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The Mel Robbins Podcast

What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness

The Mel Robbins Podcast

SiriusXM Podcasts

Education, Mental Health, Relationships, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 10.6K Ratings

🗓️ 4 April 2024

⏱️ 98 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This one study will change how you think about your entire life. Today, you’re getting the definitive answer to this powerful question: What makes a good life? There is nothing more important than this conversation. Because by the time you are done listening, your life won’t be the same. In this episode, you’re getting the research, the secrets, and some very surprising takeaways from an 86-year-long study at Harvard. The Harvard Study of Adult Development began in 1938 and is the longest study that has ever been done on happiness, relationships, and the human experience. Joining Mel today is the director of that study, Dr. Robert Waldinger, MD. Dr. Waldinger is a medical doctor, professor at Harvard Medical School, and a zen priest. He is here to share all of the groundbreaking research and, more importantly, give you the answers to what you need to do starting today in order to live a good life. You’ll learn the best life advice and lessons from 100-year-olds, the surprising question of whether you can predict if you’ll be healthy at age 80, the simple daily habit that leads to lasting happiness, and more—all backed by decades of research. For more resources, including the link to Dr. Waldinger’s fantastic book, The Good Life, click here for the podcast episode page. This episode is a companion to Mel's brand new free training, Make It Happen. This training is designed to help you make your next 6 months extraordinary. It includes a 29 page workbook and 2 video trainings that use the latest research to help you get clear about what you want and create a plan to make it happen. And the cool part? It takes less than a minute for you to get started. Just sign up at melrobbins.com/makeithappen Connect with Mel: Get Mel’s brand new free course Make It Happen (which comes with a 29 page workbook and 2 exclusive video trainings) Watch the episodes on YouTube Follow Mel on Instagram The Mel Robbins Podcast Instagram Mel's TikTok Sign up for Mel’s newsletter Disclaimer

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hey, it's your friend Mel, and welcome to the Mel Robbins podcast.

0:04.7

I got a question for you.

0:09.3

What does it mean to live a good life?

0:14.0

You know, you and I can get so caught up in the stupid things that you forget,

0:18.0

one of the biggest and most important aspects of your life,

0:22.0

that at some point it's going to be over.

0:26.6

Will you have lived a good life?

0:29.3

You and I are so busy trying to get to the next thing, to make a certain amount of money, drive a certain

0:34.1

kind of car, get a certain number of followers, look a certain way, have certain things.

0:39.8

But is that really what creates a good life?

0:44.0

When you lay on your deathbed

0:46.3

and you look back on your life,

0:49.8

did you live a good life?

0:55.7

Well, today, you and I are not only going to consider that question. You're also going to learn the secrets to living a good life from an 86-year-long

1:00.8

study at Harvard. It is the longest study that has ever been done on

1:04.2

happiness, relationships, and the human experience. Wherever it is that you're

1:09.4

listening from, no matter how young or old you are, or how much money you have in the bank.

1:15.6

What you will learn today will inspire you to live a good life. A good life. Hey, it's

1:24.0

a good

1:25.0

you

1:27.0

You

1:28.0

You Hey it's Mel and I'm so glad you tuned in today.

...

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