Transform Your Life at Any Moment: The Surprising Science of Happiness

Today, you’ll learn the surprising science of what creates a meaningful life, based on 8 decades of research.  

This conversation is so profound that you might need to take a second listen. 

Prepare to laugh, cry, and leave feeling empowered to find and create the happiness and connection that you want. 

Because the truth is, you can transform your life at any moment. 

There is nothing more important than this conversation. 

Because by the time you are done listening, you will understand how one tiny step might just change how you think about your entire life. 

Get ready to be blown away by the groundbreaking research and heartwarming stories that will prove just how powerful unexpected connections can truly be. 

And more importantly, how you can start making them today. 

This episode is sponsored by our exclusive insurance partner, Amica.

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If you liked this episode, you’ll love this conversation with Harvard’s Dr. Robert Waldinger: What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness

Connect with Mel:

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• Disclaimer

In this episode:

• 5:59 How would you live knowing you haven’t met your favorite people yet?
• 8:40 Do you want to have a more meaningful life? You need to do THIS.
• 10:29 Harvard professor and MD explains why THESE people are happiest.
• 11:54 My daughter’s unexpected best friend found backpacking!
• 16:42 Here’s how to get the momentum you need to find unexpected connections.
• 20:14 This research proves that you DO enjoy talking to strangers.
• 23:06 These are my tips for talking to strangers, without being creepy.
• 28:36 The shocking research around social contagion.
• 31:09 Get your tissues ready for this unexpected story.
• 37:28 You are capable of creating THIS incredible phenomenon.
• 39:13 This 15-year friendship started with an email mix-up.
• 46:03 Change your perspective on this one thing for a better life. 
• 47:59 This story proves why unexpected connections are magical.
• 53:40 How a text about Thanksgiving dinner turned into a lifelong friendship.
• 58:19 Do this ONE thing today to create meaningful and unexpected connections.

Resources:

• Harvard Second Generation Study: Harvard Study of Adult Development
• Harvard Medicine: The Good Life (an interview)
• Foundation for Social Connection: Guide for building connected communities.
• Psychology Today: Research identifies 2 major causes of loneliness.
• British J of Clinical Psych: Link between emotional regulation and loneliness.
• Psych Central: How to develop the skill of emotional regulation.
• Harvard Business Review: 3 things that won’t make you happy.
• National Public Radio: Jon Kabat-Zinn shares insights to combat isolation.
• Psychology Today: Is our happiness set in stone?
• Harvard Health: Take a moment to be mindful
• New York Times: How group chats rule the world 
• Susan Pinker: The Secret to Living Longer May Be Your Social Life 
• Harvard Health and Medicine: Good genes are nice, but joy is better 
• University of Kansas: How to Make Friends? Study reveals time it takes 
• New York Times: Text Your Friends: It matters more than you think 
• Mayo Clinic: Friendships: Enrich your life and improve your health 
• University of CA, Berkeley: How your social life might help you live longer. 
• The Atlantic: Longest study in human health found the key to a good life.
• Stanford Center on Longevity: Strong relationships help you live longer.
• National Library of Medicine: How social relationships impact physiology. 
• National Public Radio: The right friends can help you live longer.
• Foundation for Social Connection: Guide for building connected communities.
• Get insurance you can feel confident about with Amica.