Welcome to the happiness podcast. I'm Dr. Robert Puff.

As we strive to be more happy and find happiness and peace in our life, it doesn't mean that

everyone around us is going to join us. And I think this is a common theme

that a lot of people get stuck on because they're surrounded by people that

really aren't joining them on their improvement of life. So what do we do about that? And I want to begin this

podcast by sharing an email from one of our listeners like you who's struggling with these

very issues of finding happiness when others around her aren't.

She writes, Dr. Puff, I'm finding your podcast extremely helpful and I've been telling everyone I know about it.

I have a question that I was curious about.

I feel that I have a naturally high set point for happiness.

But I am constantly surrounded by unhappy environments that seemed to bring me down and I turned

into an impatient frustrated individual.

For instance, my full-time job is very high pressure, high stress. We are always dealing with turnover,

not enough resources to meet our deadlines, and never any breathing room to work on our

long-term projects and improvements. It's been this way for most of the 12 years that I've been there.

Additionally, my perfectionistic husband is often stress, cranky, unforgiving, critical, and doesn't seem very interested in me as a person.

When he's not around me, I feel so much more relaxed and peaceful and patient.

I actually feel like a better mother to my daughter when there is no one there

to judge my every move. It's a lot of work trying to maintain happiness surrounded by so

many stressed-out people. I was wondering at what point do you try to make changes in your

environments when it doesn't mess well with your inner self. Thank you so much, Elizabeth.

And I don't think her question is that much Elizabeth.

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