Why Aren’t We Taught Happiness In School? (Jeff Lieberman, Sleepawake)

I've always wanted to know

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"I learned quantum mechanics before I learned anything about my emotions. What does it mean about our society that that's the default?" (02:15 in this cast)

Jeff Lieberman is a visionary scientist, artist, and educator who masterfully blends technology with profound explorations of human connection and consciousness.

He studied physics at MIT and was the former host of Discovery Channel’s Time Warp before founding Sleepawake Camp — a residential program that aims to help young adults develop well-being and self-awareness.

I’ve always wondered, why don’t we have a school that teaches us what actually matters…like how our mind and emotions work?

Then I found out what Jeff was doing with Sleepawake and was excited to learn more.

In this convo, we discuss why we aren't taught the most important skills for happiness and well-being in our education system. His unique background bridging hard science and consciousness exploration offers fascinating insights into how we might change this.

This episode is great for:

• Anyone interested in the intersection of science and spirituality

• Parents and educators looking to understand the education system

• People working through depression or anxiety looking for a new framework

• Those curious about how consciousness evolution might happen at a cultural level

• Anyone feeling disconnected and seeking authentic community

Ideas that really stuck out to me:

1. We’re using an old template - Our education system was designed 150 years ago during the Industrial Revolution to prepare us to work, and hasn't evolved to address the complex emotional and relational challenges of modern life.

2. Depression and anxiety aren't malfunctions to be fixed, but intelligent responses pointing to what needs attention. The real work is creating conditions where it's safe to feel our emotions and learning skillful ways to work with them.

3. Our design has not caught up to our tech. The technological environment we live in today (constant notifications, social media, etc.) creates challenges our nervous systems weren't designed for. We need new tools and understanding to navigate this landscape healthily.

4. Cultural evolution toward greater consciousness is inevitable - the rising rates of mental health challenges are actually "canaries in the coal mine" showing us what needs to change. The question isn't if but how we participate in this evolution.

5. Digital connection’s shortcomings - Community and genuine human connection are essential for wellbeing, but modern life often gives us the illusion of connection without the deeper nervous system regulation that comes from in-person interaction.

6. The way is through - the path to lasting happiness often requires going through challenging emotions rather than avoiding them. As Jeff notes, "Jung says there's no coming to consciousness without pain."

Jeff offers a powerful vision for how we might evolve beyond our current mental health challenges toward a more conscious culture.

While the path isn't always easy, understanding these challenges as intelligent responses pointing us toward growth gives me great hope for our collective future.

I hope you find this conversation as enjoyable as I did.

- Scott

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If you liked reading or listening to this, feel free to click the ❤️ or 🔄 button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏

Recommended Resources:

• About Jeff Lieberman

• Sleepawake Camp

• Discovery Channel’s Time Warp

• Jeff’s Youtube Channel

• The 5 Personality Patterns By Steven Kessler

Episode Transcript

• Jeff Lieberman Full Transcript

Show Notes

• 00:00 - The Journey of Mental Health and Education

• 05:37 - Founding SleepAwake Camp

• 10:46 - The Importance of Age in Emotional Development

• 14:42 - Cultural Shifts and Healing Ancestral Trauma

• 21:30 - Mapping Human Experience and Spirituality

• 27:47 - Exploring the Nature of Self and Identity

• 29:57 - Metacognition and the Journey to Self-Discovery

• 32:46 - The Role of Depression in Personal Growth

• 36:02 - Cultural Shifts and the Evolution of Mental Health

• 39:58 - Intelligent Responses to Emotional Pain

• 46:01 - The Importance of Community in Healing

• 52:07 - Looking Ahead: Future of Mental Health and Community Engagement