Ever wonder what is the secret to having a good life?
Ever wonder what the secret is to leading a good life? There seems to be one study that has finally solved the burning question.
Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger is a director of a long running study on adult development conducted by Harvard University. Since 1938, the 75 year old study has observed 724 young men. They were divided into two groups: sophomore college students who went off to graduate and serve in World War II, and young male teenagers who lived in some of the poorest neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts in the 1930's. When they entered the study, they were interviewed, given medical exams, and their families were interviewed as well.
Their lives remained under observation for several decades. The observations included surveys, interviews, and records of behavior during specific life events. The result of these observations were definitely interesting –– in some cases, they were extraordinary. Some of them have gone on to climb the social ladder, one became the president of the United States, doctors, lawyers but some developed alcoholism, and a few developed schizophrenia.
"The founders of this study would never in their wildest dreams imagined that I would be standing here today, 75 years later, telling you that the study still continues," Waldinger said.
In the TedTalk "What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study On Happiness," Waldinger laments over a recent survey on millennials. The survey showed that over 80% say their life goal was to become wealthy while the 50% of the group said their aim is to become famous. He realized that today’s youth was told to “lean in” may have lead them into believing that acquiring a higher status equates to happiness. This wasn't the case. Though riches and fame are good to have, none of these material things were the key to a good life.
Ever wonder what the secret is to leading a good life? There seems to be one study that has finally solved the burning question.
Psychiatrist Robert Waldinger is a director of a long running study on adult development conducted by Harvard University. Since 1938, the 75 year old study has observed 724 young men. They were divided into two groups: sophomore college students who went off to graduate and serve in World War II, and young male teenagers who lived in some of the poorest neighborhoods of Boston, Massachusetts in the 1930's. When they entered the study, they were interviewed, given medical exams, and their families were interviewed as well.
Their lives remained under observation for several decades. The observations included surveys, interviews, and records of behavior during specific life events. The result of these observations were definitely interesting –– in some cases, they were extraordinary. Some of them have gone on to climb the social ladder, one became the president of the United States, doctors, lawyers but some developed alcoholism, and a few developed schizophrenia.
"The founders of this study would never in their wildest dreams imagined that I would be standing here today, 75 years later, telling you that the study still continues," Waldinger said.
In the TedTalk "What Makes A Good Life? Lessons From The Longest Study On Happiness," Waldinger laments over a recent survey on millennials. The survey showed that over 80% say their life goal was to become wealthy while the 50% of the group said their aim is to become famous. He realized that today’s youth was told to “lean in” may have lead them into believing that acquiring a higher status equates to happiness. This wasn't the case. Though riches and fame are good to have, none of these material things were the key to a good life.
The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy . . . 
