How I Found Happiness After My Son’s Death

After my son died, I somehow found a new way to be happy. Let me tell you about Mo Gawdat, the tech whizz turned happiness guru. Mo Gawdat, currently Chief AI Officer at Flight Story, was once Chief Business Officer at Google X, where his team worked on self-driving cars and other innovations. But despite his success, he struggled to find happiness. That is, until he discovered the key to true happiness.

Gawdat’s journey began with a simple idea: documenting every incident where he felt happy. He called it his ‘happy list’. Through hours of research and self-reflection, he developed an ‘equation for happiness’. According to Gawdat, true happiness is not dependent on external events or material possessions, but on the meanings we give them and our expectations.

Then tragedy struck. Gawdat’s 21-year-old son, Ali, died during a routine operation due to medical errors. The loss was devastating, but Gawdat refused to let grief consume him. Just 17 days after Ali’s death, he started writing his first book, ‘Solve For Happy’, with the goal of changing lives and spreading his happiness formula.

Gawdat believes that as children, we are naturally happy. It is only when we start comparing ourselves to others and setting unrealistic expectations that our happiness becomes fragile. He emphasizes the importance of accepting that life can be unpredictable and challenging. Instead of dwelling on negative thoughts, Gawdat encourages reframing our perspective and focusing on joyful or useful thoughts.

For Gawdat, happiness is a choice. He no longer measures his success by material possessions, but by the impact he can make in the world. He dedicates his time and resources to his happiness mission, renting wherever he goes and prioritizing his work over personal wealth.

Gawdat’s top tips for lasting happiness include reframing thoughts, learning from children’s simplicity, focusing on joyful or useful thoughts, understanding that life is meant to be lived, writing a happy list, and choosing virtuous actions in the face of grief.

In conclusion, Gawdat’s journey from personal struggle to happiness guru is a testament to the power of perspective and the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the unimaginable loss of his son, he has found a new way to be happy and is dedicated to helping others do the same. So, let’s take a page from Gawdat’s book and choose happiness, even in the face of adversity.