What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you're mistaken. As the director of 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life.

Please watch this 13-min video before joining the discussion:
https://youtu.be/8KkKuTCFvzI?si=uXqpjuLNIHqwZ7Le

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1. How do societal pressures to prioritize wealth, fame, and achievement over relationships influence our personal choices, and how can we consciously resist these pressures?
2. What steps can individuals take to assess and improve the quality of their relationships, especially when life becomes busy or overwhelming?
3. Loneliness is highlighted as a major factor in declining health and happiness. What practical strategies can communities implement to combat loneliness on a broader scale?
4. The study emphasizes that good relationships require lifelong effort. How do you balance the time and energy required to maintain relationships with other life priorities, like career or personal growth?
5. Given the finding that strong relationships improve brain health and memory, what role should this insight play in shaping public health initiatives or eldercare practices?
6. How do you think the rise of digital communication and social media has impacted the depth and quality of human relationships, both positively and negatively?
7. The study suggests that high-conflict relationships are worse than divorce. How can individuals or couples work toward resolving conflict before it deteriorates their health and happiness?
8. Mark Twain’s quote underscores the fleeting nature of life and the importance of love over grudges. How can we practically apply this wisdom to repair and nurture strained or broken relationships in our own lives?

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To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:

1. Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
2. Listen to understand, not to respond.
3. Be open-minded and value differences.