Dr. Robert Waldinger, a Harvard psychiatrist and director of the longest scientific study on happiness, shares insightful lessons on well-being. He discusses the crucial role of social connections in achieving lasting happiness and why you can't be happy all the time. Waldinger emphasizes the idea of 'social fitness' and the importance of sharing worries rather than shouldering them alone. He also highlights the transformative power of friendships at work and reassures listeners that it’s never too late to find happiness.
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insights INSIGHT
Harvard Study Findings
The Harvard Study of Adult Development's biggest findings are that taking care of physical health matters.
Close relationships are key for a longer, healthier, and happier life.
insights INSIGHT
Relationships and Stress
Relationships regulate emotions and reduce stress.
Lack of connection leads to chronic stress and inflammation, impacting long-term health.
insights INSIGHT
Evolution and Social Connection
Humans evolved to be social for survival and passing on genes.
Groups offer better protection, making connection a powerful drive.
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Today’s guest is the man in charge of the world’s longest scientific study of happiness, a study that has been running since 1938.
Dr. Robert Waldinger is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation. He is also a Zen master and teaches meditation in New England and around the world. His TED Talk is one of the most viewed of all time, with over 43 million views. He’s the co-author, along with Dr. Marc Schulz, of The Good Life.
In this episode we talk about:
What the Harvard Study of Adult Development is and how it got started
How much of our happiness is really under our control
Why you can’t you be happy all the time
The concept of “social fitness”
Why you should “never worry alone”
How having best friends at work can make you more productive
And why, in his words, it’s never too late to be happy
10% Happier with Dan Harris 
