Five panelists brought their professional expertise and personal experience to the 2013 Roundtable during Reunion Homecoming. ABC talk show host Katie Couric moderated Are You Happy Now? The New Science of Happiness and Wellbeing.
Photo: Courtesy IDEODAVID KELLEY
head of the d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute of Design)
Happiness is: The feeling of being present and really able to have fun—and knowing what fun is for you. It also has to do with having a sense of the world, and a calling of doing something of a higher purpose that's meaningful to you.
Insight: I highly recommend being diagnosed with a terminal disease, as long as you don't actually have one. It does straighten you right out. I was diagnosed in 2007 with throat cancer [with] a 40 percent chance to live. What you realize is your mortality, and it gets you really excited about focusing on 'what is fun for me; what was I put on Earth to do?' And that made me a lot happier.
Advice: Be present and mindful when something good is happening, so that it will stick with you.
His bliss: Driving around in his 1932 Ford.
Photo: Linda A. Cicero/Stanford University News ServiceJENNIFER AAKER
professor of marketing, GSB
Happiness is: Feeling good and feeling satisfied with/interested in what you're doing.
Insight: Individuals who report having a happy life tend to describe themselves as takers, self-oriented. Those who have a meaningful life are other-oriented—giving to others, taking care of others in need. And that notion of giving to others subsequently makes you happy in a way that's longer lasting.
Advice: Think about how you're spending your time. Are you present with the people who are with you? What is the nature of the relationships you're cultivating—who needs more attention? Are you really giving to others?
Her bliss: Cuddling with her family while watching a movie on Friday night.
Photo: Linda A. Cicero/Stanford University News ServiceIAN GOTLIB
chair, department of psychology and director, Stanford Mood and Anxiety Disorders Laboratory
Happiness is: Loving and believing that you're loved, and finding meaning in what you're doing.
Insight: We need to learn how to cope with failure, to learn how to cope with adversity. It's the only way we're going to learn to do better, to grow, to become resilient—which is really defined as doing well in the face of stress.
Advice: Cognitive therapies are the most effective forms of treatment. The power of positive thinking is real—changing the way one thinks.
His bliss: Grandchildren and golf.
SONYA LYUBOMIRSKY
Photo: Dana PatrickPhD '94, professor of psychology, UC-Riverside
Happiness is: First, a sense that you're progressing toward your life goals; second, the experience of positive emotions—that you want to continue doing what you're doing.
Insight: Happy people have certain habits: They tend to be grateful, to look on the bright side, they're more likely to exercise and meditate, focus on relationships, savor the moment. If you learn some of these habits, you can raise your happiness as well.
Advice: Three ingredients to improve our level of happiness: 1) a sense of control (autonomy) in our lives; 2) personal growth; 3) connecting with others and contributing to our communities. Appreciate what you have.
Her bliss: Holding her 5-month-old baby daughter.
Photo: Steve Fisch/Courtesy Stanford School of MedicineFIRDAUS DHABHAR
associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences
Happiness is: A combination of pleasure and meaningfulness in your life. An important component is when what you think, say and do are in harmony.
Insight: It's OK to be sad, to experience negative emotions. For stress, as well as negative emotions, one of the most powerful buffers is genuine social support. If you have even one or two people you can count on, that you know truly care for you, it can buffer many of these negative effects—both psychologically and biologically—tremendously.
Advice: Recognize when you're experiencing tough times, and then humbly request and very genuinely, gratefully, accept help from others. When you're in a position to be giving that help, just give it generously.
His bliss: Being in nature.
