The "Happy Life" Scientist: How To FINALLY Beat Stress, Worry & Uncertainty! Dacher Keltner | E219

TL;DR

Life expectancy is declining, but practicing emotions like awe, compassion, gratitude, and touch can reverse that trend by reducing stress, inflammation, and loneliness. Wealth and power tend to erode these prosocial tendencies, yet simple daily practices (e.g., awe walks, gratitude channels, skin-to-skin contact) reliably boost health and happiness.

Key insights

• Awe reduces activation of the cytokine system (inflammation) and calms stress regions of the brain; two minutes of awe every other day is as good as anything you can do for health.
• Premature babies who receive skin-to-skin contact gain 47% weight gain and survive; touch is as essential as food.
• Wealthier people show less activation of the vagus nerve when witnessing suffering, feel less awe, are more impolite, and are more likely to shoplift and advocate for regressive economic policies.