Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

The Surprising Truth About Happiness with Professor Laurie Santos #151

Jan 27, 2021

Laurie Santos, a Yale psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab, dives into the science of happiness. She reveals how happiness can be cultivated through simple, evidence-based strategies. The difference between being happy in life and happy with life is explored, emphasizing the role of social connections and gratitude. Laurie discusses how technology can both enhance and hinder relationships and stresses that helping others boosts our own happiness. Tune in for practical tips to start enhancing your well-being today!

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INSIGHT

Misguided Happiness Pursuits

Our minds often mislead us about what truly brings happiness.
We invest energy in ineffective pursuits, hindering our happiness.

INSIGHT

Yale's Happiness Course

Laurie Santos' Yale course, "Psychology and the Good Life," highlighted student mental health struggles.
Its popularity and global reach revealed a widespread need for happiness strategies.

INSIGHT

Defining Happiness

Social scientists define happiness as being happy "in" your life (positive emotions) and "with" your life (overall satisfaction).
These two aspects can be independent, as seen with new parents experiencing joy and exhaustion.

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What is happiness? And can we learn to be happier than we already are? Today’s guest believes we can. Laurie Santos is a professor of psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast. Her ‘Science of Wellbeing’ course became the most popular in the university’s history and has developed into a global phenomenon, with over three million people signing up to study Laurie’s evidence-based strategies for happiness.

In this conversation, Laurie shares exactly what those happiness boosting strategies actually are. She also explains how being happy with your life, differs from being happy in your life and how balancing the two is key to overall happiness. We also cover the relationship between money and happiness and discuss the unfortunate reality that when it comes to happiness, our intuition is often wrong.

We discuss maximising social connections, being thankful, being present, exercising and sleeping more – things we know are good for us but often lack the motivation to seek out.

We also talk about how technology can both help and hinder social connections, how helping others is preferable to helping ourselves, and the incredible benefits of a daily gratitude practice.

This is a wide-ranging and uplifting chat that really breaks down the psychology of happiness and Laurie’s suggestions will help you start working towards greater contentment starting today. The best news is that the tools to our happiness are simple and free.

Show notes available at drchatterjee.com/151

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