Rainn Wilson wanted to find inner happiness. So he got on a plane. Many planes.
The actor, who memorably played scheming, egotistical Dwight Schrute on 91裸聊视频淭he Office91裸聊视频� has crisscrossed the world to explore how people in different countries find their glee.
The result is a new Peacock series that follows Wilson looking for some deep answers as he takes in a drag show in Thailand to getting in a boxing ring in Ghana. The show premieres Thursday, in time for Mental Health Awareness Month.
91裸聊视频淚 wanted it to be a personal voyage of like, 91裸聊视频楬ey, can this make me happier? Can I share my journey? Can I share my story?91裸聊视频� But, at the same time, I wanted it to be something for everyone 91裸聊视频� you could feel like you91裸聊视频檙e going on that trip, too.91裸聊视频�
Armed with global data on happiness, Rainn visits countries both high and low in happiness, digging into philosophy and history and his own story. He quotes philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche and scrubs elephants.
In Iceland, which is high on the happiness index, he goes skinny-dipping in a cold fjord, plays with adorable lambs, eats ice cream and swallows a bottle of cod liver oil. He asks why cold climates seem to produce happier people and if the Icelandic embrace of being flexible in the face of an ever-changing climate is important to happiness.
91裸聊视频淚celand is a land of contradictions. I91裸聊视频檝e never met more individualistic folks than the Icelanders. They91裸聊视频檙e all so quirky and wonderful and interesting. And at the same time, they really love their collectivity,91裸聊视频� he says over Zoom.
91裸聊视频淭here was this incredible balance in Iceland between radical individuality and personal expression and also really trusting the collective and feeling part of the collective. We haven91裸聊视频檛 worked this out in America yet.91裸聊视频�
The series is based on a book by Eric Weiner, a former NPR international correspondent who admits he was a little nervous when Wilson first came on board.
91裸聊视频淗e was Dwight from 91裸聊视频楾he Office91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� goofy, funny Dwight. And I thought, 91裸聊视频極h, no, really?91裸聊视频� But then I quickly discovered that Rainn Wilson is not Dwight, and I91裸聊视频檝e had a chance to get to know him a bit,91裸聊视频� says Weiner. 91裸聊视频淎nd he is a very thoughtful, very curious, actually very serious guy, the way a lot of comedians and comedic actors are.91裸聊视频�
Wilson starts the series by revealing on camera that he comes from unhappy family, has battled depression starting in his teens and has anxiety disorder. It was key for him to acknowledge that to fans and viewers.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 super-important to share your struggle,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淚n the current environment and the Instagram-ification of American life, everyone looks happy and well-curated and in awesome locations and coping perfectly. And someone91裸聊视频檚 at home alone suffering.91裸聊视频�
If Iceland is on top, the show also visits Bulgaria, which ranks low on happiness, Wilson explains that the country91裸聊视频檚 long history of being subjugated 91裸聊视频� by Ottomans, Nazis and Soviets 91裸聊视频� has led to mistrust in government and strangers. Perhaps, then, self-expression brings joy and so might trust in the authorities?
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 realizing why I feel so at ease in this place,91裸聊视频� he says on the show, 91裸聊视频淚 think I91裸聊视频檓 Bulgarian. I91裸聊视频檓 a worrier. I91裸聊视频檓 a pessimist. For as long as I can remember, I91裸聊视频檝e walked a constant tightrope in avoidance of bad feelings.91裸聊视频�
Wilson joins a crowded field of new celebrity travel hosts, which includes Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Macaulay Culkin and Ewan McGregor. But few travel shows have their host dress up like a Viking, drive a tuk-tuk or skateboard in the former Soviet bloc.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 basically philosophy on the road,91裸聊视频� says Weiner, who is 91裸聊视频淭he travel is the candy that gets you to the main course of these really big philosophical issues about suffering and happiness and meaning and trust and all these issues that Rainn wrestles with.91裸聊视频�
What is the secret to happiness? The show indicates that the answers may not be as complicated as we think it is 91裸聊视频� and it may include getting very, very cold.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a set of tools. There is finding community, being of service to others, connecting to nature. Meditation. Gratitude, Wilson says. 91裸聊视频淐old immersion therapy or cold and heat therapy. It91裸聊视频檚 not rocket science.91裸聊视频�
And, appropriately, you might add travel to that list. Wilson this time wasn91裸聊视频檛 traveling to sit on a beach and sip a coconut cocktail 91裸聊视频� although there91裸聊视频檚 nothing wrong with that, he insists 91裸聊视频� but to learn.
91裸聊视频淭raveling to find joy is something that everyone can do. But it does involve getting to know strangers, connecting with them, finding community, learning, getting humble,91裸聊视频� he says. 91裸聊视频淭ravel itself can be a great antidote to disconnection and unhappiness.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频擬ark Kennedy, The Associated Press
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