The Secret to Happiness with Harvard professor Robert Waldinger | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

Video Description

We all want to live a happy life, but what does research say about how to actually achieve it? For more than 86 years, researchers at Harvard University have been trying to answer that question. In one of the longest-running and most comprehensive studies of human happiness, Harvard tracked 724 teenagers through every stage of their adult lives since 1938. Some of them are still alive today and the findings are clear: lasting happiness isn’t about wealth or fame—it’s about something much deeper. Robert Waldinger, a professor and psychiatrist, has directed the study for over 20 years. His TED Talk about it went viral with nearly 50 million views, and in 2023, he wrote a book about it—"The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness". I asked Robert to share what the study has revealed about happiness over the decades, how its insights have shaped his own life, and the one essential ingredient for a joyful, meaningful existence. This…is A Bit of Optimism. To learn more about Robert and his work, check out: https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/ http://robertwaldinger.com/ ⏰ Timestamps 0:00 An intro to the Harvard Study 1:37 How Bob came to lead the happiness study 3:13 What young people get right about happiness 6:06 Belonging to something bigger than yourself 10:32 The definition of community 14:29 How Bob has changed his own life 16:10 Who lived the longest and shortest lives? 19:58 Why Bob chose psychiatry, the stepchild of medicine 26:28 Should we run towards our passions? 31:06 The joy of work vs. the joy of outcomes 37:55 The role of money in happiness 42:29 The happiness of fame versus money 45:19 Two things we can do right now to be happier + + + Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do. Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game. + + + Website: http://simonsinek.com/ Live Online Classes: https://simonsinek.com/classes/ Podcast: http://apple.co/simonsinek Instagram: https://instagram.com/simonsinek/ Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/simonsinek/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonsinek Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simonsinek Simon’s books: The Infinite Game: https://simonsinek.com/books/the-infinite-game/ Start With Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/ Find Your Why: https://simonsinek.com/books/find-your-why/ Leaders Eat Last: https://simonsinek.com/books/leaders-eat-last/ Together is Better: https://simonsinek.com/books/together-is-better/ + + + #SimonSinek