Dr. Laurie Santos

And I think the focus right now, culturally, especially on young people who are so focused on academics and getting into the perfect college and getting the perfect job, it's about them, right? It's not about doing things that are bigger than you. And that means that they're not focused on the kinds of activities that are really going to give them a strong sense of mattering.

And I think the focus right now, culturally, especially on young people who are so focused on academics and getting into the perfect college and getting the perfect job, it's about them, right? It's not about doing things that are bigger than you. And that means that they're not focused on the kinds of activities that are really going to give them a strong sense of mattering.

And I think the focus right now, culturally, especially on young people who are so focused on academics and getting into the perfect college and getting the perfect job, it's about them, right? It's not about doing things that are bigger than you. And that means that they're not focused on the kinds of activities that are really going to give them a strong sense of mattering.

And so I think part of it is really a crisis of kind of not focusing on the things that really are going to improve your happiness, aka mattering. But in doing so, you wind up getting disconnected from yourself, right? You wind up putting in to affect all these habits and all these

And so I think part of it is really a crisis of kind of not focusing on the things that really are going to improve your happiness, aka mattering. But in doing so, you wind up getting disconnected from yourself, right? You wind up putting in to affect all these habits and all these

And so I think part of it is really a crisis of kind of not focusing on the things that really are going to improve your happiness, aka mattering. But in doing so, you wind up getting disconnected from yourself, right? You wind up putting in to affect all these habits and all these

I think so. Particularly these very high pressure school students, right? Ivy League students. I think that's what's happening. I mean, I think they're working incredibly hard to get to the next accolade. In my class, I show students these videos that current high school students are post online about the moment where they click on the admissions website and they find out if they get in.

I think so. Particularly these very high pressure school students, right? Ivy League students. I think that's what's happening. I mean, I think they're working incredibly hard to get to the next accolade. In my class, I show students these videos that current high school students are post online about the moment where they click on the admissions website and they find out if they get in.

I think so. Particularly these very high pressure school students, right? Ivy League students. I think that's what's happening. I mean, I think they're working incredibly hard to get to the next accolade. In my class, I show students these videos that current high school students are post online about the moment where they click on the admissions website and they find out if they get in.

Yale ones are very popular where you click on the link. You're like, oh my God, I got into Yale. They videotape it and they're cheering and happy. And I show that to remind students of what psychologists call hedonic adaptation, right? This idea that you get used to stuff. That first moment when you find out to get into Yale is great.

Yale ones are very popular where you click on the link. You're like, oh my God, I got into Yale. They videotape it and they're cheering and happy. And I show that to remind students of what psychologists call hedonic adaptation, right? This idea that you get used to stuff. That first moment when you find out to get into Yale is great.

Yale ones are very popular where you click on the link. You're like, oh my God, I got into Yale. They videotape it and they're cheering and happy. And I show that to remind students of what psychologists call hedonic adaptation, right? This idea that you get used to stuff. That first moment when you find out to get into Yale is great.

But after that, you don't feel so good because now you're just onto the next carrot, right? It's the next admission to medical school or law school, or it's the next quarterly report, right? You don't even get the happiness boost from striving for this external reward thing. Because as soon as you get it, now it's on to the next one. And the students really resonate with that.

But after that, you don't feel so good because now you're just onto the next carrot, right? It's the next admission to medical school or law school, or it's the next quarterly report, right? You don't even get the happiness boost from striving for this external reward thing. Because as soon as you get it, now it's on to the next one. And the students really resonate with that.

But after that, you don't feel so good because now you're just onto the next carrot, right? It's the next admission to medical school or law school, or it's the next quarterly report, right? You don't even get the happiness boost from striving for this external reward thing. Because as soon as you get it, now it's on to the next one. And the students really resonate with that.

They're like, yeah, that moment I got into, I was like the happiest moment. But like immediately after that was one of my worst moments where I realized, oh my gosh, all that work, I'm just going to have to put in.

They're like, yeah, that moment I got into, I was like the happiest moment. But like immediately after that was one of my worst moments where I realized, oh my gosh, all that work, I'm just going to have to put in.

They're like, yeah, that moment I got into, I was like the happiest moment. But like immediately after that was one of my worst moments where I realized, oh my gosh, all that work, I'm just going to have to put in.

again and i think this is key right we're pushing for something we're working really hard towards things that that we think matter that we think are gonna make us feel fulfilled but we're actually going after this stuff that's not going to work as well as we expect and we're putting all that time in at the opportunity cost of stuff that we know does matter in your own story i bet you imagine that what put on the wayside was relationships with family probably your health probably your sleep probably active volunteering and just doing big things and good things in the world

again and i think this is key right we're pushing for something we're working really hard towards things that that we think matter that we think are gonna make us feel fulfilled but we're actually going after this stuff that's not going to work as well as we expect and we're putting all that time in at the opportunity cost of stuff that we know does matter in your own story i bet you imagine that what put on the wayside was relationships with family probably your health probably your sleep probably active volunteering and just doing big things and good things in the world