319 SelfWork: What's Really Going To Make You Happy? A Conversation with Bob Waldinger
The SelfWork Podcast
Margaret Robinson Rutherford PhD
4.8 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 13 January 2023
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Bob Waldinger's publicist used these words to describe him - "warm and humble." That can be hard to find… and I knew I wanted him to be our guest here on SelfWork.
He has plenty of things he could crow about (as we’d say in Arkansas). He’s a Harvard professor, 20-year director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development? And his TED Talk is one of the ten most popular of all time, with over 43 million views. What’s the Harvard study all about it? It’s the longest scientific study of happiness every conducted. Here’s what they say: “Radical for its time in 1938, this first -of-its-kind study is now in its 84th year, with an 84% retention rate. Even JFK was a participant!
He’s understandably proud of the wide range of data the study has amassed through the years – as they wanted to focus on what keeps you healthy rather than what makes you sick. His new book came out three days ago – it’s called THE GOOD LIFE.
It explains in detail:
- The most common misconceptions about happiness.
- What social fitness is and how to exercise it.
- How to understand the influence of your childhood on your adult relationships.
- What you’re likely getting wrong about achievement.
- The first step you can take if you want to live a good life.
We had a wonderful conversation – but not only do I hope you enjoy it, I hope that you’ll learn more about what will truly bring you happiness.
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| 0:00.0 | This is Selfwork, and I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford. |
| 0:14.1 | At Selfwork, we'll discuss psychological and emotional issues common in today's world |
| 0:19.0 | and what to do about them. |
| 0:20.4 | I'm Dr. Margaret, and Selfwork is a podcast dedicated to you taking just a few minutes today |
| 0:26.2 | for your own Selfwork. |
| 0:29.8 | Hello and welcome, or welcome back to Selfwork, I'm Dr. Margaret. |
| 0:34.0 | By now, some of the major publicity folks, the folks that email me about maybe a new book |
| 0:39.0 | or someone they're excited about, they and I have formed a relationship, and they know |
| 0:43.6 | the kind of guest I like to have on Selfwork. |
| 0:46.9 | So when one of them, who I know pretty well by this time, sent me a description of Bob |
| 0:51.0 | Waldinger and called him Warm and Humble. |
| 0:53.8 | I knew I wanted him on Selfwork because sometimes that's hard to find. |
| 0:58.8 | Bob has plenty of things he could crow about, as we'd say in Arkansas. |
| 1:02.6 | He's a Harvard professor, and he's the 20-year director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development. |
| 1:08.2 | And his TED Talk is one of the 10 most popular of all time with over 43 million views. |
| 1:15.2 | I'll have those links in your show notes. |
| 1:18.0 | What's the Harvard Study all about? |
| 1:20.2 | It's the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted. |
| 1:24.0 | Here's what they say. |
| 1:25.8 | Radical for its time in 1938. |
| 1:28.2 | This first of its kind study is now in its 84th year with an 84% retention rate. |
| 1:34.7 | Even JFK was a participant. |
... |
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