theories about happiness too.

How valid are our theories?

Till recently, if you wished to find out the answer to this question, you would have been forced to base it on discussions with spiritual leaders. Or, if you were lucky, you could have based it on late-night (and perhaps intoxicant-fueled) conversations with friends and family. Happily, all that has changed now. Over the past few decades, scientists have gotten into the act big time. We now have a pretty good idea of what it takes to lead a happy and fulfilling life.

This course, based on the award-winning class offered both at the Indian School of Business in India and at the McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin, developed by the one and only “Dr. Happy-Smarts” (also known as Prof. Raj Raghunathan) draws content from a variety of fields, including psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral decision theory to offer a tested and practical recipe for leading a life of happiness and fulfillment. 

The course will feature guest appearances by a number of well-known thought leaders, including:

      - Dan Ariely (author of Predictably Irrational and, soon to be released, Irrationally Yours),

      - Ed Diener (“Dr. Happiness”),

      - Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (author of Flow),

      - Barbara Fredrickson (author of Positivity and Love 2.0),     

      - Marshall Goldsmith (author of What Got You Here Won’t Get You There and Triggers),

      - Art Markman (author of Smart Thinking and Smart Change), and

      - Srikumar Rao (author of Are you ready to succeed? and Happiness at Work)

By taking this course, you will discover the answers to questions such as:

      - Why aren’t the smart-and-the-successful as happy as they could—or should—be

      - What are the “7 Deadly Happiness Sins” that even the smart and the successful commit?, and

      - What are the “7 Habits of the Highly Happy” and how can you implement them in your life?

By the end of the course, I expect students who have been diligent with the lectures and exercises to not just gain a deeper understanding of the science of happiness, but to also be significantly happier.

Week 1: Course overview and the 1st deadly happiness sin: De-Valuing Happiness

Week 2: The 2nd deadly happiness sin: Chasing superiority

Week 3: The 3rd deadly happiness sin: being needy—or it’s opposite: Being avoidant

Week 4: The 4th deadly happiness sin: Being overly controlling

Week 5: The 5th and 6th deadly happiness sins: Distrusting others, and distrusting life

Week 6: The 7th deadly happiness sin: Ignoring the source within, and wrap-up