• What is happiness?
• What does it actually mean to be happy?
• Is happiness something we achieve, or something we notice?
• Why do people define happiness so differently?
• Can happiness exist without connection to others?
• Is happiness a goal—or a byproduct of something else?
• When does the pursuit of happiness stop making us happy?
• Are we chasing happiness—or just the idea of it?
• Is happiness individual, or something we build together?
• Can you measure happiness?
• Can money buy happiness?
• Why does happiness sometimes feel out of reach even when everything looks “right”?

• When do you feel most genuinely happy?
• How do I know if you’re actually happy—or just comfortable?
• Do I choose what makes me happy, or follow what you think should?
• How often is my happiness influenced by other people’s expectations?
• What’s the difference between happiness and success in my life?
• Do you prioritize happiness, or productivity?
• What moments of happiness do I overlook because they seem too small?

• How has social media shaped what I think happiness looks like? [for students]
• How has your understanding of happiness evolved over time? [for seniors]
• Do we perform happiness instead of feeling it?
• Why do we compare our happiness to others?
  • Do we feel pressure to be happy all the time?
• How often do we assume others are happier than they actually are?
• Is visible happiness (achievements, posts) the same as real happiness?
• Who benefits from the way happiness is portrayed in society?

• Can you be truly happy alone?
  • How does connection shape our happiness?
• Do we need to be happy individually to build strong relationships?
• How do we balance our happiness with others’ happiness?
• When does prioritizing yourself hurt your relationships?
• When does prioritizing others hurt yourself?
• What does shared happiness actually look like?

• What experiences have reshaped what happiness means to me?
• Can struggle or discomfort lead to deeper happiness?
• Why do we sometimes resist the things that would make us happier?
• What role does risk play in happiness?
• Do we need to lose something to understand what makes us happy?

• Why do the smallest moments sometimes feel the most meaningful?
• Are there kinds of happiness that go unnoticed?
• Why don’t we value quiet happiness as much as big achievements?
• When have I felt happy in a way I couldn’t explain?
• How often do we miss happiness because we’re looking for something bigger?

• Is happiness a choice, or a circumstance?
• Can happiness exist without contrast (sadness, struggle)?
• Is the pursuit of happiness inherently selfish?
• Does chasing happiness prevent us from experiencing it?
• Should happiness be the ultimate goal in life?
  • What’s the difference between happiness and fulfillment?

Warm-up question:

• When you say “I’m happy,” what do you actually mean? 

Background insight:

• The World Happiness Report distinguishes between: 
  • happiness as a feeling (emotion) 
  • happiness as a life evaluation (judgment about your life)  

Discussion questions:

• Are these two types of happiness different in your life? 
• Which matters more: how you feel day-to-day or how you evaluate your life overall? 
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Warm-up question:

• Would you choose a happy life or a meaningful one? 

Background insight:

• New research suggests a third path: “psychological richness”—a life full of challenge, novelty, and perspective shifts  

Discussion questions:

• Can a difficult life still be a good life? 
• Think of a meaningful but not-happy experience—was it still valuable? 
• Which of the three matters most to you: happiness, meaning, or richness? 

Warm-up question:

• What do you think matters most for happiness: money, relationships, freedom, or something else? 

Background insights:

• Autonomy (freedom to choose) may matter more than pleasure when judging life satisfaction  
• Small acts of kindness and helping others increase happiness  

Discussion questions:

• Do you feel happiest when things are easy or when you feel in control? 
• Is happiness something you “get” or something you “do”? 

Warm-up question:

• Can someone be truly happy alone? 

Background insights:

• Strong relationships are one of the most consistent predictors of happiness  
• Feeling loved and connected is central to well-being  

Discussion questions:

• What makes a relationship meaningful vs. just pleasant? 
• Why might loneliness feel so painful on a biological level? 

Warm-up question:

• Do you think people today are happier than in the past? 

Background insights:

• The World Happiness Report shows declining life satisfaction among young people in some Western countries  
• Social media and comparison are increasingly linked to well-being challenges  

Discussion questions:

• Does modern life make happiness easier or harder? 
• How do comparison and expectations shape happiness? 

Warm-up question:

• Why does happiness often feel temporary? 

Background insights:

• The brain is wired to focus on threats and problems, not sustained happiness  
• Humans tend to return to a baseline level of happiness over time (adaptation) 

Discussion questions:

• Are we chasing happiness in ways that undermine it? 
• Would you want permanent happiness, or would it lose meaning? 

Warm-up question:

• What makes you happier: big achievements or small moments? 

Background insight:

• Even brief experiences of awe (like nature) can significantly boost mood  

Discussion questions:

• Are we overlooking simple sources of happiness? 
• What small daily habits seem to matter most? 

Warm-up question:

• Is happiness a choice? 

Background insights:

• Happiness can be actively shaped through habits like: 
  • movement, sleep, and calm practices  
  • intentional mindset shifts and relationships  

Discussion questions:

• What’s within your control vs. outside your control? 
• Is “trying to be happy” helpful or counterproductive? 

Closing questions:

• If you had to define a happy life in one sentence, what would it be? 
• What are you willing to sacrifice for happiness? 
• Should happiness even be the goal?