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The Happiness Summit

November 16, 2021, 12 pm ET

Happiness — the science of it, the pursuit of it, conquering the roadblocks to it are the focus of this forum, bringing together experts in the areas of positive psychology and mental health, authors and professors. Positive psychology and the elements that fuel emotional wellbeing and contentment has become a flourishing field, as mounting stresses have brought the prioritization of our mental health to the forefront. In a series of panels and workshops, our experts explore the roles of relationships, gratitude, resilience, spirituality, sleep and more, and how we can optimize them toward a life of greater optimism, purpose and joy.

Happiness — the science of it, the pursuit of it, conquering the roadblocks to it are the focus of this forum, bringing together experts in the areas of positive psychology and mental health, authors and professors. Positive psychology and the elements that fuel emotional wellbeing and contentment has become a flourishing field, as mounting stresses have brought the prioritization of our mental health to the forefront. In a series of panels and workshops, our experts explore the roles of relationships, gratitude, resilience, spirituality, sleep and more, and how we can optimize them toward a life of greater optimism, purpose and joy.

Panels

The Power of Human Connection

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Priya Parker

Loneliness has become an epidemic — a crisis deepened by the pandemic and its months of social isolation. But there are steps we can take to emerge from it. Dr. Vivek Murthy — US Surgeon General under both the Obama and Biden administrations leads a critical exploration of social connection, and how we can use it to strengthen our health and our communities. Dr. Murthy examines how strong social ties and contributions to something bigger than ourselves have a direct impact on happiness, offering strategies each of us can begin using right now toward a happier and more connected life.

A Prescription for Happiness

Deepak Chopra, Jessica Clemons

“When you want to change your life in any way, one truth always comes first: You can only change what you are aware of. The choice is simple: expand your awareness or live without real change,” says Deepak Chopra, world-renowned pioneer of alternative medicine and personal transformation. He discusses the concept of happiness and mental health with Dr. Jessica Clemons, author and practicing board psychiatrist, as they explore ways to breaks down the stigma often associated with prioritizing mental health.

The Surprising Connection Between What We Eat and Mental Health

Dr. Chiti Parikh

Could the trillions of bacteria in the gut hold the key to our health and happiness? Research shows that more than 90% of serotonin, the happy hormone, is produced in the gut, not the brain. This segment takes a closer look at the gut-brain connection to find out how our diet can be one of our biggest allies in optimizing mental health.

Building Resilience

Samantha Boardman, Dilip Jeste, Katy Milkman, James Pawelski

It is impossible to live a life untouched by stress, adversity or disappointment. The ability to move through these and rebound is one of the most critical skills in living a happy life, and inspiring examples abound, from hospital rooms to the world stage. Our panel of experts provides insights into how each of us can cultivate resilience and employ this skill to help us cope with anything that might come our way.

Happier Mornings

Liz Plosser

Women’s Health editor-in-chief Liz Plosser is the ultimate morning person. Liz believes that how you start your day is how you live your day, but everyone’s perfect morning looks different. Her new book, Own Your Morning, enthusiastically guides readers on their own journey to creating the healthiest, happiest morning for them. In this session, she shares easy-to-implement strategies to help transform your morning routine into one that will generate endorphins and positive energy to set you up for success.

A Happy Life, Part II

Nina Garcia and Michael Clinton

What do you want the second part of life to hold for you? Retirement? Travel? A relocation? Volunteering? Learning something new? As humans, we are always thinking about what is next, but how do we prepare emotionally, logistically and financially for this new phase of life? This discussion will explore ways we identify goals and take meaningful action to achieve a happy and purposeful life … Part II.

Coping With Loss

Lily Dulan and Metta World Peace

With life comes loss — the death of a loved one, the loss of a relationship or job or ability, or other. We explore how to make sense of loss, how to transform grief into healing, and how to navigate through it all and find a path back to joy.

Spirituality and Happiness

Lisa Miller, Dacher Keltner, Tal Ben-Shahar

What is the relationship between spirituality and mental health? In what ways does spirituality — in whatever form — help us confront challenges and achieve balance? A panel of scientists and psychologists look at the intersection of spirituality and neuroscience, its strong link to our mental health, and how we can use it to achieve greater well-being, resilience and positivity.

Unwinding Anxiety

Dr. Jud Brewer

Anxiety levels are increasing individually and collectively in our modern day. Faced with uncertainty, an overabundance of information (and misinformation), among other challenges, our minds struggle to keep up. Dr. Brewer will teach you how your mind works, so that you can work with it, and how to use curiosity and kindness as your superpowers.

Speakers

Lead Sponsors

Please note that all 92Y regularly scheduled in-person programs are suspended.