“I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” - Andy Bernard .........I think of this quote often and it reminds me that the present moments are where true happiness and joy lies. Thanks for this Ali

Thank you. I needed this. I’ve really been practicing happiness as a choice because I was constantly consumed with expectations and disappointed with the reality. I’m not perfect and get overwhelmed but I will take some tips here and I’m working to have a baseline of contentment and happiness that is unwavering of circumstances around me while I still try to achieve and strive and do better

Happiness needs to be defined. For me, it's thriving in the pursuit of a loosely defined long-term goal while enjoying the process. I'm happy when I'm not asking myself that question.

Gratitude and perspective are what people should focus on over superficial outcomes.

"Is there anything ever under our total control? Yes, two things are: your actions and your attitude." - Mo Gawdat 🙏😊

1. The Happiness Equation 4:30 2. The Look Down Principal 8:25 3. The Rule of 9 Positive Things 10:10 4. Happiness vs. Joy & Pleasure 10:50 5. Journey Before Destination 11:40

Whoever's reading this, I pray that whatever you're going through gets better and whatever your struggling with or worrying about is going to be fine and that everyone has a fantastic day Amen

I listen to a podcast called “the happiness lab” and they also discuss the idea of incremental happiness as a choice and at first it’s a pretty jarring concept but the more you look into it the more it makes sense. Such a great video! 🙏🏽

youre a genius man. smarter than everyone else, and richer too

Ali out here giving us our therapy, our saviour

Expectations will be the death of us. My favourite poem 'He Never Expected Much' by Thomas Hardy follows the formula of happiness = reality - expectations. The lower your expectations, the more you enjoy life. Choosing incremental happiness (contentment while striving to be better) is the way to go. Thanks for sharing Mr Mo's wise words, Ali!

Ali's talking speed in these videos are like 1.5x on audiobooks 😂 which is perfect honestly. The full conversation (podcast) is amazing as well. Thank you

Low expectations are the way forward.. But when you see closed ones suffering for your low income or joblessness.. It's hurts in each micro second.. Thanks to Ali.. His voice is my motivation..

Ali! You look so good here! White is definitely your colour and the gold frame suits your face so well!

It doesn't matter you don't have as many subscriber as this or that youtuber. The value you offer us is much more than sooo many famous youtubers

I've noticed that almost everythnig that they talk about in this video is mentioned in the book "subtle art of not giving a f*". pretty cool.

Grateful for everything I have in my life. Once I started being more grateful for everything I created my own happiness and it radiates to others

he is happy on what he does, he likes to share and influence, he wants to make people happy , Ali!! ; ) strong and happy!!

I have been doing similar videos to yours for three years now, I am a medical student and productivity lover too, sadly I don’t have the same success story as yours, your videos provide me a level of motivation no human mind apart from mine can comprehend. Thankyou Ali

Having a goal and taking action to achieve that goal will not make you unhappy. It's the attachment to the outcome from that effort that makes a person unhappy or anxious. It's ok to be ambitious just don't be so hung up on the result. Try your best and hope for the best. When you have no (not low) expectation on the outcome from your effort, you will not be let down.

You really met the point when you described happiness as reality - expectations. Every time I look at famous youtuber and I start comparing myself to them I get dragged down into a spiral of negative thoughts and sense of unfulfillment. No matter how much you work, no matter what you achieve, there is always something that does better than you and it's your responsibility to decide if you want that to be your focus, or rather if you want to make gratitude for what you are and what you have the center of your attention. Thank you for this beautiful video! By the way @khalilah D. I also listen to "the happiness lab" podcast! It's so interesting!

Ali, thank you for introducing me to Mo. I will certainly get his books. Gratitude and celebrating positive memory struck me hard as I am currently working through the loss of my mum.

Buy the book guys, it also comes handy as a ruler. I love the way you add sponsor especially this time ❤️

Living in the moment and appreciating everything, the good and the bad promotes growth. Thank you for sharing this wonderful experience with us.

I didn't know I needed this, so thanks :) I am from Chile and currently I am on vacations on new york and is so easy to see these giant houses and wonder how big of a gap there is in our income. But at the same time is also easy to forget how far I have come in my life, from living in a really small city in my country to actually being about to finish my PhD in Italy 😁 I definitely needed some perspective and be grateful of the present

That's so true ...its the same thing with my father..when he died i was shattered and so heartbroken that i could not see past my pain...but now after 5 years i now realize that i had 18 beautiful years with him ..all those precious memories of being daddy's lil angel i would cherish them for the rest of my life and i am soo thankful that i got to live 18 years with someone as amazing as him... 😭🙂

8:30 "While hiking a mountain, it's important to remember to enjoy the view above."

This was really powerful, thank-you for sharing! I appreciated the "look down instead of look up", with the story you shared. ❤ I lost my friend (neighbor) a little while back, but I remember having that thought shortly after he passed- thankful for what we did have instead of focusing on the loss. I was so thankful to have been there, so he wasn't alone. The ringer was off on our phone, but for some reason we still woke up and were able to head over to comfort him and help him and be with him one last time (he passed later in the hospital). When I think back on that moment, as much as it hurts he is gone, I am beyond thankful that we had those final moments and all the memories of his visits.

May Allah bless this ummah with happiness. Ameen

so with low expectations and not comparing yourself to other thats how you can be on path of happiness

Why I watch a new episode every time, I feel that it is a steal - so much tangible benefits delivered in a professional way at zero cost.

Random sharing here that may benefit others, I think a lot of us link happiness with achieving goals. I started seeing a psychiatrist to understand myself better and realised that I have been linking my happiness with external goals & factors such as earning more money, getting a promotion. When I’m down, I go to eat good food, meet friends for drinks and travel, Spending time with my partner exploring restaurants and places but I realized I don’t have a specific activity that makes me happy internally. It will be an ongoing activity to find an internal happy factor for most people. Hope anyone that read this have a think about what makes you happy internally and work towards finding that 💪🏼

People in comments talking about how life changing this video is. Me just enjoying how casually Mo says "...Hum?" every now an then☺

Happiness is definitely a choice and my life has seen positive change since I realised this! I read a book called the secret and part of it teaches all about the difference an conscious positive outlook can have on overall life as well as happiness!

I get asked how I keep up my journaling practise and it definitely came from lowering my expectations Especially when youre depressed it’s about making incremental adjustments that eventually lead to steps towards feeling better. Now I consistently post journal with me videos on yet and thats kept me the most committed and helped with brain fog/dysregulation. For example, when I was the most depressed I had no appetite and no desire to cook. I’d let myself starve sometimes - and that was partly because I felt like if I cooked then it needed to be a perfect, healthy, pretty little meal. Eventually, I realized I needed to lower my expectations and in a moment I had energy I began experimenting to find my depression meal. Because I realized any food is better than no food - so who cares if its healthy, pretty, whatever. For a while all I ate was poutine, then oatmeal, then toast and peanut butter. Finally discovered a half a microwave baked potato and 2 sunny side up eggs. You may think, “fired eggs” you’re not depressed but for some reason frying eggs was okay but making my oatmeal with milk was too much work… idk. The point is this meal is relatively healthy, I feel good and eating doesn’t stress me out anymore. And I’ve gotten blood work done so I know I’m ok like this - because it wasn’t forever. When I was ready I started taking more steps and managing my mental health and getting happier.

Hands down, this is the best video I have watched all year

Fuure isn't guaranteed but the now is, enjoy today before it becomes yesterday

Working on each present day has been something I've been working on and to remove external factors. I think at this time where a lot are struggling financially, that comfort zone to enjoy life seems lost even if they try to enjoy. People who are moderately/rich are even struggling in current times to make sure they don't make the wrong moves. This was a fantastic video to just keep emphasizing to enjoy the process to whatever our goals may head or intersect towards. And hopefully in the end that balance constructs so we are not worrying too much on a specific outcome and will naturally manifest.

Ali, you are searching for happiness everywhere when you were born with it but then abandoned it. This life will never give you the happiness you're looking for. You need to think more long term, then you will find it.

Hi Ali, I am from India. I watched your videos on productivity tips and they helped me. But I request you to create a quick video on how to take care your eyes while in front of screens. Thanks

Man you are sooo successful, good for you, time is running out for me and you in 12 years old start learning to code man that's mind blowing 🤯

LOVED THIS Thank YOU ❤💯💯💯

Fulfilment is the aim but why not be happier along the way!

Hey Ali. Ur an absolute legend man

Thanks Ali!!

love this video Ali. thank you for the intentionality you bring to all your content. this was so relevant and helpful

Being in this Channel is itself a healthy habit 💖Thanks Ali for being full of life

We need to be present not past or future. Future isn’t come yet so don’t look future until it comes. When you focus on present your future automatically will be ok. Nowadays we look material-stick happiness, it’s trap. This guy is on point

Thanks. I needed to hear this today. Too often people forget that their wellbeing (and happiness included) is their own responsibility

I like how you mixed the podcast with clips of you commenting it. love it

This video is so life changing, thank you for this💗

This was really helpful. Thank you so much.

Again, killed it. Whenever I feel like I’m in a slump you so happen to post at the right time. Thank you again 🙏

ur glowing bro

THIS VIDEO IS TRULY Everting I needed in life to get me out of my dark place

Lower your expectations, even if you won’t feel happy you’ll definitely feel happier than you are now…

Ali, you are a lifesaver. I follow you as like my elder brother. Love you, brother!

Omg omggggg was waiting for it ! Thanksss

I like this content. It would be great, if you could have an interview with (for example) a doctor, who really enjoys its profession, somebody with true calling. I feel that your channel is moving towards the tutorials - 'how to live good life'. Not all people should be content creators - there are also doctors, lawyers, rocket scientist etc. :D I love Jordan Peterson and his quot 'Don't strive for happiness, strive for meaning'. Each of us could have a unique mission on this world, that help makes the whole world better.

Thank you Ali for posting this video. I already feel happier 😎🤩

Really excited to watch the rest of the interview with Mo after this video!

more videos like this, please

These are some of the really great & true points, that this book proves. What about making a Book Club video on 'That little voice in your head' ?

ali you’re the best

I love your consistency these days ❤️

Ali looks more hansome in today's video.

Happiness as a choice is so important and so challenging. That first point that you don't choose absolute happiness, but you can choose incremental improvements to happiness is a great frame

Happines comes from solving your problems, not avoiding them. This one sentence helped me to effectively do things that matter which when are done are causing satisfaction. I think internet is the main problem for our happines. You always compare yourself with someone else who has something that you don't, and you feel miserable because of that. We really need to lower our expectations and enjoy the process and ordinary things that happen trough our days.

This video is so amazing!!!! Thank you so much!!!😇😇😇

i really like your videos, the style and the vibe it's incrediblee🤯🤯

My 3rd Ali Abdaal vid of the day.. good day.

This was so insightful. Thank you, Ali.

I consider happiness no different than anger, sadness, frustration, excitement. It's just an emotion that requires a trigger. As humans we familiarise with something and it doesn't bring us happiness anymore or at least not as much as it initially did. Hence why I believe a content mindset is far more important. Being able to accept where you are who you are brings about an inner peace that makes you happy. Ofc don't settle and thrive to be better than yesterday. But it's your life journey, nobody will take the wheel of your own journey for you! So whether you drive at top speed or you happened to be slower than others. The most important is that you are moving :) Wish you all a beautiful day!

*$76,000 just in two weeks Mr buch Michael greene you are so amazing*

i implore you dear Ali to write a book describing your experience of teaching special kids/differently abled children.

I AM ACTUALLY VERY HAPPY THANK YOU :-)

Thanks Ali 💗

This is the video that I'm looking for last some years, Thanks Ali

THE KEY TO LIFE IS HAPPINESS IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD

I really appreciate your content! The topics you choose to cover are very relatable and seem to be exactly what I need to learn. Keep it up!

Great video this has helped will watch the podcast next and get both Mo books

I always get 24 audible credits at once and that comes in less than 5£ for a book! And then I listen to them through the year!

I think there is only one takeaway from this “Richest person in the world is the one whose heart is content”

Im happy being on my own now learning about me Rather in past rushing into dead end relationships im very out going but love coming home alone

Find God in your life & happiness will follow..not promising there won't be super hard times but having God on your side during those times is very important.

The look down principle is Life changing 🙏 for sharing guys ❤️

I don't have any expectations because I you feel free. If I have any that is not for me those for somebody else it is very low if it will not happen that doesn't matter. Having an expectations from others are just like building a barrier which can break easily and also it depends on other person"s control. why your happiness in somebody else's control? Your happiness should be in your control.. that's my view.

This absolutely a topic I quite often my mentor always talks about this it just now clicked for me thank you

Loooove this!!!

Thanks Ali for the kind of value your are putting to the world.. keep up the great work.

Literally i am happy with me right now , but what to do when people around me are not happy by seeing me doing my things and being happy, even the closest ones too.

Happiness comes from giving, not having…

thanks ali for making this video! you delivered the topic very clearly. i hope you will upload more videos! warmest regards, ❤

Thanks Ali

Thanks! I find that meditation also helps a lot with self care and being grateful

Thanks you Aliabdaal I am from Bangladesh also I am your big fan I saw your Content and I Learn something different . Your content is very halpful in our new generation because your study related video is awesome 🤩

Woah!! Thanks, this was really needed 🙂🙃

The past years I just waited to be able to go back overseas and I used to talk about it all the time with my friends while we were having picnics in park. And now that I am overseas, I sometimes wish I was back in that park with my friend instead....Happiness is really an inside job

This is what I’m ultimately going to study. Love it!

Really liked this video. Lot to take away from this. Thanks!