Randy Taran

We recently posted portions of our interview with Adam Yauch on Project Happiness. I wanted to share the full interview. This is part two of a two part series. You can read part one here.

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PH: We've been discussing that we're conditioned to keep going. We...

When I started the Project Happiness organization, I wanted young people to be able to speak with luminaries, people that they looked up to. I'm grateful that so many icons -- from filmmakers and actors to scientists and world leaders -- have supported the idea that everyone deserves...

I just got off the phone with my sister. It is almost the end of the school year, and the students at her daughter's elementary school have a week of testing ahead during which they'll take the Standardized Testing and Reporting, or STAR, tests. My niece, aged 10. is staying...

My son just reminded me that it was Earth Day. This sparked a discussion of what one person can do to make a change. We talked about Al Gore, how recycling has grown and new ideas that could really shift our perspective. For me, the most exciting idea to affect...

I visit a lot of schools and communities with a documentary I produced called Project Happiness. The idea is to remind people of the happiness that we were born with and how to re-access it, no matter what the external circumstances. I am grateful for the profound appreciation...

Have you ever tried to be happy, yet something just irked you under the surface -- a feeling that you had not been seen, appreciated, loved? Or even worse, a feeling of betrayal, total loss of trust or even violation? What can be done? The way out is forgiveness. Let's...

Valentine's Day: What does it represent to you? Is it a reminder of the passions of new romance or the love that you are longing for in your life? Is it a commercial orchestration fabricated by the greeting card, flower and chocolate industries to make us buy more? Here's the...

So many people grumble and gripe about the holidays -- too much family, too much food, too many obligations. But what if you approached it all with another perspective -- as though this might be your last time to be together. Would you overlook some of the annoyances? Would you...

The idea of Thanksgiving, that is giving thanks, makes it one of my all-time favorite holidays. It has built into it one of the timeless keys to happiness: gratitude. Thanksgiving actually directs us to tune into what we are thankful for. The tradition of sitting around the table hearing each...

If you had to choose three keys to lasting happiness, what would they be? For me, those keys are gratitude, connecting with others and giving. It is not rocket science, although science has proven how these habits can make you live longer, enjoy better health and get more joy out...

I am saddened to hear of the passing of Steve Jobs. The legacy he leaves is one of innovation, inspiration and the boldness to channel one's passions to change the world. At the commencement speech for the 2005 graduating class at Stanford, he told three brilliant stories, which inspire...

Some people set New Year's resolutions, but I find this season, as school starts again, to be a perfect time for new beginnings. Right now I am thinking of setting some intentions, and I invite you to do the same.

As the autumn leaves fall, consider shedding old habits that...

So many of us hold back who we really are. It can be downright scary to reveal our true selves, whether to new people we meet or even in existing relationships. Aligning our inner life with our outer expression is one of the true paths to happiness. Here are some...

We all know once basic needs are met, money does not guarantee happiness. But what about how we choose to spend our time?

"People often make career choices based on how much money they envision they can make now or in the future. Surprisingly little thought goes into how...

Relationships with dads are complex. At the beginning of life, we idolize our fathers, and then gradually we see them for who they are: human beings trying their best to create a good life with the emotional tools at hand. What if you could ask your dad anything at all...

I'm just returning from my son's graduation -- a milestone filled with laughter, elation, and tears of joy. But what is the next step? So many graduates haven't a clue. Herein lies the opportunity.

My son is graduating as a double major in Economics and Asian Studies -- he's lived...

We all have flashes of inspiration. Sometimes they appear as quiet whispers in the night, as fleeting thoughts in the morning shower or as huge "a-ha!" moments. The question is: Are you giving enough attention to the clues that your inner voice is sending? How can you get more attuned...

Have you ever received gifts that were fun in the moment but lost their allure almost as fast as you unwrapped the package? Material gifts may satisfy short-term desires, but it is the human connection that leaves a lasting impression. Instead of going to the store to buy Mom another...

In this wake of the Tsunami, I am struck by the sheer power of nature and the impermanence of everything we hold sacred. How can we stay happy during times of extreme crisis or tragedy? It's natural to get overwhelmed by things we cannot control, especially in situations of this...

Is it selfish to have compassion for yourself? On an airplane, you are asked to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, so that you can help other people. Self-compassion is like that too. If you don't take care of yourself first, you won't be fully equipped to help others....