Laurie Santos, Ph.D., The Science of Happiness The Nelda Podcast

Chasing happiness is universal. Achieving it is not. The good news is that every one of us can do things to feel happier. The problem is many of us do the exact opposite of what will truly make our lives better. Yale University Professor of Psychology Dr. Laurie Santos teaches The Good Life, a course that focuses on positive psychology and increasing happiness. It’s a course she developed in response to the level of stress, anxiety, and depression she was seeing among students that had every reason to feel positive about their lives. “To witness such unhappiness, I decided to do something about it and put together a class on everything that the field of psychology knows about how to improve your happiness.” Her collected data revealed that the perceived pathway to happiness is filled with misconceptions.

Human beings are wired to feel unsettled and to want things. But, research shows that wanting and getting will not lead to higher happiness. Says Santos, “Whether it’s more Instagram followers, more money, more material possessions, a better car, a better house, as soon as we get something we want, we get used to it and then feel like we need more to get any happiness.” The pathway to actually feeling happier is somewhat counterintuitive. Despite our modern self-absorbed culture, research shows that happy people are more focused on other people’s needs rather than their own, not because they’re forced to—they choose to. Happy people are socially connected and consistently count their blessings. Happy people are present in the moment and have a life that is satisfying.

So, how do the rest of us mortals get there? According to Santos, it’s possible. Her course offers tips and exercises to build happiness in your life. Good health is a priority. Exercise, nutrition, meditation, and adequate sleep all contribute to happiness. Social engagement is a key component as well and she encourages nurturing old and new connections. Time is also important. According to Santos, “We’re literally starving for time and the research shows that time famine seems to affect our bodies almost like real hunger famine.” Lastly, gratitude needs to be a focus rather than venting. Santos adds, “Griping and complaining when nothing ever changes doesn’t really work. You’re training your attention to focus on negative stuff. Think in a more positive way, in a problem-solving way so you’re thinking through the issues that are bothering you.”

The response to the class has been overwhelming. Over a thousand students showed up for the first meeting and it has since become the most sought after class in the university’s 300-year history. The content is now offered online as The Science of Well-Being with over 3 million participants from hundreds of different countries as far off the beaten path as Antarctica. Dr. Santos also hosts the popular podcast The Happiness Lab.

Says Santos, “It really shows that people all over the planet want these tips for how they can feel happier. The evidence suggests if you engage with these things, you will become happier, but just like all good things in life, it’s going to take effort.”