According to Dr. Robert Waldinger, the director of the world’s longest-running scientific study of happiness, there is one reliable method to becoming happier. Dr. Waldinger’s study followed people through over eight decades, first consulting with the subjects’ parents and then their children as they grew older. In his investigation, Waldinger noted two main types of happiness – one of a brief “sugar rush high” and one that comes from having “a good life, a decent life, a meaningful life.”
To experience meaningful happiness, Waldinger disclosed that people should “invest in their relationships with other people.” Waldinger’s study showed that the main predictors of lasting happiness and health were relationships described as having satisfying levels of quality and warmth. These relationships can range from interactions with friends and family to chats with a local barista or a courier. According to Waldinger, our relationships with other people can act as a kind of stress regulator in our lives. Even something as simple as a talk with someone can alleviate some of the pressure we feel and serve as an effective outlet for stress, thus raising our overall health and happiness levels. Waldinger emphasized the importance of putting effort into relationships and of not allowing relationships to wither away by lack of communication. To prioritize your health and happiness, it would be a great idea to reach out to a family member, friend, or loved one and seek a valuable connection.
Alex Kim For The Teen Times
1. What are the two main types of happiness, according to Dr. Waldinger?
2. What should people do to experience meaningful happiness?
3. What are the main predictors of lasting happiness and health?
4. How are relationships and stress related?
1. Are you happy thesedays? Explain why or why not.
2. What makes you happy or sad? Explain in detail.
3. Do you agree that relationships with "satisfying levels of quality and warmth" is the main predictor of lasting happiness and health? Explain.
4. How can people make their relationships work? Describe the tactics that can be used.
According to Dr. Robert Waldinger, the director of the world’s longest-running scientific study of happiness, there is one reliable method to becoming happier. Dr. Waldinger’s study followed people through over eight decades, first consulting with the subjects’ parents and then their children as they grew older. In his investigation, Waldinger noted two main types of happiness – one of a brief “sugar rush high” and one that comes from having “a good life, a decent life, a meaningful life.”
