logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
1h 3m

Never Worry Alone | Dr. Robert Waldinger

10% Happier
About this episode

Dr. Robert Waldinger talks about his new book The Good Life: Lessons From the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, which explores lessons from the longest scientific study of happiness.

Dr. Robert Waldinger is a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development at Massachusetts General Hospital, and co-founder of the Lifespan Research Foundation. He is also a Zen master and teaches meditation in New England and around the world. His TED Talk is one of the most viewed of all time, with over 43 million views. He's the co-author, along with Dr. Marc Schulz, of The Good Life.

 

In this episode we talk about: 

  • What the Harvard Study of Adult Development is and how it got started

  • How much of our happiness is really under our control

  • Why you can't you be happy all the time

  • The concept of "social fitness" 

  • Why you should "never worry alone" 

  • How having best friends at work can make you more productive

  • And why, in his words, it's never too late to be happy

 

Join Dan's online community here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

 

Up next
Yesterday
The Dharma of Anxiety and Depression | Leslie Booker
<p dir="ltr">Anxiety. Depression. Perfectionism. Dan and meditation teacher Leslie Booker get real about how these challenges show up in their own lives — and how mindfulness, community, and sometimes medication can actually help. Recorded live at New York Insight, this conversat ... Show More
31m 12s
Nov 19
How To Get Out Of Your Head: Joseph Goldstein and Sam Harris on Nirvana, Non-Clinging, Non-Duality, and the Best Way to Meditate
<p dir="ltr">Which is the best path to freedom?</p> <p dir="ltr"><a href= "https://www.dharma.org/teacher/joseph-goldstein/">Joseph Goldstein</a> is a cofounder of the <a href= "https://www.dharma.org/">Insight Meditation Society</a> and the <a href="https://www.buddhistinquiry.o ... Show More
1h 31m
Nov 17
Longevity Science Without the Fear or Bullshit | Dr. Kerry Burnight
<p dir="ltr">An expert in Gerontology shares the four core habits for aging well.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr"><a href="https://drkerryburnight.com/">Dr. Kerry Burnight</a> is a gerontologist, caregiver advocate, and founder of the Gerontology Institute at ... Show More
1h 14m
Recommended Episodes
Aug 22
#549 Finding Security in an Unsecured World
Finding Security in an Unsecured World In a world that feels increasingly unpredictable, we are all searching for an anchor of security. We're going to explore how that anchor isn't found by trying to control the world around us, but by forging it within ourselves through the pow ... Show More
14m 27s
Aug 2023
#443 Why "More" Ultimately Never Works
<p class="MsoNormal">Why "More" Ultimately Never Works</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Wanting and getting ultimately never works. To fight off this insatiable urge, we can do five things. Don't compare ourselves to others. Don't compare ourselves to our previous selves. Do something fo ... Show More
15m 3s
Jan 2025
#517 Happiness: Why Knowing Isn't Enough
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Happiness: Why Knowing Isn't Enough</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">We've all heard the advice, read the books, maybe even attended the seminars... but if knowing the path to happiness was enough, wouldn't we all be joyful already? On this podcast, ... Show More
14m 27s
Nov 2024
#508 What if Happiness Isn't About Everything Being Good?
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>What if Happiness Isn't About Everything Being Good?</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Ever feel like you're waiting for everything to be "just right" before you can truly allow yourself to be happy? What if that pursuit of perfection is the very thin ... Show More
13m 44s
May 2025
#537 Why New Isn't Always Better: Finding Joy in the Consistent
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>Why New Isn't Always Better: Finding Joy in the Consistent</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In a world constantly chasing the 'next big thing,' we often overlook the profound power of what's already working in our lives. Today, we're exploring 'Why N ... Show More
16m 24s
Jun 2025
#538 The Key to Inner Harmony: Embracing What Is
The Key to Inner Harmony: Embracing What Is Have you ever felt like you're constantly fighting against your circumstances, searching for a peace that feels just out of reach? In this talk, we'll explore how the profound act of accepting our outer experiences isn't about giving up ... Show More
15m 35s
May 2024
#482 Personal Growth: Lessons from Others' Failures
<p class="MsoNormal">Personal Growth: Lessons from Others' Failures</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="first-token">Have you ever wished you could avoid the pitfalls and setbacks that inevitably come with navigating life?</span><span class= "apple-converted-space"> </span>The ... Show More
14m 39s
Oct 2024
#506 The Pursuit of Inner Peace: The Contentment Journey
<p class="MsoNormal">In this episode of "<strong>The Pursuit of Inner Peace: The Contentment Journey,</strong>" we explore the idea that true happiness lies not in fleeting pleasures, but in cultivating a deep sense of contentment within ourselves. Join us as we discuss practical ... Show More
14m 37s
Oct 2024
#503 The Pursuit of Happiness: A Fair Game for All
<p class="MsoNormal"><strong>The Pursuit of Happiness: A Fair Game for All</strong></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Happiness is not a privilege reserved for those with fortunate circumstances, but a state of mind attainable by all. It's about recognizing the power we hold in shaping ou ... Show More
14m 24s
Jun 2024
#489 The Pursuit of Peace (and Why My Brain Keeps Getting in the Way)
<p class="MsoNormal">The Pursuit of Peace (and Why My Brain Keeps Getting in the Way)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We've all experienced the frustrating paradox:<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>we know what habits and practices would bring us closer to emotional well-being ... Show More
15 m