This is a condensed slide deck from the eighth class of my Fall 2017 section of The Art of Self-Coaching at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

1. The art of
Photo by Jes [link]
Ed Batista
Class 8: UNHAPPINESS
Fall 2017
self-coaching

2. Unhappiness
Photo by Jes [link]
The absence of happiness?
A legitimate feeling
A fruitful state

3. Unhappiness
Everyone you meet
is fighting a battle
you know nothing about.
~ Wendy Mass

4. Not a deep dive
Photo by Anna [link]

5. Positive
Photo by Susanne Nilsson [link]
psychology
Connections with today
Importance of meaning
Emotion management
Mental models

6. Downsides
Photo by Susanne Nilsson [link]
Banish unhappiness?
Peterson: Blame the victim
Agency  “I’m responsible”
& limits

7. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]

8. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]
Not “stoicism”
Equanimity ≠ Weary resignation

9. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]
What is happiness?
Equanimity & tranquility
(Eudaimonia, not mere pleasure)

10. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]
Cultivate equanimity & tranquility
Turn toward negative emotions
(Growth mindset)
(Meta-emotion)

11. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]
Distress stems from our beliefs & judgments
Turn infinite fears into finite ones
(Emotion management)
(Mental models)

12. Stoicism
Photo by Martin Fisch [link]
Things do not touch the soul.
Our perturbations come only
from the opinion which is within.
~Marcus Aurelius

13. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]

14. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]
Resisting our addiction to avoiding pain
Being inquisitive & open to experience
(Comfort with discomfort)
(Mindfulness)

15. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]
Seeking pleasure is an opportunity to observe
what we do in the face of pain.
~Pema Chödrön

16. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]
What we call obstacles are really the way
the world teaches us where we’re stuck.
~Pema Chödrön
(Mental models)

17. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]
A strong feeling will arise, and instead of
simply letting it be there, we panic.
~Pema Chödrön
(Meta-emotion)

18. Buddhism
Photo by Sarah J [link]
Death is wanting to have every experience
confirm you and congratulate you and
make you feel completely together.
~Pema Chödrön
(Growth mindset)

19. Logotherapy
Photo courtesy of Rafael Delsin [link]

20. Logotherapy
Everywhere man is confronted with fate,
with the chance of achieving something
through his own suffering.
~Viktor Frankl

21. Logotherapy
Man’s search for meaning is the
primary motivation in his life.
~Viktor Frankl

22. Logotherapy
Happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue.
~Viktor Frankl
(At odds with positive psychology?)

23. Logotherapy
Consistent with positive psychology?
Eudaimonia > Mere pleasure
Agency & responsibility

24. Logotherapy
It is possible to practice the art of living
even in a concentration camp,
although suffering is omnipresent.
~ Viktor Frankl

25. Unhappiness
Photo by Jes [link]

26. To sum up
Photo by Pranav Yaddanapudi [link]
Many approaches beyond positive psychology
Different from, not opposed to
Learning how you learn

27. For next time…
Photo by Marco Ghitti [link]

28. Success
Sonja Lyubomirsky on myths
David Foster Wallace on values
Peter Drucker (optional) on self-management
…and an exercise

29. Photo by dotmatchbox [link]
An exercise…

30. Photo by dotmatchbox [link]
Managing
Oneself Worksheet

31. Managing
Complete AFTER doing the readings
Oneself Worksheet
Photo by dotmatchbox [link]

32. Other items…
Slides will be posted on my site
Weekly assignment due Tuesday 9pm
1:1 meetings today in B206 (the usual room)