Gretchen Rubin is one of the most thought-provoking and influential writers on the

link subjects of habits, happiness, and human nature. She's the author of

many books including the Blockbuster New York Times bestseller's Happier Home

and the Happiness Project. Gretchen has an enormous following and printed

online. Her books have sold more than a million copies worldwide in more than

30 languages. And in her popular daily blog GretchenRubin.com, she reports on

her adventure and pursuits of habits and happiness. Her podcast Happier with

Gretchen Rubin was an iTunes Best of 2015 pick.

Gretchen, welcome. I'm so happy to be talking to you. Thanks for having me. So great

to have you. I can't believe we haven't had you but there's no time like the

present. So welcome. It's been quite a while since you wrote the Happiness

Project. What's changed when it comes to what we know about our happiness? Well I

think that some of our understandings have deepened and I think just everything

that's happened in recent years has shown us more than ever what we knew before.

Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree that to be happy we

have to have enduring intimate bonds. We need to feel like we belong. We need

to feel like we can confide. We need to be able to get support and just as

important for happiness we need to be able to give support. And I think what's

been really interesting about say the last 18 months or I think what's been

really interesting about this pandemic period is that it's shown people. It's

demonstrated to people how crucial these relationships are and how important it

is that we are innovative and resilient and figuring out a way to work with

...