Episode #81: How to feel happier and more loved, with Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky
Tue Dec 16 2025
About this episode:
Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is the world’s preeminent expert on happiness. She is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and is the author of The Myths of Happiness and the bestseller The How of Happiness, which have been published in 39 countries. Her next book, co-authored with Harry Reis, is coming out in February and is titled, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most.
Sonja received her degrees from Harvard and Stanford. She has been awarded many grants and honors for her research, which focuses on how and why happiness can shift over time, and how to build lasting happiness via gratitude, kindness, and connection interventions.
Sonja’s work has been written up in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and she has appeared on multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries worldwide.
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Links:
Website
The Happiness Files Newsletter
Elevate Your Happiness Membership
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Books
Happiness and Mindset Quizzes
Google Scholar
02:05 Defining Happiness
03:56 Happiness and Human Flourishing
07:17 The Benefits of Happiness
11:56 Effective Happiness Interventions
13:55 Gratitude Interventions
21:35 Acts of Kindness and Their Impact
23:38 Connection Interventions and Upcoming Book
28:14 Understanding Loneliness and Connection
29:51 Introducing the New Book: How to Feel Loved
33:26 Mindsets for Feeling Loved
39:23 The Role of Negative Emotions
41:20 The Power of Gratitude
45:33 The Secret to Happiness: Deep Conversations
50:11 Holiday Conversations and Final Thoughts
More
About this episode: Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky is the world’s preeminent expert on happiness. She is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside and is the author of The Myths of Happiness and the bestseller The How of Happiness, which have been published in 39 countries. Her next book, co-authored with Harry Reis, is coming out in February and is titled, How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most. Sonja received her degrees from Harvard and Stanford. She has been awarded many grants and honors for her research, which focuses on how and why happiness can shift over time, and how to build lasting happiness via gratitude, kindness, and connection interventions. Sonja’s work has been written up in hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles, and she has appeared on multiple TV shows, radio shows, and feature documentaries worldwide. Learn more and subscribe at flourishfmpodcast.com Follow us: YouTube @flourishfmcast Instagram @flourishfmpodcast LinkedIn @flourishfmpodcast Twitter @flourishfmcast Facebook @flourishfmcast Links: Website The Happiness Files Newsletter Elevate Your Happiness Membership LinkedIn Instagram Twitter Facebook Books Happiness and Mindset Quizzes Google Scholar 02:05 Defining Happiness 03:56 Happiness and Human Flourishing 07:17 The Benefits of Happiness 11:56 Effective Happiness Interventions 13:55 Gratitude Interventions 21:35 Acts of Kindness and Their Impact 23:38 Connection Interventions and Upcoming Book 28:14 Understanding Loneliness and Connection 29:51 Introducing the New Book: How to Feel Loved 33:26 Mindsets for Feeling Loved 39:23 The Role of Negative Emotions 41:20 The Power of Gratitude 45:33 The Secret to Happiness: Deep Conversations 50:11 Holiday Conversations and Final Thoughts