Evidence-Based Lessons on Living a Good Life | Robert Waldinger, MD

May 9, 2023

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Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has followed the lives of hundreds, and eventually thousands, of American adults, with the goal of discovering what enables people to live healthier, more meaningful lives. Joining us in this episode is Robert Waldinger, MD, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the current director of the study. He is the author of the book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Over the course of our conversation, we explore the origins and evolution of the study, what adult development actually means, whether happiness is a choice, how social media shapes our relationships, Dr. Waldinger's interests in Zen Buddhism, and the key to leading a fulfilling life.

In this episode, you will hear about:

What drew Dr. Waldinger to the field of psychiatry - 1:53
Dr. Waldinger’s reflections on the work and daily practice of a psychiatrist - 3:31
An overview of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest running scientific study on happiness - 6:54
The medical and psychosocial concepts of “adult development” - 9:49
The most important and surprising findings of the Study of Adult Development - 16:20
Why relationships are critical to health and happiness - 23:07
How social media distorts reality and why it can be quite harmful to mental health - 29:37
Whether happiness is a choice - 34:48
The impact of Zen Buddhism on Dr. Waldinger’s life and work - 43:55
Dr. Waldinger’s advice to clinicians on leading fulfilling careers - 50:02

In this episode, we discuss the book Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.

Dr. Robert Waldinger is the author of The Good Life.

You can view Dr. Waldinger’s acclaimed TED Talk What Makes a Good Life.

You can follow Dr. Waldinger on Twitter @RobertWaldinger.

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