In 'The Happiness Project', Gretchen Rubin chronicles her year-long journey to enhance her happiness. Despite having a fulfilling life, Rubin realized she wasn’t focusing enough on her own happiness. She divided her project into twelve months, each with a different area of focus and specific goals. From boosting energy and improving her marriage to enhancing her work life and leisure activities, Rubin tested various strategies, including those from Epicurus, Thoreau, and modern scientists. The book combines historical wisdom, scientific research, and personal anecdotes to provide practical advice on how to make life happier and more fulfilling.
In 'Outer Order, Inner Calm', Gretchen Rubin argues that an organized space significantly contributes to inner calm and overall happiness. The book offers over a hundred practical strategies for decluttering and organizing, divided into sections such as 'Make Choices', 'Create Order', 'Know Yourself–and Others', 'Cultivate Helpful Habits', and 'Add Beauty'. Rubin emphasizes the importance of understanding personal habits and emotional attachments to possessions, and provides manageable steps to create a serene and orderly environment. By getting rid of unnecessary items, readers can free their minds and shelves for what they truly value, leading to a more controlled, calm, and energetic life.
In *Mind Over Meds*, Dr. Andrew Weil addresses the issue of overmedication in America, highlighting the risks associated with excessive reliance on pharmaceuticals. He provides integrative medicine approaches for treating common ailments like high blood pressure, allergies, depression, and the common cold, emphasizing lifestyle changes and natural remedies as viable alternatives to medication.
In 'Better Than Before', Gretchen Rubin explores the science and practice of habit formation. She identifies 21 strategies for making and breaking habits, emphasizing the importance of self-knowledge and tailoring habits to individual personalities. Rubin categorizes people into four tendencies—Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels—and explains how these tendencies influence habit formation. The book is filled with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and rigorous research, making it a comprehensive and engaging guide to building happier, stronger, and more productive lives.
In 'From Strength to Strength', Arthur C. Brooks addresses the inevitable decline in abilities that comes with aging and provides a practical guide on how to transform this period into an opportunity for growth. Drawing on social science, philosophy, biography, theology, and eastern wisdom, as well as interviews with everyday men and women, Brooks advocates for refocusing on priorities such as deep wisdom, detachment from empty rewards, connection and service to others, and spiritual progress. He argues that by adapting our expectations and focusing on these areas, we can achieve increased happiness and purpose in our later years.
In this episode of the Rachel Hollis podcast, Rachel explores the science of happiness alongside bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, holistic health pioneer Dr. Andrew Weil, and intimacy expert Dr. Emily Morse. The discussion delves into how our habits, physical wellbeing, and relationships contribute to our overall happiness.
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Featured Episodes
Gretchen Rubin | 350
Arthur Brooks | 561
Dr. Andrew Weil | 658
Dr. Emily Morse | 627
02:21 Exploring the Science of Happiness
03:26 Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project
08:05 The Four Tendencies Framework
14:44 Arthur Brooks on Genetic Influence and Happiness
19:46 Pleasure, People, and Memory: The Formula for Happiness
21:44 Understanding Neuromodulators and Pleasure
21:58 The Neuroscience of Diet and Social Eating
00:00 Mental Nutrition and Lifestyle Interventions
24:35 The Safety and Efficacy of Natural Remedies
26:52 The Misuse of Pharmaceutical Drugs
27:23 Integrative Medicine and Lifestyle Changes
33:32 Exploring Sexual Relationships and Intimacy
37:34 The Importance of Pleasure and Intimacy
38:49 Communicating About Sex and Body Confidence
41:10 Final Thoughts on Sexual Health and Relationships
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