There's more to life than being happy | Emily Esfahani Smith
TED Talks Daily
TED
4.1 • 12.1K Ratings
🗓️ 6 April 2024
⏱️ 14 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Our culture is obsessed with happiness, but what if there's a more fulfilling path? Happiness comes and goes, says writer Emily Esfahani Smith, but having meaning in life -- serving something beyond yourself and developing the best within you -- gives you something to hold onto. Learn more about the difference between being happy and having meaning as Smith offers four pillars of a meaningful life.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Ted Audio Collective. |
| 0:02.0 | Audio Collective. |
| 0:04.0 | You're listening to a special archive presentation of TED Talks Audio. |
| 0:11.0 | This talk features author Emily Sfahani Smith, recorded live at TED 2017. |
| 0:17.0 | Support for TED Talks Daily comes from Talking Transitions, a new podcast series brought to you by the |
| 0:25.4 | EY Organization and Foresight Climate and Energy. Talking Transitions looks at how the shift |
| 0:30.8 | to a decarbonized economy holds within it several transitions across |
| 0:34.6 | sectors, geographies, and timelines, and the effects on three key areas, energy, financial services, |
| 0:41.6 | and government. The Talking Transitions Podcast is out now. |
| 0:45.0 | Download today from wherever you get your podcasts or visit talking transitions |
| 0:49.0 | to find out more. |
| 0:52.0 | Hi Ted Talks Daily listeners, I want to tell you about another podcast from Ted that you'll love. |
| 0:58.0 | The head of Ted, Chris Anderson, is back with another season of his podcast, The interview and he's focusing on one big |
| 1:06.2 | world-changing idea. Infectious generosity. Tune in to hear from guests like |
| 1:12.2 | Bill Gates and Catherine Barrett, people whose generosity |
| 1:15.2 | has had a profound impact on the world. I've been so inspired hearing their stories of |
| 1:19.8 | giving and I think you will be too. Listen to the new season of the TED interview, |
| 1:24.0 | anywhere you get your podcast. |
| 1:27.0 | I used to think the whole purpose of life was pursuing happiness. |
| 1:36.4 | Everyone said the path to happiness was success, |
| 1:39.7 | so I searched for that ideal job, that perfect boyfriend, that beautiful apartment. |
| 1:46.9 | But instead of ever feeling fulfilled, I felt anxious and adrift, |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from TED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of TED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.