The Science-of-Well-Being

I just finished an amazing free online course called the Science-of-Well-Being.  Since it’s free and focused on mindfulness, I had to give it a try.  Dr. Laurie Santos of Yale University overviews what psychological science says about happiness in order to teach students how to lead a happier, more satisfying lives. The course also gives learners tips to apply wellness activities into their lives.

This class does not treat serious mental health issues like anxiety or depression. However, Dr. Santos’ class does provide space to have much needed conversations about mental health and happiness. And who couldn’t doesn’t want a free lesson on how to live a happier life?

So many of us are suffering from issues, such as relationship problems, substance misuse, physical health problems, job or financial problems, and recent crises.  Why not spend a little of your time to focus on well- being?

The class starts out by going over what you think makes you happy (but really doesn’t) and then in the later weeks, she reveals what actually makes us happy, based on scientific  research.  Spoiler alert:  Dr. Santos gives simple assignments that focus on such things as meditation and gratitude practice.  One week my assignment was to write down 3 things I was grateful for that day.  This simple assignment helped to focus my mind on the positive.  I was, also, so impressed with the questions the students from Yale..  Their insights and questions  made me want to be back on a collage campus.  

The multipart seminar-style series - filmed last year in Dr. Santos’ home - is available for free on Coursera.

The no-charge option for the course doesn’t include all the assignments and class materials — there’s a $49 tuition fee if you’d like all the available materials. I just took the free course and it gives you complete access to all the lectures.

So, 6 weeks later, am I a happier person for taking the Science of Well-Being?  Yes, I think it was time well spent for me.  I learned how to focus my mind and body with the simple tools that Dr. Santos shares in her course.  Thanks to Dr. Santo's and Yale for making this course available to the public for free.  I am grateful to be a student of the Science of Well-Being.

Wisdom 2.0

I was happy to again attend the annual Wisdom 2.0 conference that took place in San Francisco in February. If you have not heard of Wisdom 2.0, it “explores living mindfully in the digital age.”
 
Wisdom 2.0 brings together leaders and entrepreneurs who are looking to balance mindfulness and technology in their worlds. The conference is a mix of folks from different backgrounds. From business people to yoga instructors and teachers to small business owners, this year’s conference brought together more than 2,500 people from over 24 countries.
 
This was my second year at the conference, and the one thing that all attendees share is a desire to create a positive social impact. You truly felt the positive energy as individuals shared their experiences and brought a conscious mindset to the room.
 
Wisdom offers a forum to learn, share and experience the benefits of conscious thought in everyday action. This year’s speakers included mindful leaders like Jon Kabot-Zin, Byron Katie, Dan Siegel and Sharon Salzberg, as well as CEOs like Josh Reeves of Gusto and Laurent Potdevin of Lululemon. Authors, including Glennon Doyle Melton who wrote Love Warrior and Dan Harris who wrote 10% Happier and singer/songwriter, Jewel, were there too, talking about how mindfulness has helped in their lives.
 
One afternoon I spent some time in the The Embodiment Lounge, sponsored by designer Eileen Fisher who is a fan of mindfulness in her life and in her clothing line. She also started LifeWork, a website that connects viewers with teachers, events, workshops, and other tools for mindful practices. Here’s the session I attended in the lounge with Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman.

Throughout March, LifeWork will be sharing video of workshops from the Embodiment Lounge, so be sure to check them out.
 
While there is a lot of new age spirit at Wisdom 2.0, you don’t have to be a meditation expert to understand the messages. We are all looking for ways to live our connected lives that is beneficial to our well-being and useful to the world.