What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness

237 snips

Apr 4, 2024

Dr. Robert Waldinger, director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development and a psychiatrist, shares groundbreaking findings from an 86-year study on happiness. He discusses the crucial role of relationships and kindness in achieving a fulfilling life. Listeners will discover practical steps to foster emotional resilience and manage loneliness. Waldinger emphasizes that true happiness comes from connections rather than material success, challenging societal norms and advocating for a deeper appreciation of life's simplicity.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Relationships Predict Health

Good relationships predict health and happiness at age 80 more than cholesterol levels.
This is shown by the Harvard Study and other research, indicating a strong correlation.

ADVICE

Overcoming Loneliness

Address loneliness by identifying its cause, not by blaming yourself.
Consider if current relationships need work or if you need to create new connections.

ADVICE

Suggest Positive Connections

Suggest positive actions for connection instead of just complaining.
Ask your partner to take a walk or plan a dinner date to foster closeness.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

This one study will change how you think about your entire life.

Today, you’re getting the definitive answer to this powerful question:

What makes a good life?

There is nothing more important than this conversation. Because by the time you are done listening, your life won’t be the same.

In this episode, you’re getting the research, the secrets, and some very surprising takeaways from an 86-year-long study at Harvard. The Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1938 and is the longest study that has ever been done on happiness, relationships, and the human experience.

Joining Mel today is the director of that study, Dr. Robert Waldinger, MD. Dr. Waldinger is a medical doctor, professor at Harvard Medical School, and a zen priest. He is here to share all of the groundbreaking research and, more importantly, give you the answers to what you need to do starting today in order to live a good life.

You’ll learn the best life advice and lessons from 100-year-olds, the surprising question of whether you can predict if you’ll be healthy at age 80, the simple daily habit that leads to lasting happiness, and more—all backed by decades of research.

For more resources, including the link to Dr. Waldinger’s fantastic book, The Good Life, click here for the podcast episode page.

This episode is a companion to Mel's brand new free training, Make It Happen.

This training is designed to help you make your next 6 months extraordinary. It includes a 29 page workbook and 2 video trainings that use the latest research to help you get clear about what you want and create a plan to make it happen.

And the cool part? It takes less than a minute for you to get started. Just sign up at melrobbins.com/makeithappen

Connect with Mel:

Get Mel’s brand new free course Make It Happen (which comes with a 29 page workbook and 2 exclusive video trainings)
Watch the episodes on YouTube
Follow Mel on Instagram
The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram
Mel's TikTok
Sign up for Mel’s newsletter
Disclaimer