What happiness looks like around the world | Helen Russell | TEDxOdense

Helen is a British journalist, author, and speaker. As the former editor of marieclaire.co.uk, she now writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, including The Telegraph, Stylist, and The Times and The Sunday Times. Helen is also a correspondent for The Guardian.
Helen’s first book, The Year of Living Danishly - Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country, is now an international bestseller.
When someone asked this happiness researcher “What if I don’t want to be happy?“, she got inspired to do some research on “How to be miserable”. In her brand new talk, Helen will explore happiness in a witty and unconventional way.
As an author of many books on happiness, when asked how she handles bad days, she replies thought-provokingly, “Nowadays, optimism isn’t frivolous, it’s necessary.” Helen is a British journalist, author, and speaker. As the former editor of marieclaire.co.uk, she now writes for magazines and newspapers around the world, including The Telegraph, Stylist, and The Times and The Sunday Times. Helen is also a correspondent for The Guardian. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@PeacePhilly]

That was a brilliant TED talks presentation, with a SIX star delivery on a five-star scale. Your articulate oration, body language, words and audience interaction were spot-on. Your content was accurate and well delivered, with strong opening, followed by accurately researched audio-visual illustrative support and a strong close. The topic is timely during our current crisis. Unfortunately, the importance of your commentary is too often ever looked. TED talks chose a wonderful speaker and a great time to deliver this powerful message. While personally familiar with the material, I endeavor daily to affect change in my life. Accurately and objectively self-analyzing challenges all, myself certainly included. Medical doctors, including those specializing in neuropsychiatry, frequently require the assistance of disinterested colleagues to remain completely self-actualized, as to consistently provide high quality of care to patients. This and related topics should be openly discussed frequently and without unwarranted stigma. I certainly look forward to future presentations on TED talks by other medium. I certainly appreciate our having shared and look forward to more enlightening and mutually uplifting conversations. Though not in the same time zone, I welcome a call anytime. Do carry on with your fine mission of exploring and better understanding human nature, as to share it unashamedly and without stigma to the masses. Bravo & cheerio! 😎

[@CynthiaGladstone]

I so loved my year of living Danishly I reread it on audiobook which I highly recommend !!! Humorous as well.

[@justaddmusclecom]

The world needs to watch and learn from this Video. Desperately needed material.

[@msofia8810]

Really? lol

[@yusakmanullang7656]

16:25 We can all get happier by learning how to be sad - better. You nail it. ;) Thanks.

[@andreiacantizano6961]

I'm a 40 years old Brazilian and I never heard about the Holiday she spoke about it. Saudade is just a WORD that means the feeling of missing something or someone.

[@judipattison9710]

Andréia Cantizano I am thinking that she is talking about “dia de finados” or I am wrong? 🤗🤔

[@anaandrade5277]

@@judipattison9710 Thought the same here!

[@criscosta1129]

But Finados is like to All Soul's Day or "Dia de los muertos" , it doesn't fit in this context and is not exclusive to Brazilians 🤔

[@andreiacantizano6961]

@@judipattison9710 But that's not original either exclusive Brazilian.

[@judipattison9710]

You are right! I actually found out that she is talking about the saudade’s day! January 30th! Can somebody tell me if this what what is she talking about it?

[@Risky_Wizard]

We need more of this in the world! Happiness is important

[@Zillions34]

Thanks!!! The message was so clear!! I am smiling!!! 😊

[@christopherzaqenobadyahujo410]

Simply beautiful message!!! Truly refreshing!!

[@CreativeMindsAudio]

Amazing! I already knew all these things, but seeing it all together really gave it all new perspective. All of these things that create misery are literally the US. The perfectionism really messed up my body in just the way you explained. 2 years ago my (now ex) gf, my job, and freelance clients all demanded performance at a level that wasn’t possible and wouldn’t accept anything short of their idea of perfection. No compassion. I have since removed myself from all of those situations and have been doing a ton better and healing this year. So many new opportunities and happy things have come into my life.

[@david_oliveira71]

Glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing

[@M-N00]

Nailed it. 1 happy Australian here. I've been in that dark place for extended periods, everything she said is true. I hope you all find happiness.

[@justineleconte]

Absolutely brilliant! Thanks for sharing all your research - and with humour! 💛

[@klimtkahlo]

Justine! I subscribe to your channel! Nice to see you here! 💞

[@prof.JaquelineStein]

Justine Leconte officiel hi Justine. I love your channel. Please be aware that here in Brazil we don’t have a sad day holiday. It’s an inaccurate information. Although I like the talk I’m sorry to inform that it has this flaw (which as an scientist is hard to let go).

[@PeacePhilly]

@@prof.JaquelineStein Mistakes will happen. I'm sure she will do her best to correct it, as soon as humanly possible! ☮️

[@andrewsaunders6749]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!! Great Job Hunni, Great Job

[@andressa9500]

She is SO NICE and speaks so well! Amazing job ☺️

[@miraljs]

Thank you Helen for sharing your story and happy insight. I really enjoyed it

[@jordyn4677]

Love th way that she underlined the importance culture plays in teaching us to deal with emotions 👼

[@Greeningermany]

Amazing talk, loved every minute of it!!

[@JoshuaOtusanya]

True happiness comes from within -Josh Otusanya

[@ruthambogo9147]

True

[@johnulcer]

Did you really just quote yourself? Wow... And for the record you didn't coin that phrase. It's been around forever.

[@BlueTigerDreams]

great speaker and amazing presentation

[@reefk8262]

"The happiest of lives is a busy solitude".... something that I now love living by and it goes against her first argument. I think the first step to finding happiness is not letting someone, a talk, a bestseller, a friend tell you how to be happy. If the person you want to be is not in sync with the person that you are, you will experience anxiety and stress, and in the long-term it may or may not affect your how "happy" you feel. Studies this, studies that... be in the nutritional industry, relationship advice, there's an opinion or a study to reinforce the arguments on both sides, no matter the subject. Be you, be humble, be kind... and the universe will take care of the rest.

[@boskindbeaufort]

Fabulous message and delivery! Thank you.

[@Life_moreabundantly]

Thank You!!

[@theodorusjacobacornelisaug8018]

Thanks for sharing this on the web. KEEP up the good workshops. BEST regards from Augustinus, junior.

[@ellenshaw1341]

Awesome 👍

[@puncesss]

Nicely said!!! 👏🏼

[@itsmuimui]

Great talk!

[@lored3201]

Excellent speaker!

[@Adhyapana_]

This gave me a sense of satisfaction🙌

[@wla34661ala]

I speak Mandarin. Xing has nothing to do with torture. It can mean fortune when used as a noun. 'Hope for' or 'be happy for' when used as a verbal. Maybe there is more meaning, but it`s definitely a positive word.

[@ORNELLAS10]

Awesome !

[@wandalee5010]

Absolutely brilliant! She pretty much nailed the art of happiness and mental peace in under 17 mins. We have everything 100% wrong here in America, I’m packing up and heading to Italy. ❤️

[@hanyakatz6238]

Wanda , wait for me!!!!!!

[@fusseltier]

very inspiring

[@Blaza2033]

Genius!

[@kienluu6430]

i think that i must watch this vid many times

[@soniapedro3740]

Apart from the error of the brazilian holiday. I truly loved her presentation. It Was funny and well done. 😍❤️

[@ricardochvs23]

Na real eu tbm achava que era um erro, até jogar no Google e descobrir que realmente existe um dia da saudade aqui :-O

[@ricardochvs23]

Existe

[@wan-chienwang4898]

幸 doesn't mean torture. I think it's confused with 辛.

[@david_oliveira71]

“The desire for more positive experience is itself a negative experience. And, paradoxically, the acceptance of one’s negative experience is itself a positive experience." -Mark Manson

[@ratatataraxia]

This is brilliant, I feel like she’s talking about me.

[@rikachiu]

American daily life culture is mostly everything that makes us miserable according to this.

[@TopgunB]

Happiness is a decision. It’s accepting what is. It’s loving what is. It’s realizing that creation is going on out there and despite what we think we have minimal control over what happens. So don’t make lists of external circumstance that you need to happen or not to happen before you can be at peace.

[@AnnabelleJARankin]

Nonsense - you do not control happiness by decisions.

[@brunogentiledesouza1141]

It inspiring.

[@jokrwx3]

These tips for those who didnt affected by others

[@tesartmania4645]

Brilliant speach, thank you

[@dianaboughner7977]

Wonderful speaker and topic. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this and totally agree. 😊👍👍💞

[@wizetek]

10 lessons for living miserably: 1. Ditch your friends. 2. Put money first. 3. Be a bigot. 4. Get a job you hate. 5. Work all the time. 6. Demand perfection. 7. Stay indoors. 8. Say 'no' to stories. 9. Don't listen to music. 10. Bottle up your feelings.

[@chakramohora3698]

now I'm downloading it and I will listen to it after my duty will be over. now I'm on duty thus I'm downloading it....

[@gazoo1982]

Unconditional Love makes ppl happy

[@saabiqintisar3294]

Nope

[@luis_robledo_richards]

She missed a really important one, at least for many people like myself, and that is caring for a pet. That’s proven to make you happier and healthier. By the way the Brazilian holiday claim is so weird, never heard of it.

[@lucaspulla]

I'm Brazilian and i never heard of this holiday too

[@prof.JaquelineStein]

Me neither. Brazilian here 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@lucaspulla]

@@prof.JaquelineStein Estão inventando feriadoo entãoo kkkk

[@ranjul2589]

A worthy tedex after all ! ♥️

[@lajasmarak8516]

Very very nice video mem

[@SapnaSehijpal]

👏👏

[@criscosta1129]

I'm curious to know what Brazilian holiday is the one that she was talking about

[@andreiacantizano6961]

Me too! I'm Brazilian and I never heard about it.

[@__Agony_]

dia de finados

[@criscosta1129]

Mas finados é dia dos Mortos, não se encaixa neste contexto e não é exclusividade dos Brasileiros 🤔

[@criscosta1129]

But Finados is like to :All Soul's Day" or "Dia de los muertos" , it doesn't fit in this context and is not exclusive to Brazilians 🤔

[@prof.JaquelineStein]

Me too! We don’t have this holiday. It’s a research based in inaccurate information...

[@ReNata-mg1kj]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@emeralddreams888]

幸 actually means pleasure I think...

[@viralestv9806]

Porque ya,no sacan TEDx en español?

[@gifeechick9939]

Estoy acuerdo yo entiendo dos.

[@carolmagalhaes9286]

A gente n tem esse feriado não

[@erikaok8472]

Carol Magalhaes lol

[@selenatenorio8558]

Acho que ela quis dizer "dia de finados"

[@makersclub9820]

👍👍👍

[@carolmagalhaes9286]

This Brazilian Holiday dosen't exist

[@MaoriViking]

Awesome Helen :-) Hope you will join me again soon to reconnect with your haka journey again. Arohanui :-)

[@M-N00]

Love you native New Zealanders

[@giatsayhonganh1283]

I am Vietnamese. I am a countrywoman. I am a tailor but i like Ted talk too much...

[@M-N00]

I am an Australian in Vietnam, your country makes me very happy.

[@giatsayhonganh1283]

You make me happy too hihi

[@internetresident3894]

3:55 that guy looks like someone who enjoys being miserable, I'm sorry but it's the first thought that came to mind when I saw him.

[@yasserakbbach7342]

Money takes control when you need it! It means you can't get rid of such obstacle, if so what kind of solutions you do suggest?

[@yasserakbbach7342]

I liked this one 👌 What about religion!?

[@fionafiona1146]

High taxes and even higher national benefits.

[@Pharockgod]

as the (Sith) we transmute our Anger/Pain 😈

[@saabiqintisar3294]

Weed makes me happy

[@thekingofcool2105]

This talk is all about pop culture reference

[@harunoshiobana5692]

まあ人それぞれあるけど大事なことは自分で分かっていくもんなのかな〜って 意外なもんが負担になってることとかはあるかもね

[@max55584]

To be happy, just be jerry

[@caramoonlynn]

She has the most delicious accent.

[@srinidhi7140]

ನಮಸ್ಕಾರಗಳು 🙏 namaskara 🙏 💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟💟

[@hamnahkashif1571]

She looked like merry berry with long hair in the thumb nail

[@turtle2720]

Couldn't watch it to the end. Most of the "happy" things she mentions makes me sad and vice versa... and I'm a person that like to see friends/family smile.

[@JoanOjenima_Science]

Interesting :) But I don't agree with all your points ! We need money to be happy, it's a part of happiness because with money you can eat, you can have a home, you can dress yourself. If I tell you to leave your job, sale all your clothes and just live with water and love, will you accept ? Will you really be happy ? I'm not sure about that. This is the world in which we live in, we need money or go live in a forest with cosmetible free fruits. But interesting, thank you.

[@uraniaininverno995]

Yes of course we need money to live. But that's not what she meant. Just don't let money dictate every choice and every move in your life.

[@ane-louisestampe7939]

Money does not make anybody happy. But lacking it makes us miserable and unhappy

[@hudaarmoosh5771]

طرب 14:11

[@mawada285]

I feel like she is a sponsor from Bhutan

[@jgirl345]

See that's my problrm, I have no true friends and people I can count on for support

[@erikaerika7788]

Brasilian sadness day ??? 😂😂😂 Never hear about it 🤔🤔

[@prof.JaquelineStein]

Erika Erika me neither. And I am Brazilian...

[@hanyakatz6238]

Where are true friends these days specially in western countries?

[@roythompson4402]

AutoPlay suggestions as follow-up to this talk shouldn't be other TED Talks, but rather Jump & Haka dance instead!

[@zigoto]

Why do the laugh after "and early death"? 🤔 No, really, it's not rhetorical 🤔

[@dashxdr]

Save 16 minutes of your life: 1) Ditch your friends 2) Put money first 3) Be a bigot 4) Get a job you hate 5) Work all the time 6) Demand perfection 7) Stay indoors 8) Say 'no' to stories 9) Don't listen to music 10) Bottle up your feelings

[@renehenriksen1735]

I want to be a pygmy hippo in my next life.

[@danielc5205]

I kinda disagree with Helen's #2 because happiness is expensive.

[@fionafiona1146]

Happiness is much cheaper if your government pays the necessaries and you have fun paying it forward for the next generation.

[@danielc5205]

@@fionafiona1146 That might be true somewhat for the welfare class, but not for the tax paying employed.

[@fionafiona1146]

@@danielc5205 As someone studying and profiting of fewer in the "welfare class" I don't see your point. Its safer, more relaxed and much better for societal profit (even without oil/gas money).

[@Nwachimerogo]

I want a friend

[@varshamestry4057]

Thank you very much. Gave me clarity for my life. Thanks once again.

[@JustInTimeMinistries]

Receive Jesus into your heart and you will have everlasting JOY

[@qw1876]

احد يترجمة عربي بليز

[@captaincoulterstevensisdea3709]

Money.

[@govindsable32]

First

[@srinidhi7140]

Great 😇

[@govindsable32]

@Jack Booted Hug no it doesn't make me happy. But what can I do I have so much time and sad life

[@Rien--]

meth *INTENSIFIES*

[@user-zs5ve8lh9i]

中文字幕…

[@srinidhi7140]

我来自印度 🇮🇳

[@Anastasia_zade]

please add translate turkish

[@Pharockgod]

The Federation 😈

[@jbam2878]

New montage 🚨I’m underrated 😩

[@smartguy3111]

Who said Australian are friendly?👎

[@emermbiemer302]

Happiness is family. Family is under attack in the west

[@AngelicDirt]

Happiness is not family when your family is miserable.

[@vinkorfhaxson1008]

She forgot some stuff such as laughing and making love imo.

[@lunaladds1]

this is so wrong

[@hibakahin1994]

And lastly, she forgot number 11 " dont remember your Creator, God" if you want to be mesirable.

[@bobspafford3519]

Often remember your Creator, God" if you want to be really miserable. For more misery, learn to spell miserable!

[@spamemail485]

was interested to listen but annoying voice. o well