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My goal is to help people connect with the truth of what makes a good life.
Author, Professor, and Zen Priest
Robert Waldinger is a passionate explorer of what makes a meaningful life, combining his expertise as Director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and Zen teacher. His work spans rigorous scientific research on the impact of relationships on well-being, therapeutic practices that delve into the subconscious mind, and Zen teachings that cultivate mindfulness and self-awareness.
In addition to his research, Robert is a practicing psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who helps individuals navigate their emotional landscapes and uncover the hidden influences of their subconscious minds. Through psychodynamic therapy, he guides people in understanding and resolving deep-seated conflicts and past experiences that shape their current behaviors and relationships, fostering greater self-awareness and emotional resilience.
As a Zen teacher and practitioner, Robert integrates mindfulness and spiritual growth into his work, offering teachings that help people cultivate awareness and presence in each moment. His Zen practice emphasizes self-acceptance, self-discovery, and the interconnectedness of all beings, providing a holistic approach to understanding the mind and body.
What makes for a happy life, a fulfilling life? A good life?
According to the directors of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted, the answer to these questions may be closer than you realize.
What might you learn from our book?
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What thousands of life histories tell us about what’s really important in life
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What social fitness is and how to exercise it
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Why happiness is not something you achieve
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What factors in early childhood shape happiness in mid- and late- life
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The W.I.S.E.R. model of reacting to emotionally challenging situations
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The unexpected benefits of having a close colleague at work
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The steps you can take today to live a happier life
Harvard Happiness Study
What does research tell us is the best predictor for lifelong happiness?
The Harvard Study of Adult Development is an extraordinary scientific endeavor that began in 1938 and is still going strong (Waldinger is the fourth director, and Schulz its associate director). For over eight decades, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has tracked the same individuals and their families, asking thousands of questions and taking hundreds of measurements—from brain scans to blood work—with the goal of discovering what really makes for a good life.
Through all the years of studying these lives, strong relationships stand out for their impact on physical health, mental health, and longevity. Waldinger and Schulz boil it down simply:
“Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.”