What Can We Learn From the Science of Happiness?
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For the month of February, The Takeaway will be partnering with "The Science of Happiness." Each week, our show will take a look at how the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley is developing research-based exercises that promote happiness, resilience, kindness, and connection.
Dacher Keltner is professor of psychology at UC Berkeley, Director of Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, and the host of The Science of Happiness, which is co-produced by the Greater Good Science Center and PRI.
We invite you, our listeners, to try the "Three Good Things" practice at home (instructions are below), and then call us at 877-869-8253 to tell us how it went. We may use your message on the air.
TIME REQUIRED
10 minutes/day
HOW TO DO IT
At the end of your day, write down three things that went well for you and provide an explanation for why they went well. It is important to create a physical record of your items by writing them down; it is not enough simply to do this exercise in your head. The items can be relatively small in importance (e.g., “my co-worker made the coffee today”) or relatively large (e.g., “I earned a big promotion”). To make this exercise part of your daily routine, some find that writing before bed is helpful.
As you write, follow these instructions:
- Give the event a title (e.g., “co-worker complimented my work on a project”)
- Write down exactly what happened in as much detail as possible, including what you did or said and, if others were involved, what they did or said.
- Include how this event made you feel at the time and how this event made you feel later (including now, as you remember it).
- Explain what you think caused this event—why it came to pass.
- Use whatever writing style you please, and do not worry about perfect grammar and spelling. Use as much detail as you'd like.
- If you find yourself focusing on negative feelings, refocus your mind on the good event and the positive feelings that came with it. This can take effort but gets easier with practice and can make a real difference in how you feel.
This segment is hosted by Todd Zwillich.
