How to cultivate the skill of happiness (w/ Dan Harris)

Re-release: Why love –and therapy– means going in a direction you don’t yet know (w/ Dr. Orna Guralnik)

How to Be a Better Human - How to find connection –and love– in everyday life (w/ Barbara Fredrickson)

<p>Romantic love isn’t all it’s cracked up to be – at least that’s one way positive psychologist Barbara Fredrickson puts it. Barbara’s decades of research suggest that emotions outside of our narrow definition of love are just as important to our well-being. In this episode, Barbara shares what to look for when we want to broaden our experience of positive emotions, and suggests ways to build the consistent connection and care at the heart of our best relationships. For the full text transcript, visit <a href="http://go.ted.com/BHTranscripts" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">go.ted.com/BHTranscripts</a></p>

How to find connection –and love– in everyday life (w/ Barbara Fredrickson)

You're listening to How to Bea Better Human.

I love traditions. I love a ritual, I love a routine,

I love a repeated action that I can count on. Some of my attempts at creating those

traditions though have been complete busts.

For example, every year on December 12th, when the date is 1-2-12, I try to create a holiday where

you say everything twice, wear two items of each item of clothing,

and generally just try and do everything double. I call it one two day. And I have to say,

this is without a doubt my wife's least favorite day of the year.

Every year she sees me walk into the kitchen wearing two hats, two pairs of sunglasses and drinking from two glasses of water simultaneously,

and every year she goes, oh God, not this again.

So look, not every tradition is successful.

Not every tradition is going to get buy-in from the other people who would have to participate in it.

But the beautiful part when a tradition does work is that it's a way for you and the people around

you to build memories and to deepen your connection to each other.

And she's changed the way that I think about love and friendship

helps cultivate those connections much more deeply.

Join How to Be a Better Human as we take a look within and beyond ourselves.How to Be a Better Human isn’t your average self improvement podcast. Each week join comedian Chris Duffy in conversation with guests and past speakers as they uncover sharp insights and give clear takeaways on how YOU can be a better human.From your work to your home and your head to your heart, How to Be a Better Human looks in unexpected places for new ways to improve and show up for one another. Inspired by the popular series of the same name on TED’s Ideas blog, How to Be a Better Human will help you become a better person from the comfort of your own headphones.

0:00.0	Ted Audio Collective.
0:02.0	Audio Collective.
0:04.0	You're listening to How to Bea Better Human.
0:08.0	I'm your host Chris Duffy.
0:12.0	I love traditions. I love a ritual, I love a routine,
0:16.4	I love a repeated action that I can count on. Some of my attempts at creating those
0:21.2	traditions though have been complete busts.
0:24.8	For example, every year on December 12th, when the date is 1-2-12, I try to create a holiday where
0:31.1	you say everything twice, wear two items of each item of clothing,
0:35.2	and generally just try and do everything double. I call it one two day. And I have to say,
0:40.5	this is without a doubt my wife's least favorite day of the year.
0:45.0	Every year she sees me walk into the kitchen wearing two hats, two pairs of sunglasses and drinking from two glasses of water simultaneously,
0:52.0	and every year she goes, oh God, not this again.
0:55.7	So look, not every tradition is successful.
0:59.3	Not every tradition is going to get buy-in from the other people who would have to participate in it.
1:04.0	But the beautiful part when a tradition does work is that it's a way for you and the people around
1:08.8	you to build memories and to deepen your connection to each other.
1:12.4	Today's guest, Dr. Barbara Fredrickson,
1:14.4	is an expert in positive psychology.
1:16.8	And she's changed the way that I think about love and friendship
1:20.0	and how recognizing positive emotions
1:22.1	helps cultivate those connections much more deeply.
	...

How to find connection –and love– in everyday life (w/ Barbara Fredrickson)

How to Be a Better Human

TED and PRX

Summary

Audio player

Transcript