Rethinking Happiness with Peter Teuscher

If you've ever wondered why happiness feels out of reach even when life looks “fine” on paper, this episode is for you.

More info, resources & ways to connect - https://www.tacosfallapart.com/podcast-live-show/podcast-guests/peter-teuscher

In this episode of Even Tacos Fall Apart, MommaFoxFire sits down with Peter Teuscher, a life coach and author of Rethinking Happiness, to talk about what happiness really means and how most of us are looking for it in all the wrong places.

Peter shares how his personal experience with childhood depression and years of unrecognized struggle eventually pushed him into therapy and personal development. That journey led him to coaching and ultimately writing a book that challenges the surface-level definitions of happiness we often grow up with.

He explains that happiness isn’t a finish line or a goalpost, it’s a kind of feedback system. When your life lines up with your values, you’re more likely to feel grounded and content. But when there’s a mismatch, happiness feels out of reach. And that’s a huge problem, because so many people are chasing society’s version of happiness (the “checklist” life with the job, the partner, the money) instead of figuring out what actually matters to them.

Throughout the conversation, Peter emphasizes that authentic happiness comes from small, consistent moments of connection, fulfillment and purpose... so going beyond the big wins. He talks about learning to appreciate the ordinary, like being in nature or spending time with loved ones, and how those moments can be more meaningful than hitting major milestones.

Peter also gets into the importance of defining your own core values. He shares a simple, powerful exercise using Post-its (or just a piece of paper) to help identify the values that matter most and warns that living out of alignment with those values is a fast track to dissatisfaction.

They also cover a common trap: performative happiness. Peter reminds listeners that chasing joy isn’t about pretending everything is great or avoiding hard things. It's about being real with yourself, doing the inner work and creating habits that support your well-being... even when life is messy.

He speaks candidly about how trauma, chronic illness and mental health challenges can complicate the pursuit of happiness, and stresses that telling someone to “just be happy” is both unhelpful and dismissive. Real change happens through small, intentional shifts... not toxic positivity or fake smiles.

Toward the end, they explore social media’s impact on mental health, the pressure to constantly feel good, and the way happiness can sometimes be mistaken for external validation. Peter’s take? Stop comparing. Start tuning in. Let happiness be the outcome of living in alignment, not the prize for winning a game you never agreed to play.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, Why don’t I feel happy even though I “should”? - this conversation is for you. It’s honest, hopeful and filled with real tools to help you rethink what happiness looks like in your own life.