This week, learn about the science of thriving from Dan Lerner, Professor of NYU’s most popular elective, “Science of Happiness”, and a keynote speaker at EXPLO at Yale's CORE Day — a day dedicated to teaching students how to lead a life of meaning and purpose.
The science of thriving is about recognizing that well-being is more than just a state-of-mind — it’s a bio-psychosocial underpinning of exploration. Lerner teaches (through hilarious and relatable anecdotes) that in order to thrive, we must explore our own emotions, engagements, passions, character strengths, and relationships. That way, we can find our individualized equation for how to reach our highest potential.
The PERMA model doesn't force just one definition of thriving on anybody.... it's like a mixing board. It's figuring out how to add a little bit of jazz, or classical music... it's an adjustment for each person.
At EXPLO, we encourage the pursuit of lifelong learning — which means we are constantly doing our own studying up, reading on, or relearning the concepts that we teach throughout the summer. Here are some really interesting (and some just really really fun) links that we've been recently reading on the science of thriving.
“All You Need is Love”? Check out this article by Johns Hopkins Public Health on where The Beatles got it wrong.
CEO + Parent: "Here's how I taught my daughter, from a young age, to thrive as a professional"
A secret flour recipe? A machine that makes torus-shaped dough? Flipping? Frying? Glazing?! We think donuts might be a universal, and scientific (okay, maybe not totally scientific) means of happiness. Check out how they’re made.
Want to play a game that's hyper-interactive, hyper-fluctuating, hard-to-parse and gets you completely in-the-zone? Head of EXPLO at Wellesley, Elliot Targum, recommends Magic Maze Board Game.
At EXPLO, thriving takes many shapes, forms, exercises, and events. Just a few EXPLO experiences that encourage finding a personal approach to meaning, purpose, and happiness include: