Since 1938, the Harvard Study of Adult Development has followed the lives of hundreds, and eventually thousands, of American adults, with the goal of discovering what enables people to live healthier, more meaningful lives. Joining us in this episode is Dr. Robert Waldinger, professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the current director of the study. He is the author of the book The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness. Over the course of our conversation, we explore the origins and evolution of the study, what adult development actually means, whether happiness is a choice, how social media shapes our relationships, Dr. Waldinger's interests in Zen Buddhism, and the key to leading a fulfilling life.In this episode, you will hear about:What drew Dr. Waldinger to the field of psychiatry - 1:53Dr. Waldinger’s reflections on the work and daily practice of a psychiatrist - 3:31An overview of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest running scientific study on happiness - 6:54The medical and psychosocial concepts of “adult development” - 9:49The most important and surprising findings of the Study of Adult Development - 16:20Why relationships are critical to health and happiness - 23:07How social media distorts reality and why it can be quite harmful to mental health - 29:37Whether happiness is a choice - 34:48The impact of Zen Buddhism on Dr. Waldinger’s life and work - 43:55Dr. Waldinger’s advice to clinicians on leading fulfilling careers - 50:02In this episode, we discuss the book Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn.Dr. Robert Waldinger is the author of The Good Life.You can view Dr. Waldinger’s acclaimed TED Talk What Makes a Good Life.You can follow Dr. Waldinger on Twitter @RobertWaldinger.Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2023