The tyranny of positivity: A Harvard psychologist details our unhealthy obsession with happiness

Think happy, be happy? Maybe not. Harvard psychologist Susan David examines the backlash effect of forced positivity in our lives.

Some days it can feel like we’re living inside an overly sincere Hallmark card. The dominant messaging in western societies is: Be happy. Don’t worry. It will be alright. Just reach for happiness. Take your destiny into your own hands. The people close to you, to whom you can tell your worries, they smile and a speech bubble floats from their mouth saying: ‘Think positive!’ Somewhere, a Disney bird is chirping.

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Susan David Emotional Agility Harvard psychology happiness happy positivity cancer grief death denial reality videos

'I thought I saw a terrorist': How to manage false alarms, blind fear and panic

Rumors of a terrorist gunman escalated at LAX. A panicked crowd trampled an old woman, snapping her femur. In our best Dick Cheney voice: "If you allow blind fear to disrupt society, the terrorists have already won."

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Terrorism LAX airport JFK shooter gunman panic chaos false alarm evacuate Susan David Alain de Botton Waleed Aly FBI