Stephanie Harrison: Beat Burnout in Business and Unlock an All-New Type of Happiness | Mental Health | YAPClassic
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
Despite achieving external success in her twenties, Stephanie Harrison found herself deeply unfulfilled, burned out, and struggling with mental health issues. This led her to study the psychology of happiness and develop "The New Happy" philosophy. (07:22) The episode explores how our culture's "old happy" model—focused on perfection, achievement, and separation—is fundamentally broken and causing widespread unhappiness. Stephanie reveals that true happiness comes from a radically different approach: being who you are and using your authentic self to help others.
- Main Theme: Breaking free from society's achievement-obsessed mindset and redefining happiness through authenticity, purpose, and connection rather than perfection and individual success.
Speakers
Stephanie Harrison
Stephanie Harrison is an author, expert in the science of happiness, and founder of The New Happy, a global movement helping people break free from society's achievement-driven ideals. She has a graduate degree in positive psychology and previously worked for Arianna Huffington at Thrive Global, where she built and ran the company's learning programs before launching her own venture in 2020.
Hala Taha
Hala Taha is the host of Young and Profiting podcast and founder of an 8-figure media business. She's known for interviewing successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders about business, personal development, and achievement strategies.
Key Takeaways
Pursue Intrinsic Over Extrinsic Goals
The episode reveals a crucial distinction between two types of goals that dramatically impact our happiness levels. (22:33) Extrinsic goals are imposed by culture and revolve around money, fame, and status—they're identified by the phrase "I'll be happy when." Intrinsic goals come from within and focus on making a difference, helping people, growing as a person, and investing in relationships. Research shows that people pursuing extrinsic goals are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and even give up on their pursuits. Intrinsic goals, while providing a slower burn of satisfaction, create lasting fulfillment and sustained motivation. For entrepreneurs, this means reframing business objectives from purely financial metrics to how your work serves others and aligns with your authentic strengths.
Practice Self-Acceptance to Accelerate Growth
Counter to what many high-achievers believe, self-acceptance actually accelerates personal and professional growth rather than leading to mediocrity. (57:00) The traditional approach of trying to change ourselves to become acceptable creates a cycle of self-criticism that hinders progress. Instead, accepting yourself as worthy regardless of performance outcomes creates the psychological safety needed for risk-taking, learning, and improvement. This doesn't mean lowering standards—it means divorcing your inherent worth from your achievements. Practically, this involves treating yourself with compassion during setbacks and recognizing that your value as a person remains constant whether you succeed or fail at specific tasks.
Combat Loneliness Through Service
The most effective strategy for overcoming loneliness isn't seeking connection for yourself, but actively helping others. (38:08) When we're lonely, our brain shifts into self-preservation mode, making it harder to connect with people due to fear of rejection and self-focus. However, when you approach others with the intention to help, it's much safer and more welcomed. Loneliness stems not just from lacking support, but from not being useful or needed by others. Simple acts like volunteering, holding a door, or paying for someone's coffee can break the cycle. This creates a virtuous cycle where helping others makes you realize you're not alone, while also making you more attractive to others as a reliable, giving person.
Implement Job Crafting for Greater Fulfillment
Even if you're not an entrepreneur, you can increase job satisfaction through "job crafting"—subtly reshaping your role to better fit your intrinsic motivations. (59:15) This involves identifying projects you're most excited about, colleagues you enjoy working with, and skills you want to develop, then proactively volunteering for relevant opportunities. You don't need permission to add meaning to your work. Harrison shared how she ran unauthorized well-being classes at her corporate job, reasoning that no one could be upset about helping employees feel better. The key is being strategic about which assignments you prioritize and which relationships you invest in while fulfilling your basic job requirements.
Use "One Authentic Action" to Break Autopilot
To counter the tendency to live on autopilot driven by external expectations, practice taking one authentic action daily by simply asking "What do I need right now?" or "What do I want to do?" (33:36) Then do it, even if it seems unproductive or unusual. This could be as simple as baking a cake, taking a walk, or calling a friend. The exercise helps you reconnect with your intrinsic motivations and authentic self. It's radical in a world where we constantly optimize for productivity and others' approval. These small acts of authenticity compound over time, gradually steering your life toward greater alignment with your true nature and values.
Statistics & Facts
- One in two Americans will experience difficulties with their mental health in their lifetime, while 25% are currently suffering and 40% report being incredibly lonely with no one to confide in. (12:30)
- Entrepreneurs are disproportionately affected by mental health issues, with 49% reporting a mental health condition—three times more likely to have depression and addiction, and twelve times more likely to have ADHD compared to the general population. (13:12)
- Sponsored jobs on Indeed get 45% more applications than non-sponsored ones, and 23 hires are made worldwide on Indeed every minute. (43:03)
