Laurie Santos teaching a lecture class

It started with a really, really popular class.

When people heard Head of Silliman College and Yale psychology professor Laurie Santos was going to be teaching a new class, they got excited. By the first day of shopping period in spring 2018, over one thousand students had already signed up for the new lecture: Psychology and the Good Life. It became the most popular in Yale’s history. The course was studied, discussed, and even memed. Big names like The New York Times and the Boston Globe got involved, reporting in print and on TV, all investigating the same question: how did a lecture get students so hyped up?

 

The answer was simple. 

We were hyped to be happy.

But what is the good life?

Money?

Power?

Friends?

Family?

Purpose?

Sleep?

Success?

Love?

Meditation?

Health?

Solitude?

Belonging?

Turns out, the building blocks are clear.

Decorative mountain view

So was the opportunity.

Prof. Santos:

Tracy, you’ve been working to promote wellness on campus for a while now.

What do you need to take this excitement about the Good Life and make day-to-day wellness a reality?

 

Tracy George, Yale Well:

We’ve made good progress! People are ready to learn and practice the good life.

Now we need a space.

A hub.

 

Prof. Santos:

I know just the place.

And we’re ready to help.