The Secret to a Good Life
The Triumphs of Experience: The Men of the Harvard Grant Study
by George E. Vaillant
Psychology
TL;DR
This book spills the tea on how to actually live a good life, based on tracking real people for decades. It's all about investing in your relationships like they're your crypto portfolio, learning to cope with your crap without becoming a total dumpster fire, and finding meaning beyond just scrolling TikTok. Basically, don't be a lone wolf, learn to roll with the punches, and give back to the world instead of just taking selfies.
Action Items
Text three friends you haven't talked to in a bit and ask how they're really doing, not just 'sup'.
Next time something annoys you, try to find one funny or positive thing about it, even if it's tiny and you have to squint to see it.
Offer to help someone with a small task today, no strings attached. Like, actually offer, don't just think about it.
Write down three things you genuinely love about yourself or believe in, without judgment. No, seriously, do it.
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Key Chapter
Chapter - Your Social Circle is Your Life Raft
This chapter really hammers home that your connections with other humans are the ultimate cheat code for happiness. Forget the fancy job or the big house; if your relationships are trash, your life will feel like a broken TikTok filter. It's not about having a million followers, but about deep, genuine bonds that let you be your weird self. Think of your friends and family as your personal emotional support squad. When life throws a curveball, these are the people who catch you, not your bank account. So, stop ghosting your friends and actually invest time in the people who make you feel seen. It's literally the secret sauce to not ending up a bitter old person.
Key Methods and Approaches
Your Human Wi-Fi Signal
(AKA: Warm Relationships & Attachment)
Description:
Don't be a social hermit; connect with people.
Explanation:
Your brain needs human connection like your phone needs Wi-Fi. Without it, you're just a brick. Good relationships are like a strong signal, keeping you charged and happy. Bad ones are like constantly searching for bars in a basement, draining your battery and making you grumpy.
Examples:
Actually calling your mom, not just texting a 'k'.
Having a go-to friend for late-night rants about your ex.
Joining a club, even if it's for D&D nerds, and actually talking to people.
Today's Action:
Text three friends you haven't talked to in a bit and ask how they're really doing, not just 'sup'.
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