E368–Inner Voice A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine & Dr. Ashkan Farhadi on Evolution of Happiness

E368 – "Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine." In this episode, Dr. Foojan Zeine chats with Dr. Ashkan Farhadi, a distinguished physician, researcher, and educator with over two decades of experience in academic medicine. As a senior American College of Gastroenterology member, he has been a researcher and professor at leading universities. Dr. Farhadi is the Director of the Digestive Disease Center at Memorial Care Medical Group in Fountain Valley, California, and a faculty member at the University of California, Irvine. Throughout his career, he has contributed to over 100 peer-reviewed papers, articles, and abstracts across various medical journals and publications. He has also authored several books and book chapters, which have been translated into five languages. In addition to his scholarly work, Dr. Farhadi holds over ten U.S. patents, with six more pending, all aimed at advancing patient care. His research has taken a personal turn in recent years, focusing on pursuing success and happiness. His extensive exploration of this topic culminated in the book *The Evolution of Happiness*, where he distills years of insights into a clear and practical guide. www.Therhymesofhappiness.com 20 Best California Mental Health Podcasts https://podcasts.feedspot.com/california_mental_health_podcasts/ Check out my website: www.FoojanZeine.com, www.AwarenessIntegration.com, www.Foojan.com Discussing Happiness and Its Evolution Dr. Foojan and Dr. Ashkan discussed the concept of happiness. Dr. Ashkan shared his research and personal journey into the topic, explaining that his interest was sparked by his work as a gastroenterologist. He published several articles and books, including "The Evolution of Happiness" and its Farsi equivalent. Dr. Foojan praised Dr. Ashkan's work for its combination of research and artistic elements. They also discussed the concept of the "duality of reason," but no specific explanation was given. Dr. Ashkan shared his realization that happiness was not the top priority in people's lives, despite his initial expectations, and this insight led to the development of his article exploring this concept. They discussed the complexities of human behavior, focusing on the interplay between obligation and choice in shaping our experiences of joy and satisfaction. They noted that while obligations can sometimes lead to fulfillment and happiness, they can also result in resentment, particularly when they feel forced or pointless. Conversely, when tasks are imbued with a sense of purpose and choice, they can tilt the scale towards joy and satisfaction. Dr. Foojan emphasized the importance of therapists helping clients revisit past decisions with a more nuanced understanding of the circumstances and information available at the time in order to foster self-forgiveness and a more positive outlook. They discussed the concept of happiness and its related qualities. Dr. Ashkan elaborated on happiness as an armor, emphasizing that it is not a single thing that makes us happy but a combination of various elements. He introduced a new model of happiness: inner happiness is the cake, and joy, relief of needs, and excitement are the frosting. Dr. Ashkan also shared the results of research on over 100 personal traits that are closely correlated with happiness and joy, which led to the identification of 10 pairs of complementary attributes. He discussed the concept of happiness as a suit of armor, emphasizing that weakness in any armor component renders it ineffective. Dr. Ashkan stressed that his approach was based on research rather than personal experience or advice, and he highlighted the book's use of humor and caricatures to engage readers. They discussed the concept of happiness as a continuous state that requires effort and resilience. They emphasized the importance of self-reflection, self-improvement, and protecting one's happiness. They also discussed the distinction between acquired and natural happiness, with the former being about contentment with what one already has. The conversation touched on the evolution of happiness and the need to redefine success as personal fulfillment and well-being rather than material achievements. Dr. Ashkan discussed the importance of words in effectively communicating ideas and concepts, particularly in terms of happiness. He emphasized the need to define words with specific connotations to facilitate easier understanding and appreciation of their differences. Dr. Ashkan also shared a poem about the pursuit of happiness, highlighting that it is a universal dream and desire.