The Secret to a Happy Life: What the Ultimate Study on Happiness Reveals

In today’s episode, you’ll learn the surprising science of happiness.

This is a masterclass on everything you need to know about happiness: what really creates it, the different types of happiness, and 4 easy habits that will make your life better.

You’ll learn lessons from the longest study on happiness, what habits are blocking your happiness, and science-based tools for feeling better.

It’s also grounded in questions from listeners just like you, who are seeking more happiness, fulfillment, and meaning in their lives. This is an encore episode with new and exciting insights from Mel at the top of the episode. You’ll be happy you joined. Because happiness is not only possible; it is an option for you.

Get out your notebook because we are drilling into decades of psychological research that will ladder up to more meaning, purpose, and satisfaction in your life.

To hear more about some of the powerful research mentioned, listen to this episode with happiness expert Dr. Robert Waldinger: What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness‍

If you, like Mel, find it hard to truly let yourself be happy, listen to this very personal episode about why you’ve been blocking happiness: The Secret to Success & Happiness Nobody Talks About

Connect with Mel:

• Get Mel’s new free 26-page workbook, What Do You Really Want, to finally answer that question and redefine your future.
• Watch the episodes on YouTube‍
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• The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram‍
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• Sign up for Mel’s personal letter ‍
• Disclaimer

‍In this episode:

• 3:18: Do you not remember the last time you were truly happy? You’re not alone.
• 4:07: This might happen to you when you chase happiness.
• 7:45: What is the definition of happiness, anyway?
• 8:28: This is Mel’s favorite metaphor for happiness.
• 10:10: These are the two buckets that researchers put happiness into.
• 13:48: The problem you might face while you’re on a healing journey and what to do about it.
• 21:48: How you can feel happy even on mundane, ordinary days.
• 23:52: Believe it or not, here’s where you can find true happiness.
• 26:01: This is the single best decision you can make to cultivate happiness.
• 29:45: Find out how your brain processes loneliness.
• 31:40: Here’s how Mel reorganized her life to stop feeling lonely that you can do too.
• 37:49: Your path to building warm relationships starts here.
• 38:25: What researchers say will boost your energy.
• 42:17: Here’s what you need to know about feeling inner peace.
• 44:15: The reason why older people tend to be happier.
• 46:13:  Three surprising ways to actually invite more peace into your life.

Resources:

• Harvard Study: Good genes are nice, but joy is better.
• University of CA, Berkeley:  You can be happier, but it’s not easy.
• Oracle: Half of us have not felt true happiness in years.
• The New York Times: Why we all need to have more fun.
• Study from China indicates being in flow can boost well-being.
• Frontiers: The neuroscience of the flow state.
• BIG THINK Science: We all can reach a flow state. Here’s how.
• Watch this video to learn more about flow state.
• Western Oregon University: eudaimonic  vs. hedonic happiness.
• Here’s how to heal your anxiety, with Dr. Russell Kennedy.
• National Public Radio: Talking to strangers can make you happier.
• New York Times: The happiness course, here’s what you need to know.
• Psychology Today: The SPIRE model, what stands in our way of being happy‍
• The Atlantic: Longest study in human health found the key to a good life.‍
• Frontiers in Psychology: Resilience and stress as mediators of happiness.‍
• Harvard Business Review: 3 things that won’t make you happy.‍
• Psychology Today: Is our happiness set in stone?