by Marc Schulz

Schulz is the co-author of the study, The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, with Robert Waldinger

Waldinger’s answer comes down to two concrete actions that form the foundation of wellness: engaging in activities we find meaningful and connecting with people we care about and who care about us.

Two social skills that correlate with strong relationships, Waldinger learned, are generosity and radical curiosity, a “real, deep curiosity about what others are experiencing.”

Says Waldinger: “If your child has the resources to be scared about something and do it anyway — and those resources could include parental support, but not parental fixing — then the child gets that satisfaction of having the resources, using the resources, and meeting the challenge.”