The Definition of Happiness

A New Documentary on Mental Health, Resilience & the Pursuit of Wellbeing.

What if everything we’ve been told about happiness… is wrong?

The Definition of Happiness turns the lens onto things that are often right in front of us but easy to miss. It doesn’t claim to solve anything, it just shows how small shifts can sometimes make a bigger difference than we expect.

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From the director of Distressed, this 96-minute feature documentary blends lived experience, science, and global perspectives to explore the question: what does it really mean to be happy?

The Definition of Happiness follows Tim Elwin’s deeply personal journey from a life-altering accident to reconnection through the ocean and the stories of others asking whether the pursuit of happiness is helping us or holding us back.

Featuring insights from:

Dr. Wallace J. Nichols – Marine biologist & author of Blue Mind

Prof. Felice Jacka – Co-Director, Food & Mood Centre, Deakin University

Prof. Adrienne O’Neil – Professor of Nutritional Psychiatry, Deakin University

Prof. Sonja Lyubomirsky – Distinguished Professor, University of California

Prof. Gabriele Oettingen – Psychologist, NYU; creator of WOOP

Dr. Tim Sharp – Positive psychology expert, aka “Dr. Happy”

Tom Nash – International speaker, storyteller, quadruple amputee

Bryce Hastings – Head of Research, Les Mills

Dr. Samuel Mehr – Psychology of music, Harvard & Auckland Universities

Don Flanagan – 93-year-old fitness fanatic and local legend

This film invites viewers to reflect, reconnect, and maybe even redefine happiness altogether.

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What Makes You Happy?

Add your voice to the world's most dynamic happiness study by sharing your top 3 sources of happiness.

See how your happiness compares! Your words will instantly appear in The Live Happiness Cloud, helping to shape the global picture of where people find joy.

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