Dr. Laurie Santos

So, you know, we could think about the chemicals were dealt in a couple of ways. Often we think about it in terms of, you know, our kind of genetic lottery. Right. You know, are you naturally a happy person? Are you naturally a kind of down in the dumps person? And just like circumstances, what we find is that there is a genetic component to happiness.

So, you know, we could think about the chemicals were dealt in a couple of ways. Often we think about it in terms of, you know, our kind of genetic lottery. Right. You know, are you naturally a happy person? Are you naturally a kind of down in the dumps person? And just like circumstances, what we find is that there is a genetic component to happiness.

You know, so there you know, if you're born from a long line of overly optimistic people, you're more likely to be overly optimistic. But the amount of that heritability is tiny. What? You know, it's probably tinier than something like height or weight in the U.S. And especially with like weight, we know that that's something that obviously your environment can shape a lot.

You know, so there you know, if you're born from a long line of overly optimistic people, you're more likely to be overly optimistic. But the amount of that heritability is tiny. What? You know, it's probably tinier than something like height or weight in the U.S. And especially with like weight, we know that that's something that obviously your environment can shape a lot.

You know, so there you know, if you're born from a long line of overly optimistic people, you're more likely to be overly optimistic. But the amount of that heritability is tiny. What? You know, it's probably tinier than something like height or weight in the U.S. And especially with like weight, we know that that's something that obviously your environment can shape a lot.

And so while there is some heritable component to happiness, it's much tinier than we think. And this is really good news, right? You know, it would suck if you're like, hey, you're just born to be happy or born to be not so happy. And that's it.

And so while there is some heritable component to happiness, it's much tinier than we think. And this is really good news, right? You know, it would suck if you're like, hey, you're just born to be happy or born to be not so happy. And that's it.

And so while there is some heritable component to happiness, it's much tinier than we think. And this is really good news, right? You know, it would suck if you're like, hey, you're just born to be happy or born to be not so happy. And that's it.

What the science is really telling us is that there's some heritable component, but there's a lot of action that we can take through our mindsets, through our behaviors to change things around. And that's great because, you know, putting this all together, it means our genetics don't predict our happiness that much and our circumstances don't predict our happiness that much. Like we don't.

What the science is really telling us is that there's some heritable component, but there's a lot of action that we can take through our mindsets, through our behaviors to change things around. And that's great because, you know, putting this all together, it means our genetics don't predict our happiness that much and our circumstances don't predict our happiness that much. Like we don't.

What the science is really telling us is that there's some heritable component, but there's a lot of action that we can take through our mindsets, through our behaviors to change things around. And that's great because, you know, putting this all together, it means our genetics don't predict our happiness that much and our circumstances don't predict our happiness that much. Like we don't.

necessarily get to control whether we're born into complete luxury or born into poverty. We don't necessarily get to control what our genetic heritage is, but we all can completely control our mindsets and our behavior. So it's good news. The bad news is that changing those mindsets and behavior, as you probably guess, takes a lot of work.

necessarily get to control whether we're born into complete luxury or born into poverty. We don't necessarily get to control what our genetic heritage is, but we all can completely control our mindsets and our behavior. So it's good news. The bad news is that changing those mindsets and behavior, as you probably guess, takes a lot of work.

necessarily get to control whether we're born into complete luxury or born into poverty. We don't necessarily get to control what our genetic heritage is, but we all can completely control our mindsets and our behavior. So it's good news. The bad news is that changing those mindsets and behavior, as you probably guess, takes a lot of work.

Yeah, I think I'm glad you brought this up because I think this is really important. You know, so many of the hacks, you know, we are talking about today are ones that really can improve your well-being. But, you know, there's some points when you need a hack and there's some points where you need something that's much deeper.

Yeah, I think I'm glad you brought this up because I think this is really important. You know, so many of the hacks, you know, we are talking about today are ones that really can improve your well-being. But, you know, there's some points when you need a hack and there's some points where you need something that's much deeper.

Yeah, I think I'm glad you brought this up because I think this is really important. You know, so many of the hacks, you know, we are talking about today are ones that really can improve your well-being. But, you know, there's some points when you need a hack and there's some points where you need something that's much deeper.

The analogy like to use is, you know, imagine you go into your doctor and you say, hey, doctor, I have high blood pressure. You know, what should I do? Your doctor might say, hey, you know, get on the treadmill and exercise a little bit more, you know, eat, you know, eat these fruits and vegetables every day or something.

The analogy like to use is, you know, imagine you go into your doctor and you say, hey, doctor, I have high blood pressure. You know, what should I do? Your doctor might say, hey, you know, get on the treadmill and exercise a little bit more, you know, eat, you know, eat these fruits and vegetables every day or something.

The analogy like to use is, you know, imagine you go into your doctor and you say, hey, doctor, I have high blood pressure. You know, what should I do? Your doctor might say, hey, you know, get on the treadmill and exercise a little bit more, you know, eat, you know, eat these fruits and vegetables every day or something.