Episode 14: The Surprising Science of Happiness (ft. Sonja Lyubomirsky)
About the Episode
Imagine if you could sit down with one of the world’s leading happiness researchers and ask her, one by one, what actually makes people happier and what doesn’t?
Well, that’s basically what I did.
In this episode, Sonja and I get deep into the subject of happiness. One by one, we conclude which of life’s simple and not-so-simple pleasures are underrated or overrated. Some of the answers will definitely surprise you.
Do yourself a favor—watch, like, and share the happiness.
Sonja Lyubomirsky Quotes From the Episode
I like to think about happiness as being happy *in* your life and being happy *with* your life.
Having money is great—but being materialistic, being someone who really cares about money isn’t.
A happy person has always something to look forward to.
Friendship is what makes life worth living.
Episode Notes
Referenced in This Episode
- Sonja’s website
- The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
- The Myths of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky
- Sonja’s research on the effects of parenting on happiness
- 10 Life Lessons to Excel in Your 30s
- Marriage, a History by Stephanie Coontz
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
- Drug Use for Grown-Ups by Carl Hart
- The End of Trauma by George A. Bonanno
- Hedonic adaptation
- Socioemotional Selectivity Theory
- Randomized controlled trial
- MDMA
- PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder)
- Dear Abby
- Jean-Paul Sartre
- William James
- Laura L. Carstensen
- Michael Pollan
- Daniel Kahneman