Confidence Classic: What 80+ Years Of Research Says About Happiness with Dr. Marc Schulz

In an age where digital connection has never been easier, an invisible epidemic of isolation threatens our well-being. In Together, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reveals that loneliness is a public health crisis with consequences as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Through research and personal narratives, he demonstrates how our evolutionary need for connection shapes our biology and society, and he offers practical solutions for rebuilding meaningful relationships.

In this guide, we'll explore Murthy's framework for understanding the loneliness epidemic, from its definition and prevalence to its biological foundations and health consequences. We'll also discuss Murthy's multi-level strategies for fostering deeper connections in your life and community. Throughout this guide, we'll supplement Murthy's analysis with commentary exploring neuroplasticity research on social brain development, cultural differences in experiencing loneliness, and innovative models for combating the loneliness epidemic. We'll also incorporate insights from experts in other fields including anthropologist Robin Dunbar, Jan Gehl (Cities for People), and Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone).

When it comes to taking care of your brain, the best time to start is now. Many people don’t consider dementia or cognitive decline until later in life, but neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s begin developing decades before symptoms appear. Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent cognitive decline and keep your brain strong and resilient throughout your life. In Keep Sharp, neurosurgeon and medical reporter Sanjay Gupta explains how we can best look after our brains in five key areas: exercise, sleep, nutrition, discovery, and social connection.

In our guide, we’ll examine how the human brain works, the potential causes of cognitive decline, and things you can do to promote a healthy brain. We’ll also explain why certain things are helpful or harmful to your brain, like why the Mediterranean diet is so beneficial and what a lack of sleep does to your brain. Throughout the guide, we’ll delve into the ever-evolving science of human cognition so you can better understand how to develop a healthier, happier brain.

In an age where digital connection has never been easier, an invisible epidemic of isolation threatens our well-being. In Together, former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy reveals that loneliness is a public health crisis with consequences as deadly as smoking 15 cigarettes daily. Through research and personal narratives, he demonstrates how our evolutionary need for connection shapes our biology and society, and he offers practical solutions for rebuilding meaningful relationships.

In this guide, we'll explore Murthy's framework for understanding the loneliness epidemic, from its definition and prevalence to its biological foundations and health consequences. We'll also discuss Murthy's multi-level strategies for fostering deeper connections in your life and community. Throughout this guide, we'll supplement Murthy's analysis with commentary exploring neuroplasticity research on social brain development, cultural differences in experiencing loneliness, and innovative models for combating the loneliness epidemic. We'll also incorporate insights from experts in other fields including anthropologist Robin Dunbar, Jan Gehl (Cities for People), and Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone).

Americans are more lonely than ever before—and that has negative effects not only for our social lives, but for our mental and physical health, too. How did we get here, and how can we fix the problem?

Everyone has battled loneliness at times, but it's become so prevalent in the modern era it’s deemed an epidemic that’s harming both people and society. In this article, Great Thinkers weigh in on how loneliness has grown and what we can do about it.

Happiness is more than just a positive state of mind—it’s a state of being that enhances your health, strengthens your relationships, and fuels both your creativity and productivity. However, though many people are aware of these benefits and try to feel happier, their efforts often fail to create consistent, long-term happiness.

In The How of Happiness, Sonja Lyubomirsky—psychology professor and recipient of the Templeton Positive Psychology Prize—addresses this challenge. Drawing from her extensive research as well as insights from leading scientists in the positive psychology field, she unpacks the factors that fuel happiness and provides practical strategies to nurture and sustain it.

In this guide, we’ll explore Lyubomirsky's thoughts on what contributes to long-term happiness and how you can amplify it in your life. Additionally, we’ll supplement her ideas with psychological research and actionable methods from other self-improvement authors and practitioners.

If you haven’t thought about your inevitable death today, Jodi Wellman suggests it’s time to start. In her book You Only Die Once, Wellman champions the principle of memento mori—the intentional recognition of our mortality—as the key to leading a better life. According to Wellman, regularly meditating on your mortality motivates you to live more deliberately and meaningfully, balancing vitality and meaning.

In this guide, we’ll explain why Wellman argues that contemplating death will help you live a better life. We’ll then discuss what it means to live a good life and how to reflect critically on the life you’re living, before outlining Wellman’s steps to improve the quality of your life right away. We’ll also provide additional commentary on the history of memento mori, different cultural perspectives on death, and insights from other experts in positive psychology, including Martin Seligman (Flourish) and Viktor Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning).

Although we live longer today and have more material wealth than ever, many people feel anxious rather than happy. In Flow, psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi offers an antidote. People are happiest when they feel in control of their inner thoughts and feelings and experience a “flow state”: a sense of enjoyment, purpose, and meaning.

Csikszentmihalyi explains: how controlling and ordering your consciousness brings flow and enjoyment, which personality characteristics produce flow, and how to find flow in your work and relationships.