Listen "#127 Who Am I Becoming? Midlife, Meaning & Making Peace with Money - The Happiness Expert Dr Carlos Saba"
Episode Synopsis
What does it really mean to live a successful life? Is success about achievements, wealth, or status or is it something much deeper?In this powerful episode of the Different Hats Podcast, I sit down with my good friend Dr. Carlos Saba, co-founder of The Happy Startup School. Carlos shares his journey from chasing external markers of success to redefining it as a feeling of alignment, acceptance, and agency.We dive into:The evolving definition of success beyond money and milestonesEmotional intelligence and why schools must nurture curiosity, not just gradesWhy shame, comparison, and old money stories hold us backThe idea of “Happy Money” and how our stories around money shape our livesMidlife transitions, the “second mountain,” and asking Who am I becoming?How to create your own blueprint for life and stop living by outdated societal narrativesThis conversation is packed with wisdom on presence, purpose, and emotional awareness, reminding us all that success is not about having more, but about being more.⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro What is Happy Money?06:02 – Redefining success as a feeling of alignment07:31 – From black belts to diaries: chasing early success goals12:45 – Why being still is so hard in today’s society17:56 – Childhood, conditioning & the stories we inherit21:27 – Is the school system broken? Emotional literacy & curiosity26:27 – Parents, teachers & environments shaping emotional awareness29:08 – Rage, shame & teaching children emotional intelligence32:43 – Can we measure emotional intelligence like grades?37:48 – The “Second Mountain” of purpose & contribution42:45 – Finding your values and purpose vs. chasing titles48:21 – Questioning the life blueprint: marriage, career & curiosity53:14 – Compassion, forgiveness & letting go of “the one way”55:41 – Feeling stuck? Where to start with transition59:10 – The First Mountain vs. the Second Mountain1:01:43 – Redefining money: Happy Money & financial stories1:09:51 – Scarcity, shame & abundance1:13:29 – What is happiness? Acceptance & agency1:15:35 – Responsibility, awareness & self-compassion1:18:31 – Life as an adventure, not a scoreboard1:20:29 – Chaos, stories & infinite games1:25:24 – Death, joy & making the game better1:29:13 – Agency, acceptance & connection1:30:13 – Summer camp, friendship & fulfillment1:33:30 – The key midlife question: Who am I becoming?1:36:02 – Closing tradition: Storytelling card reflection🎧 LISTEN TO MORE DIFFERENT HATS EPISODES:👉 https://www.different-hats.co.uk/podcast🔗 Connect with Dr. Carlos SabaWebsite: https://www.happystartupschool.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlossaba💡 If this episode resonated with you, please like, share, and comment below. Your support helps us spread this important message and change the narrative around success and mental health.SPONSORED BY:Search Seven – www.searchseven.co.ukNostos Hove – www.nostos-hove.co.ukRivervale – www.rivervale.co.ukPlus X – https://www.plusxinnovation.com/PRODUCED BY: H2 Productions – https://h2productions.co.uk/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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