Four Happiness Triggers

After selling his company, Ankur spent 2 years exploring what truly makes him happy. Here are the key components he discovered for personal happiness.

The Four Core Happiness Triggers

  1. Outdoor Time with Sunlight

    • Emphasizes the importance of being outside
    • Specifically mentions sunlight exposure as crucial
    • Notes winter can be challenging due to reduced outdoor time
  2. Constant Movement

    • Walks 20,000 steps daily
    • Incorporates movement into daily routine:
      • Walking meetings
      • Phone calls while moving
      • Playing sports daily
    • Movement is fundamental to maintaining happiness
  3. Higher Purpose

    • For him personally: meaningful work
    • Can vary by individual:
      • Some find it in religion
      • Others in different pursuits
    • Key is having something bigger than yourself
  4. Meaningful Relationships

    • Emphasizes quality over quantity
    • Focus on relationships that "count"
    • Sees this as a fundamental component of happiness

Key Insight

  • These four components can be used to simplify life
  • When these elements are present, they create a foundation for consistent happiness
  • The framework is straightforward but effective
  • Different people might have different versions of these components, but the categories remain consistent
45:03 - 46:24
Full video: 56:44
AN

Ankur Nagpal

Founded and sold Teachable, an online course platform. Backs Circle, a community-centric platform valued at $200 million.

Authored a comprehensive guide on personal finance for startup founders.

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