Can we learn to be happy, or is it something we're born with?

Research, including Martin Seligman’s theory of Learned Optimism, reveals that happiness need not be a passing feeling—it can be a skill we develop. The science is clear: happiness can be learned.

One simple yet powerful tool is savouring. While happiness may seem fleeting, pausing to fully experience joyful moments can stretch them, turning brief emotions into lasting contentment. By practising this regularly, we can significantly boost our overall well-being.

In this episode, I dive into the science of happiness with Sha-En Yeo, a leading Happiness Scientist.

Sha-En holds a Master’s in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied under Dr. Martin Seligman and Prof. Angela Duckworth. Over 13 years, she has inspired more than 25,000 people across Asia-Pacific with her keynotes and transformative coaching. You may know her from 913FM, her bestselling books, or her two TED talks. Sha-En also serves as President of the Asia Professional Speakers Association.

Fittingly, her name means “gratitude” and “kindness”—values that guide her work in spreading happiness.

If you’re ready to bring more happiness into your life or want to understand it from a scientific lens, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/077-the-anatomy-of-happiness-with-sha-en-yeo

Related Episode
#062 Authentic leadership without fluff with Mette Johansson
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https://happinessscientists.com/

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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How do you reinvent yourself when you’ve already reached the top of one field?

It's a question many of us face as long careers, industry disruptions, or even boredom push us to rethink our path.

In the latest episode of the How to Live podcast, I sit down with the legendary sports broadcaster John Dykes, who shares his powerful and deeply personal story of stepping out of the broadcast spotlight and into corporate boardrooms.

For years, John was the trusted face of the Premier League, someone we all tuned in to see. But even before the broadcast industry in Southeast Asia faced disruption, John found himself questioning the purpose and relevance of what he was doing. After decades spent in Sports TV listening to the legends and unpicking their strategies, he began questioning his next move - convinced he wanted to inform, educate and entertain.

He spent two years exploring where he could still make an impact within the sports world—experiencing both triumphs and doubts. But a friend's remark changed everything: "John, you're more than just an entertaining dinner speech." Brutal, but it struck a chord.

Through various explorations, John realised his core skills—communication, crisis management, leadership lessons from the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham, and the Williams Sisters—were just as relevant in the corporate world. The stage may have shifted, but the principles remained the same.

With a natural gift for storytelling, John began helping corporate leaders, from investment bankers to senior executives, communicate powerfully, make strategic decisions, and even recruit with insights from football's greatest. Yet, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He had to learn the ropes of commercialising his services, setting the right pricing, and designing programs from scratch.

What struck me most about John's journey wasn’t just his skillset—it was his mindset. Despite being at the peak of his career and a familiar face to millions, John approached this transition with humility, curiosity, and quiet determination. He was open to learning, adapting, and evolving.

Many of us are at a point where reinvention is necessary but scary. John’s story shows that reinvention is not only possible—it can be inspiring, even at the top of your game.

If you're looking to evolve and grow to the next stage of your career, this episode is for you.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/076-re-inventing-from-broadcast-to-boardrooms

Related Episode
#030 Re-inventing yourself with Sarah Lal
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep30spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep30apple

Connect with John
https://www.johndykes.co/

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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We start projects with excitement, but how often do we end up doom-scrolling when the going gets tough?

What really drives distraction? Is it flashy external stimuli or our internal discomfort?

Research shows it's primarily internal triggers. Even Plato and Aristotle grappled with this 2,500 years ago. While modern tech hasn't helped, it's not the root cause.

The key to beating distraction isn't just removing stimuli. It's about managing our discomfort to push through the boring parts and achieve our goals.

But how do we do that?

Tune into the 75th milestone episode of the How to Live Podcast for answers. I'm joined by the brilliant Nir Eyal, New York Times bestselling author of "Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life."

Nir isn't just an author - he's a behavioural design expert who's taught at Stanford, advised Fortune 500 companies, and invested in successful startups like Canva and Kahoot. His work has been featured in Harvard Business Review and The New York Times, making him a true authority on building focus in our distraction-filled world.

Nir's expertise in psychology, technology, and business, coupled with his infectious energy, makes this episode a must-listen for any leader aiming to boost their focus and productivity.

Ready to take control of your attention and elevate your performance?

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/075-being-indistractable-with-nir-eyal

Related Episode
#010 Mindfulness 101 with Erin Lee
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep10spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep10apple

Connect with Nir
https://www.nirandfar.com/

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https://howtolive.life/contact

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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Imagine attending a keynote where the speaker walks up with an iPad and begins sketching live, transforming complex ideas about life and business into powerful visual concepts right before your eyes.

Meet Simon Bowen, the Visual Maestro of Business, who turns abstract thoughts into million-dollar realities.

Growing up in the rugged outback of Western Australia, Simon's world was defined by visuals. Maps scratched in the dirt for directions, diagrams sketched on paper before assembling electrical circuits – these experiences honed his ability to see the world in geometric patterns and dimensions.

Today, Simon stands as the world's leading authority on visual models that sell. As the founder of the Models Method, he has developed a groundbreaking approach that helps business owners create powerful, revenue-driving visual representations of their ideas.

His trademarked Genius Model has earned accolades from Fortune 500 companies, governments, and military organisations alike.

But Simon is more than just a visual thinker – he's a modern-day sage, bringing profound wisdom to life through his captivating models.

In our upcoming podcast, we'll dive deep into:

• How visuals unlock our understanding of complex concepts
• The art of crafting million-dollar visual models
• The hidden depths of thinking that visual models can reveal

And here's the kicker: Simon will transform one of my current business ideas into a visual model – LIVE on the show!

Don't miss this opportunity to witness the intersection of art, business, and innovation. Simon Bowen's unique perspective promises to revolutionise how you think about and communicate your ideas.

Prepare to have your mind visually blown! 🎨💡🚀

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/074-visualising-million-dollar-ideas-with-simon-bowen

Related Episode
#059 Creativity at work with Eshan Ponnadurai
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep59spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep59apple

Connect with Simon
https://thesimonbowen.com/

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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Do you dismiss manners and etiquette as outdated, superficial skills?

Think again.

Beneath the surface of etiquette lies a powerful combination of emotional intelligence, psychology, coaching, and spirituality. These elements can:

• Foster deeper connections with others
• Build unshakeable confidence
• Transform lives in profound ways

This eye-opening insight came from my conversation with Sara Jane Ho, the Emmy-nominated Netflix host, entrepreneur, and etiquette expert. You may know her from the hit show "Mind Your Manners," but Sara's impact goes far beyond television.

As a pioneer entrepreneur, Sara founded a high-end finishing school in China, earning recognition from Fast Company as one of the world's top 50 innovative companies. Her credentials are impressive:

• MBA from Harvard Business School
• Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree
• BBC's Top 100 Women

Sara's journey is as fascinating as her achievements. She left a lucrative career in investment banking to pursue her passion for etiquette and personal transformation.

In our conversation, we delve into the true essence of etiquette, its role in building confidence and transforming lives, cultural nuances in manners, and Sara's experiences creating her Netflix show.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/073-mind-your-manners-with-sara-jane-ho

Related Episode
#061 How to optimise energy with Elika Tasker
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep61spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep61apple

Connect with Sara
https://www.sarajaneho.com/

Buy Antevorta
https://antevortalabs.com/pages/about-us

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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Ever felt an instant connection on a first date, only to wonder later if it was real? Science says it might not be intuition at all—it's arousal misattribution.

Professor Joel Pearson experienced this firsthand during a rock climbing first date. Years later, his groundbreaking research revealed the truth: the exhilaration of climbing created a physiological high he mistook for romantic connection. This phenomenon explains why intuition often fails in emotionally charged situations, both personal and professional.

While intuition has been widely discussed from spiritual and coaching perspectives, scientific research was lacking—until now.

Enter Professor Joel Pearson, PhD in neuroscience and founder of the Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales. As the pioneer in the scientific study of intuition, his revolutionary SMILE Model (Self-awareness, Mastery, Impulse control, Low probability, and Environment) offers a framework for understanding when to trust our gut and when to think twice.

Fresh from the release of his book "The Intuition Toolkit" and appearances on global podcasts like the Rich Roll Podcast, Prof Pearson joins us to share his insights. We'll explore:

• Intuition in the business context
• Distinguishing between impulse and intuition
• Why mastery in one field doesn't translate into intuition in another
• Optimal learning strategies
• Applying the SMILE Model in daily life

This podcast will equip you with scientifically proven research to effectively use intuition in your work and personal lives. Learn how top executives use scientifically-backed intuition to make million-dollar decisions in high-pressure situations.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/072-the-new-science-of-intuition-with-joel-pearson

Related Episode
#061 How to optimise energy with Elika Tasker
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep61spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep61apple

Contact Joel
https://www.profjoelpearson.com/

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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Ever blanked during a crucial presentation, your mind suddenly empty? The panic, the embarrassment, the self-doubt that follows... Sound familiar?

Welcome to midlife, where this happens more often. But here's the twist - it's not a downward spiral, it's an evolution.

Our brains start changing in our late 30s, with the prefrontal cortex slowing down. We can't process information as rapidly as before. Clinging to our younger cognitive patterns only makes us brittle, like someone stubbornly insisting they're right when everyone else sees otherwise.

But here's the silver lining: while we may not be as quick as we once were, we're developing new superpowers. The hemispheres of our brains are communicating more, enhancing our ability to connect dots and recognize patterns far better than in our 30s.

This can become our secret weapon as leaders in our 40s and 50s.

We delve into this and more with Aneace Haddad, a former tech CEO who pivoted to C-Suite Executive Coaching at 47. After selling his multinational tech company spread across 30 countries, Aneace reshaped his career and now guides executives through midlife leadership evolution. He's also a Senior Advisor to McKinsey and facilitator at Deloitte University.

A profound, insightful conversation that anyone in their late 30s, 40s, and 50s should hear. It's not just about adapting - it's about unleashing potential you never knew you had.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/071-new-horizons-in-midlife-with-Aneace-Haddad

Related Episode
#068 Connecting the dots to purpose with Marc Nicholson
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Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep68apple

Contact Aneace
https://aramyss.com/

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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Does efficiently clearing tasks bring you peace or just create more busyness? 🤔

We've all tried countless time management hacks to regain control of our schedules. But ironically, the more we optimise, the busier and more stressed we become.

The root issue isn't the technique - it's the concept of time management itself.

Why? Because the supply of potential tasks is infinite, while our time is painfully finite. There's simply no way to ever "get it all done."

This realisation is unexpectedly liberating. By accepting we can't do everything, the things we choose to prioritise become deeply meaningful - since we're consciously rejecting other options.

This radical perspective comes from Oliver Burkeman's groundbreaking book "Four Thousand Weeks" - hailed as "the most important book ever on time management" by Adam Grant, a "much-needed reality check" by Mark Manson, and a prompt to "rethink our worship of efficiency" by Daniel Pink.

A New York Times bestseller praised by the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, The Atlantic, and more, the book is making waves. Oliver studied at Cambridge, was shortlisted for the Orwell Prize, and won the Foreign Press Association award.

In our compelling chat for the How to Live Podcast, the award-winning journalist challenges efficiency worship and positive thinking tropes. Instead, he offers logical, actionable insights into:

✨ Why time management fails us

✨ Embracing our finitude

✨ Finding true meaning amid rejection

✨ Patience, fun, and freedom

Don't miss this thought-provoking discussion that will reshape how you view your limited weeks on Earth.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/070-joy-of-missing-out-with-Oliver-Burkeman

Related Episode
#064 How to live with Derek Sivers
Spotify: https://howtolive.life/ep64spotify
Apple Podcasts: https://howtolive.life/ep64apple

Contact Oliver
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/

Leave us a message
https://howtolive.life/contact

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https://www.sharadlal.net/

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