Summary: <a href="http://www.gayleallen.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Blog-Post-Emily-and-Meaning.png"></a>Research shows that happiness is elusive. So how can we achieve a deeper, longer lasting sense of joy?<br> <a href="http://emilyesfahanismith.com/">Emily Esfahani Smith</a>, author of the book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Meaning-Crafting-Life-Matters/dp/0553419994">The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life that Matters</a>, studies the powerful distinction between meaning and happiness and why it matters. An editor at the <a href="http://www.hoover.org/">Hoover Institution</a>, a policy think tank at <a href="https://www.stanford.edu/">Stanford University</a>, and a columnist for <a href="http://www.newcriterion.com/">The New Criterion</a>, her writing has also been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and the New York Times.<br> Her research reveals four pillars, or themes, associated with meaning. The stronger these pillars are in our lives, the more meaningful our lives will be.<br> In this interview, we talk about:<br> <br> Why we should strive for meaning over happiness<br> How meaning helps us think longer term<br> The fact that meaning helps us connect to something larger than ourselves<br> The four themes of meaning — belonging, purpose, storytelling, and transcendence<br> Why belonging is the most important pillar of meaning<br> How belonging helps us see how we matter, helps us feel valued, respected, cared for<br> Why purpose is all about what we can contribute to others<br> How the story we tell about our lives is a way of crafting our identities<br> How transcendence helps us connect to something larger than ourselves<br> How we can help each other have a healthy sense of belonging at work through the social cues that we send, like making eye contact and smiling<br> How purpose and belonging overlap when we become more focused on service<br> Why we need to act on our talents and strengths to recognize our purpose<br> Narrative identity arises from the stories we tell about our lives and our experiences<br> We have agency in shaping the story of our lives in ways that help us move forward<br> Paying attention to our current future selves – who we want to become <br> How astronauts rethink their values and their ambitions as a result awe experiences<br> What growing up in a Sufi household taught Emily about meaning vs happiness<br> <br> Links to Topics Mentioned in this Podcast<br> <a href="https://twitter.com/EmEsfahaniSmith?lang=en">@EmEsfahaniSmith</a><br> <a href="http://emilyesfahanismith.com/">http://emilyesfahanismith.com/</a><br> <a href="http://www.newcriterion.com/">The New Criterion</a><br> <a href="http://www.hoover.org/">The Hoover Institution</a><br> <a href="http://selfdeterminationtheory.org/SDT/documents/2010_HutaRyan_JOHS.pdf">Pursuing Pleasure or Virtue by Veronika Huta and Richard M. Ryan</a><br> <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/shawn_achor_the_happy_secret_to_better_work">Shawn Achor</a><br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gratitude-Diaries-Looking-Bright-Transform/dp/1101984147">The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan</a><br> <a href="http://history.yale.edu/people/carlos-eire">Carlos Eire</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Ashby">Jeffrey S. Ashby</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufism">Sufism</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi">Rumi</a><br> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sufi_whirling">Whirling Dervish</a><br> If you enjoy the podcast, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Steindl-Rast">please rate and review it on iTunes</a> – your ratings make all the difference. For automatic delivery of new episodes, be sure to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/curious-minds-innovation-inspiration/id1049183266?mt=2">subscribe</a>. As always, thanks for listening!<br> Thank you to Emmy-award-winning Creative Director ...
