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Clear Intentions with Diane Boden

Beyond the Pursuit of Happiness | Jeff Golden (EP10)

Clear Intentions with Diane Boden

Diane Boden

Self-improvement, How To, Kids & Family, Mental Health, Education, Parenting, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 952 Ratings

🗓️ 10 March 2025

⏱️ 55 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if true happiness isn’t found in material wealth but in something far more profound? In this thought-provoking episode, I spoke with Jeff Golden, author of Reclaiming the Sacred, to explore his decade-long journey of gathering wisdom from psychologists, activists, saints, and poets. Jeff shares how his diverse life roles have shaped his understanding of joy, presence, and interconnectedness. Together, we examine why happiness has declined in industrialized nations despite increasing prosperity, highlighting the vital roles of relationships, health, and self-acceptance. The discussion weaves through spiritual traditions, from Christianity to Taoism and Buddhism, offering insights on how reconnecting with nature and our inner selves can lead to deeper fulfillment. A rich and inspiring conversation that challenges societal norms and invites us to redefine what it means to truly thrive.


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About Jeff |

Jeff Golden, M.Ed., was most recently a scholar-in-residence at Vassar College. He is a former Fulbright Scholar in sustainable development, was awarded the US State Department’s Millennium International Volunteer Award, and has directed several nonprofits dedicated to sustainability and social justice. Jeff has been featured on NPR, USA Today, Scripps Evening News, The Shaun Proulx Show, How To Live a Fantastic Life Environment Times, iHeartRadio, Talk Radio Europe, and more.


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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Since at least the 1940s, the average level of happiness in the United States has been in a

0:06.3

consistent decline. And this is true throughout most industrialized countries. In many ways,

0:12.7

what we're talking about living in abundance and wonder and joy, these are actually inherent to us.

0:22.0

Seek not for love.

0:23.7

Seek instead the barriers within you that have been erected against love.

0:28.5

And we have so much at our disposal.

0:31.1

I mean, fruits, other foods, travel, planes.

0:36.0

And yet, especially in the United States, where there is so much of a focus on

0:40.1

material goods and money, I think we would tend to assume that, wow, we must be so much happier.

0:46.7

What the research suggests is that overall money and possessions account for only about

0:51.8

2 to 4% of our happiness, which again is

0:55.9

not how most of us live our lives or how we prioritize money.

1:00.6

What if true happiness isn't found in material wealth, but in something far more profound?

1:06.4

In this thought-provoking episode, I spoke with Jeff Golden, author of Reclaiming the Sacred,

1:11.7

to explore his decade-long journey of gathering wisdom from psychologists, activists, saints,

1:17.2

and poets. Jeff shares how his diverse life roles have shaped his understanding of joy,

1:22.1

presence, and interconnectedness. Together we examine why happiness has declined in

1:27.0

industrialized nations despite

1:28.7

increasing prosperity, highlighting the vital roles of relationships, health, and self-acceptance.

1:35.0

The discussion weaves through spiritual traditions from Christianity to Taoism and Buddhism,

1:40.2

offering insights on how reconnecting with nature and our inner selves can lead to deeper fulfillment.

1:45.7

This is a rich and inspiring conversation that challenges societal norms and invites us to

...

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