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>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IF YOU'RE HAPPY AND YOU KNOW IT, THERE'S A WHOLE NEW SCIENTIFIC FIELD THAT WOULD LIKE TO STUDY YOU.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR HAPPINESS AND FOR THE BETTER. YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HAPPINESS.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ACROSS NORTH AMERICA, THERE IS A BOOMING INDUSTRY IN HAPPINESS STUDIES. BOOKS, CLINICS, UNIVERSITY COURSES. YOU MAKE ME VERY HAPPY. SAY NO MORE.

>> Both: [Laughing] >> AND IT'S NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS. BUSINESSES, GOVERNMENTS, ENTIRE COUNTRIES ARE TRYING TO BE HAPPIER. I'M ANN-MARIE MACDONALD. IS OPTIMISM HEREDITARY? CAN IT BE LEARNED? SCIENTISTS SAY YES AND IT WON'T HURT A BIT. ♪ >> Ann- Marie MacDonald: HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO, THOMAS JEFFERSON DECLARED THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS A HUMAN RIGHT. BUT FIRST WE HAVE TO CATCH IT AND RECOGNIZE IT WHEN WE DO.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BECAUSE THE EMOTION WE CALL HAPPINESS, THAT QUIET SWIRL OF CONTENTMENT OR PLEASURE, REMAINS FOR MANY JUST OUT OF REACH BUT TAKE HEART BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS LIKE A MANUFACTURED THING LIKE A WHAT, YOU CAN LEARN TO UNDERSTAND THE HOW AND THAT INSIGHT MAY LIGHT UP YOUR LIFE. ♪ >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WE USED TO THROW GUILT AROUND LIKE A YO-YO BLAMING PARENTS FOR OUR UNHAPPINESS BUT THE ONUS HAS SHIFTED TODAY COMING DOWN SQUARELY ON OUR OWN SHOULDERS. DO IT YOURSELF MANUALS ABOUND. IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, NEARLY TWO NEW BOOKS A WEEK HAVE EMERGED TELLING US HOW TO HELP OURSELVES TO HAPPINESS. TIM E MAGAZINE DEVOTED 40 PAGES TO THE SUBJECT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ON GOOGLE, THE WORD "HAPPY" BRINGS UP OVER A BILLION RESULTS. FAR MORE THAN THE WORD RICH HAS TO OFFER.

>> CATCH THE WAVE!

>> HAPPINESS GURUS CLUTTER OUR SCREENS.

>> THIS IS REALLY ABOUT HOW TO BE HAPPY.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND RECENTLY, A NEW SOCIAL SCIENCE HAS BEEN SPREADING AIMING TO PIN DOWN THIS MERCURIAL EMOTION. IT'S CALLED POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY.

>> JOE, TELL ME SOME MORE ABOUT THAT, COULD YOU PLEASE?

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: TRADITIONALLY, MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TREATED PATIENTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC OR PSYCHOLOGICAL DISORDERS.

>> WELL, HAVE YOU HAD THAT SAME FEELING RECENTLY?

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BUT TODAY, RELATIVELY HAPPY PEOPLE WITHOUT MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE THE FOCUS OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS INTENT ON MAKING THEM EVEN HAPPIER.

>> Senia Maymin: POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IS LOOKING AT WHAT'S RIGHT WITH THE WORLD.

>> Senia Maymin: PEOPLE HAVE STUDIED DEPRESSION, SCHIZOPHRENIA BUT IN THIS CASE, IF YOU WERE FOR EXAMPLE AN ARCHITECT AND YOU WANTED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A REALLY STRONG BRIDGE, WOULD YOU GO OUT AND STUDY ALL THE BRIDGES THAT HAVE FALLEN AND COLLAPSED OR WOULD YOU GO OUT AND STUDY THE BRIDGES THAT ARE STURDY AND STILL STANDING?

>> Senia Maymin: AND THAT'S WHAT POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY IS ABOUT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND THESE PSYCHOLOGISTS AREN'T JUST CLOWNING AROUND. THEY CLAIM TO HAVE HAPPINESS WELL IN HAND AND THAT WHAT IT ISN'T MAY BE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT IT IS.

>> Dr. Ed. Diener: I THINK PEOPLE THINK THAT HAPPINESS IS SIMPLY ACTING LIKE A CLOWN, BEING GIGGLY, BEING AT DISNEY LAND, HAVING A GOOD TIME AND IT WOULD INCLUDE THAT BUT IT INCLUDES SO MUCH MORE, RIGHT?

>> Dr. Ed. Diener: YOU CAN BE SERIOUSLY HAPPY, YOU CAN BE SERIOUS AND SATISFIED WITH YOUR LIFE, HAVE MEANING AND PURPOSE. YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE EUPHORIC ALL THE TIME AND SO WE HAVE TO DISABUSE PEOPLE OF THAT IDEA THAT SOMEHOW THEY OUGHTA ALWAYS BE JUST ON A HIGH. SO, WE REALLY WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A REALISTIC IDEA OF WHAT IS HAPPINESS, BENEFICIAL HAPPINESS AND THAT IS I FEEL POSITIVE MOST OF THE TIME. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: HOW DO WE KNOW WE'RE HAPPY? Dr. DIENER'S COME UP WITH FIVE SIMPLE QUESTIONS TO HELP US FIND OUT.

>> Dr. Ed. Diener: AM I SATISFIED WITH MY LIFE? MY LIFE'S CLOSE TO MY IDEAL. IF I LIVE MY LIFE OVER, I WOULDN'T CHANGE ANYTHING. SO, FIVE ITEMS LIKE THAT AND YOU ANSWER THEM ONE TO SEVEN AND YOU COME UP WITH A SCORE. CAN PEOPLE LIE ON THAT SCALE, SURE. CAN PEOPLE FOOL THEMSELVES, SURE, BUT IT DOES PRETTY WELL. IT'S NOT A BAD MEASURE. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IN OUR HUNT FOR HAPPINESS, FOR SOMETHING TO PUT A SPRING IN OUR STEP, WE MAY NEED TO LOOK INWARD BEFORE WE LOOK OUT AND SOME MAY NEED A GUIDE TO HELP THEM ON THEIR WAY. [Music playing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: MANY PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN CAN I BE TRAINED TO BE HAPPY?

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: ARE THERE STRATEGIES I CAN FOLLOW AND I THINK THE GOOD NEWS IS YES, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR HAPPINESS AND FOR THE BETTER.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HAPPINESS. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ROBERT BISWAS-DIENER HAS STUDIED HAPPINESS AROUND THE WORLD. WE'VE INVITED HIM TO CONDUCT A WORKSHOP WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE ALL FAIRLY CONTENT. THROUGH TESTS AND ASSIGNING EXERCISES CALLED INTERVENTIONS, HE HOPES TO RAISE THEIR HAPPINESS TO A HIGHER LEVEL.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: WHEN YOU WORK WITH SOMEONE IN A HAPPINESS INTERVENTION, WHAT HAPPENS IS YOU, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, WAKE THEM UP. YOU BREAK THEM OUT OF THAT ADAPTED STATE. THEN SUDDENLY, YOU BREATHE NEW FRESHNESS INTO THEIR LIFE.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: OUR FOUR PARTICIPANTS ARE... ANN BRAYDEN, CIVIL SERVANT. DAVE GERILAMI, ARTS ORGANIZER. JENNIFER FORD, EVENTS COORDINATOR AND JAMES BYERS, BUS DRIVER. THEY'RE ALL HERE TO LEARN HAPPINESS SKILLS. [Music playing] >> Robert Biswas- Diener: I WANT TO REQUEST THAT YOU ALL FILL OUT A QUESTIONNAIRE. IT WILL JUST GIVE US A BASELINE OF HOW HAPPY YOU ARE, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH YOUR LIFE. LET ME JUST HAND THESE OUT TO YOU THEN. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: OUR PARTICIPANTS RESPOND TO A VARIETY OF QUESTIONS ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM FAMILY LIFE TO INCOME SATISFACTION. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AT THE END OF THE

WORKSHOP, THEY'LL BE ASKED THE SAME QUESTIONS AGAIN. IT'S ONE WAY OF MAPPING CHANGES IN OVERALL HAPPINESS AFTER THEY'VE ADVANCED THROUGH THE PROCESS WHICH LASTS THREE WEEKS. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE FIRST TEST SEEMS DESIGNED TO CAST A CHILL ON THE PROCEEDINGS. IT'S CALLED THE COLD PRESSER TEST.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: IF YOU COULD JUST MOVE THESE OFF TO THE SIDE.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND RISKS DAMPENING ANY ENTHUSIASM FOR HAPPINESS.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: TAKE YOUR NON-DOMINANT HAND AND I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO DIP IT INTO THIS FREEZING COLD ICE WATER.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IN THEORY, THE MORE OPTIMISTIC YOU ARE, THE HIGHER YOUR THRESHOLD OF PAIN.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: EVERYONE READY?

>> MHMM.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: TWO, ONE AND GO.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: ALL THE WAY IN NOW, DON'T BE SHY OF IT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THIS TEST WILL ALSO BE REPEATED AT THE END OF THE WORKSHOP. [Music playing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: IT'S SURPRISING WITH ALL THIS -- >> Ann Brayden: YEAH.

>> James Byers: I'M FROM NORTHERN ONTARIO THOUGH. WE SWIM IN WATER LIKE THIS.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: OKAY.

>> Jennifer Ford: AH!

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: ALRIGHT. THERE MAY BE A GEOGRAPHIC ADVANTAGE.

>> James Byers: THERE MAY BE A GEOGRAPHIC, YEAH.

>> Ann Brayden: I FEEL LIKE IT'S JUST GONNA BECOME A COMPETITION.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann Brayden: COME ON, BOYS.

>> James Byers: OH, COME ON.

>> Ann Brayden: OH , COME ON.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Dave Gerilami: IT'S COLD. IT'S STARTING TO BECOME PAINFUL.

>> Ann Brayden: OH.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS. I'M IMPRESSED THAT YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN TO BEGIN WITH.

>> All: [Laughing] >> James Byers: THAT WAS A TRICK QUESTION.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WITH THIS COOL BASELINE OF OPTIMISM ESTABLISHED, THE PARTICIPANTS ARE READY TO TEST THE WATERS OF HAPPINESS ON THEIR FIRST ASSIGNMENT.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: I WANT YOU TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING HEDONISTIC. DO SOMETHING FEEL GOOD, PLEASURABLE, ENJOYABLE, LEGAL.

>> All: [Laughing] [Music playing]

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: TODAY, THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS SEEMS SIGN POSTED WITH IMAGES URGING US TO CONSUME, INDULGE. EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: COULD HAPPINESS LIE IN THE PLUNGE INTO HEDONISM? ♪ >> Ann- Marie MacDonald: OUR PARTICIPANTS, HAVING SCALED SOME OF HEDONISMS HEIGHTS, NOW RETURN WITH TALES OF THEIR ADVENTURES. [Whirling] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: DAVE?

>> Dave Gerilami: MY HEDONISTIC WAS, UM, TEST DRIVING A HIGH END MOTORCYCLE.

>> Dave Gerilami: I WAS VERY EXCITED AND I WAS READY TO TAKE IT ON. I WAS LIKE A LITTLE KID ON CHRISTMAS. ALRIGHT, LET'S GO.

>> Dave Gerilami: RIDING THIS FROM A PHYSICAL PERSPECTIVE, IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BUCKING BRONCO. IT'S LIKE, SO POWERFUL AND I WAS LIKE, WOW, IF I CAN DO THIS FOR THE NEXT FIVE HOURS, THAT WOULD BE REALLY COOL.

>> Dave Gerilami: IT'S LIKE TICKING OFF ONE OF THOSE 100 THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO DO BEFORE YOU PASS ON KIND OF THING. IT WAS FUN. ABSOLUTELY.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: HOW FAST DID YOU DRIVE IT?

>> Dave Gerilami: AS FAST AS I COULD GET AWAY WITH.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: JENNIFER?

>> Jennifer Ford: THE HEDONISTIC WAS AN AFTERNOON AT THE SPA.

>> Jennifer Ford: FEELS AMAZING.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: JAMES.

>> James Byers: YES. MY HEDONISTIC ACTIVITY WAS LIKE LIKE JENNIFER'S, I HAD A MASSAGE.

>> Jennifer Ford: I FELT QUITE DECADENT. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO PLAY THE ROLE SO I JUST SAT DOWN AND TOOK IT ALL IN.

>> James Byers: I COULD JUST FEEL MYSELF ALMOST DRIFTING OFF TO SLEEP. MY GOODNESS. THAT'S LIKE A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN.

>> Jennifer Ford: THIS IS NOT ME.

>> Jennifer Ford: AND WHEN I LEFT THERE, I DEFINITELY FELT BETTER AND I WAS HAPPIER ON THE WEEKEND, YOU KNOW. I'M FEELING BETTER AT WORK.

>> James Byers: YES, I KIND OF FLOATED HOME AND THEN FLOATED UP TO BED.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: ANN.

>> Ann Brayden: I WENT OUT DANCING. WOO! ♪ >> Ann Brayden: WHEN YOU GET A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN THE SAME ROOM FEELING THE MUSIC THAT YOU FEEL, IT'S COMMUNITY, IT'S SOLIDARITY.

>> Ann Brayden: IF I DON'T LET GO, I'M GRUMPY WITH MY CO-WORKERS, I'M GRUMPY WITH MY FRIENDS. SO, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH I HAVE TO COME OUT AND FEEL THAT CRAZY ENERGY. I HOPE YOU GUYS STOP INTERVIEWING ME SOON SO I CAN GO BACK IN AND DANCE. [Laughing] DO YOU MIND? I JUST THINK THAT IT SO CAPTURES THE BEAUTY OF JUST INDULGING IN THE PLEASURE PRINCIPLE BECAUSE TO ME, THERE IS NO OTHER OTHER THAN MUSIC AND DANCING. YUP.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WILL HEDONISM BECOME SOMETHING MORE THAN A WAY STATION ON THEIR JOURNEY TO JOY OR WILL HELPING OTHERS TURN OUT TO BE MORE SATISFYING?

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND IS HAPPINESS MERELY AN ENTICING, INTANGIBLE DREAM OR CAN WE CAPTURE AND QUANTIFY IT INSIDE THE BRAIN?

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: FOR OVER A CENTURY, SCIENTISTS HAVE PROBED FOR PATHWAYS IN THE BRAIN LEADING TO THE EMOTIONS.

>> THESE TWO MEN ARE CRYING.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: EMPLOYING ALL KINDS OF CONTRAPTIONS, GADGETRY AND STRANGE EXPERIMENTS IN THEIR HUNT. [Beeping] [Music playing]

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: RECENTLY AT OTTAWA'S CARLETON UNIVERSITY, POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGISTS HAVE BEGUN A SERIES OF TESTS FOCUSING ON THE BODY'S RESPONSE TO EMOTIONAL STIMULI. TODAY, THEY'RE MEASURING FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

>> Dr. John Zelenski: CAN YOU GIVE ME A BIG SMILE? OKAY AND THEN A BIG FROWN. EXCELLENT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IT'S PART OF AN ATTEMPT TO UNDERSTAND HOW EMOTIONS INFLUENCE THE PROCESSING OF INFORMATION PARTICULARLY WHERE HAPPY PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED.

>> Dr. John Zelenski: I'M VERY INTERESTED IN UNDERSTANDING HOW HAPPY PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT FROM LESS HAPPY PEOPLE, HOW EMOTIONS AND COGNITIONS ALL GO TOGETHER. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IMAGES AND WORDS FLASH ON A SCREEN IN FRONT OF TEST SUBJECTS. THE WORDS DISAPPEARING SO QUICKLY AS TO BE SUBLIMINAL. WOULD YOU HAVE RECOGNIZED THE WORD "RELAXED?" THE ELECTRODES RECORD FACIAL EXPRESSIONS THE SUBJECTS MAY BE UNAWARE OF. THESE ARE CO- RELATED WITH A SUBJECT'S CONSCIOUS RESPONSES AS THEY PUSH BUTTONS INDICATING EITHER A POSITIVE OR A NEGATIVE REACTION. BEHIND A SCREEN, Dr. ZELENSKI WATCHES WITH A COLLEAGUE. WHAT WORDS IS SHE VIEWING ON THE SCREEN?

>> Dr. John Zelenski: THERE'S A SERIES OF WORDS, SOME OF THEM ARE PRETTY NEGATIVE, NEGATIVE EMOTION ROOTS LIKE SADNESS AND GUILT AND ANGER. OTHERS ARE MORE POSITIVE LIKE PRIDE OR JOY. IF YOU'RE AN EXPERT IN POSITIVE THINGS, IF YOU'RE A HAPPY PERSON, IT MAY BE THAT YOU HAVE SOME, YOU KNOW, GREATER FACILITY WITH POSITIVE INFORMATION. IF WE KNOW WHAT GOES ON IN HAPPY PEOPLE, HOW THEY'RE DIFFERENT FROM LESS HAPPY PEOPLE, IT GIVES US A SENSE OF WHAT WE MIGHT WANT TO TRY TO CHANGE TO TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE HAPPIER.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ALTHOUGH STILL IN ITS INFANCY, ZELENSKI'S RESEARCH MAY HELP SHED MORE LIGHT ON THE NATURE OF HAPPINESS AND SO HELP EXPAND THIS BRANCH OF SOCIAL SCIENCE BEGUN BY SOMEONE WHO'S NAME ACTUALLY MEANS "HAPPY MAN," Dr. SELIGMAN.

>> Dr. Martin Seligman: SCIENCE CONFIRMS SOME OF THE THINGS WE KNOW, DISCONFIRMS OTHERS AND TELLS US, TELLS ME STUFF I DIDN'T KNOW AND JUST FOR EXAMPLE, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT OPTIMISTIC PEOPLE LIVED EIGHT TO NINE YEARS LONGER THAN PESSIMISTIC PEOPLE.

>> Dr. Martin Seligman: I DIDN'T KNOW THAT OPTIMISTIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES IN THE UNITED STATES TEND TO WIN ELECTIONS OVER PESSIMISTIC CANDIDATES. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT YOU GAVE PEOPLE NASAL VIRUSES THAT WILL PRODUCE COLDS IN 50% OF THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT OF POSITIVE EMOTION DON'T GET THE COLDS. THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE POSITIVE EMOTION DO GET THE COLDS. SO, THERE'S A LIST OF 10 OF THOSE THAT THE SCIENCE TOLD ME ABOUT THAT MY GRANDMOTHER DIDN'T KNOW, MY SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER DIDN'T KNOW AND THAT'S WHAT SCIENCE IS ALL ABOUT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OR FMRI STUDIES ALLOW SCIENTISTS TO SEE INSIDE THE BRAIN AND COME TO GRIPS WITH HOW EMOTIONS AFFECT IT. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WHEN WE FEEL JOY, A BURST OF ELECTRICAL ENERGY CAN BE MEASURED ON THE LEFT PREFRONTAL CORTEX.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: FMRI STUDIES WERE AT THE HEART OF A GROUNDBREAKING STUDY OF THE AFFECT OF DEEP MEDITATION ON THE BRAIN HELPED BY THE PARTICIPATION OF A TIBETAN MONK LED BY RICHARD DAVIDSON AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE ABILITY OF BUDDHIST MONKS TO USE MEDITATION TO ATTAIN NIRVANA, A TRANSCENDENT STATE, INSPIRED DAVIDSON TO USE FMRI TO GAUGE THE PHYSICAL AFFECTS OF CALMNESS ON THE MIND. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: HE WAS ASTOUNDED TO SEE A HUGE SURGE OF ACTIVITY IN THE BRAIN AREA REGULATING HAPPINESS. IT WAS THE FIRST SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT WE CAN, WITH EFFORT AND TIME, CONTROL OUR STATE OF INNER PEACE. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IF INNER PEACE IS INDEED A MAJOR ROUTE TO HAPPINESS, WILL SELFLESS ACTS OF COMPASSION OR GENEROSITY HELP US FIND OUR WAY? [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ON THEIR JOURNEY ON THE ROAD TO JOY, OUR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PERFORM AN ACT OF ALTRUISM. [Music playing] >> Robert Biswas-Diener: JENNIFER, WHAT WAS THE MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY YOU CHOSE?

>> Jennifer Ford: DOING SOME VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE DAILY BREAD FOOD BANK. I'VE NEVER VISITED A FOOD BANK. COOKIES. THE REASON I CAME HERE WAS BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONLY AN EMOTIONAL OR SPIRITUAL ACT, IT'S A PHYSICAL ACT AND, I DON'T KNOW, IT AFFECTS YOU MORE WHEN YOU HAVE TO PUT SWEAT INTO YOUR EFFORTS. THERE'S THINGS THAT WE JUST TAKE FOR GRANTED, YOU KNOW, I CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHAT I'M GOING TO HAVE FOR DINNER TONIGHT, FOR LUNCH, FOR BREAKFAST AND, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD FEEL OPENING MY CUPBOARD AND SEEING LIKE, ONE OR TWO THINGS AND KNOWING THERE'S NO MORE. [Music playing] >> Jennifer Ford: I DON'T THINK I'VE HAD THE [Indistinct] TO COME AND DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT I DEFINITELY WILL BECAUSE I THINK IT HELPS BUILD A BETTER PERSON, A BETTER SPIRIT AND THUS A BETTER COMMUNITY. ♪ >> Robert Biswas-Diener: DAVE.

>> Dave Gerilami: MY ALTRUISTIC WAS PICKING UP LITTER IN A LOCAL PARK. [Music playing] >> Dave Gerilami: I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO TO FOCUS IN ON MAYBE SOME OF THE SMALLER THINGS THAT HELP OUT SOCIETY THAT MAYBE GET OVERLOOKED? I FELT CONNECTED, I FELT PURPOSEFUL AND I FELT A LITTLE BIT HUMBLED.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: JAMES.

>> James Byers: MY ALTRUISTIC ACTIVITY WAS TO BRING A DONATION TO A CHARITY THAT MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH. HI, JOY. WE'RE ALL PART OF THE SAME WORLD

AND TO BE CONNECTED, TO STAY CONNECTED, WE SHOULD HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

>> Joy: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE DELIGHTED -- >> James Byers: GIVING SOMETHING FOR THE SAKE OF IT, KNOWING THAT IT'LL DO SOME GOOD. I THINK IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.

>> Joy: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> James Byers: THANK YOU.

>> Joy: THIS IS WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: ANN.

>> Ann Brayden: I MADE A CARE PACKAGE DONATION TO A SHELTER IN TORONTO. OKAY, I DON'T THINK I NEED ANY OF THIS STUFF. I DON'T WANT TO OVERSTATE THIS ACT BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO GIVE AWAY CLOTHES. ALL RIGHT! NOW I CAN START IRONING. I DO FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT PRESENT THEM WITH MY OLD CLOTHES UNLESS THEY'RE RESPECTFULLY, WELL, IRONED ACTUALLY AND I'M HOPING THAT THESE WOMEN WILL BE ABLE TO BECOME INDEPENDENT AND TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN. HOPEFULLY I CAN MAKE THEM JUST A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE. [Music playing] >> Ann Brayden: I FEEL LIKE I SHOULD BE DOING THIS MORE OFTEN. SOMEHOW, I FEEL LIKE... IT'S SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, CONDESCENDING TO SAY OH, CAN I, YOU KNOW, CAN I GIVE YOU SOME STUFF? I DON'T KNOW WHY I THINK THAT. JUST FEELS LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'M SAYING I DON'T WANT IT ANYMORE BUT YOU WOULD WANT IT BUT... I THINK I NEED TO GET OVER THAT. [Music playing] >> Ann Brayden: I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THERE ARE SHELTERS AND I, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT EVERYBODY'S OKAY, YOU KNOW, AND NOT SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY OKAY AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE REALLY NOT OKAY. MY HAPPINESS IS REALLY CONTINGENT UPON THE HAPPINESS OF OTHERS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: I ASSIGNED YOU A HEDONISTIC ACTIVITY WHERE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING FUN AND ALSO A MEANINGFUL ACTIVITY. HOW DO YOU CONTRAST THE TWO ACTIVITIES?

>> Ann Brayden: THE ALTRUISTIC DONATION AS IT WERE MADE ME FEEL LIKE I WAS WANTING FOR A MORE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION SO IT JUST SCRATCHED THE SURFACE AND I ALWAYS FEEL GOOD WHEN I'M, YOU KNOW, MUSIC IS A REALLY POWERFUL DRUG SO...

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: DAVE?

>> Dave Gerilami: THE MOTORCYCLE RIDE WAS, UH, A VERY QUICK EXPERIENCE AND THEN AFTERWARDS, WHILE EXHILARATING IN THE MOMENT, IT DIDN'T REALLY RESONATE WITH ME ALL DAY THE NEXT DAY OR MAKE ME CONTEMPLATE THINGS WHEREAS PICKING UP GARBAGE IN THE PARK MADE ME THINK ABOUT IT THE NEXT DAY. TALK TO FRIENDS ABOUT IT BECAUSE I REALLY UNDERSTOOD EVEN THE NEXT DAY THE VALUE OF THAT.

>> Jennifer Ford: YOU SHOULD DO BOTH. I THINK IT MAKES FOR A NICE ROUNDED, UM, MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AND SOUL.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THEIR NEXT ASSIGNMENT WILL BE A RISKIER ONE REQUIRING AN INNER JOURNEY AND THE COURAGE TO COMMUNICATE IMPORTANT FEELINGS. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BUT FIRST, DOES MONEY BRING YOU JOY? HOW ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN? YOU MAY NOT BE HAPPY WITH THE ANSWER. ♪ >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: LET'S

FACE IT. SOMETIMES HAPPINESS REALLY IS A NO LAUGHING MATTER. NOT WHEN WHAT WE BELIEVE WILL BRING US JOY TURNS OUT TO BE AN ILLUSION. TAKE MONEY. LOTS OF IT. IT DRIVES OUR DREAMS, OUR URGE TO GAMBLE, OUR OBSESSION WITH GAME SHOWS AND MILLION DOLLAR PRIZES.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WE SEEM CONVINCED MONEY WILL PROPEL US FORWARD ON THAT HAPPINESS HIGHWAY BUT NOT SO FAST.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: CONSIDER THE FACT THAT IN THE LAST 50 YEARS, MATERIAL WEALTH HAS SKYROCKETED WHILE HAPPINESS LEVELS HAVE STAYED GROUNDED.

>> Dr. Ilona Boniwell: YOU GET USED TO THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU HAVE AND YOU ARE GOING TO BE STRIVING FOR THE NEXT AMOUNT OF MONEY INCREASE IN YOUR LIFE. [Buzzing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: SO, IF MONEY WON'T MAKE YOU HAPPY, COULD FRIENDSHIP DO THE TRICK?

>> Dr. Ed. Diener: WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO ULTIMATELY IS, WE AS A SPECIES, ARE ATTACHED TO OTHER PEOPLE, NEED TO BE WITH OTHER PEOPLE AND WE'RE A SOCIAL ANIMAL. [Chiming] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: OR COULD IT ALL LIE IN YOUR GENES? IF YOUR PARENTS WERE HAPPY, CHANCES ARE YOU WILL BE TOO. SURELY CHILDREN MAKE US HAPPY, DON'T THEY?

>> Dr. Ilona Boniwell: CHILDREN MAKE ZERO CONTRIBUTION TO HAPPINESS AND IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS WHEN THEY'RE UNDER FIVE AND TEENAGERS, THEY MAKE YOU LESS HAPPY. HOWEVER, THIS IS IF YOU GO WITH A NARROW DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS BECAUSE CHILDREN DO MAKE YOUR LIFE MUCH MORE MEANINGFUL. [Chiming and buzzing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BUT AT LEAST WE WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT OUR KIDS LEAVING THE NEST.

>> Dr. Ed. Diener: I THINK THAT THE EMPTY NEST SYNDROME WHICH IS YOUR KIDS LEAVE HOME AND THEN YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET DEPRESSED IS IN FACT THE EMPTY HAPPINESS BECAUSE NOW YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME WITH YOUR WIFE, PEOPLE START HAVING MORE FREEDOM WHEN THEY RETIRE TO TRAVEL, TO DO SOME OF THE THINGS THEY WANT AND SO FORTH. [Chiming] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: RELIGION? [Chiming] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: FOR MANY PEOPLE, FAITH DOES SEEM TO BRING HAPPINESS.

>> Dr. Martin Seligman: WE DID A STUDY OF 11 MAJOR RELIGIONS AND WE FOUND THAT THE ONES THAT HAD MORE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE WERE THE ONES THAT GAVE YOU MORE OPTIMISM AND MORE LIFE SATISFACTION.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: HIGHER EDUCATION WON'T RAISE YOUR HAPPINESS LEVEL NOR WILL MOVING TO A SUNNIER CLIMATE AND WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JOB SATISFACTION?

>> YOURS MOST RESPECTFULLY. DEAR SIR... [Chattering] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ALAS, STUDIES SHOW THE WORKPLACE TO BE ONE OF THE WORST SOURCES OF MISERY. BUT SOME COMPANIES ARE TAKING A WHACK AT DISMANTLING THE DARKER ASPECTS OF OUR DAILY GRIND. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: TUCKED INTO THE VERMONT COUNTRYSIDE, A SMALL FIRM IN WATERBURY IS BRIGHTENING ITS WORKER'S LIVES.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE ROASTERS HAS BEEN VOTED ONE OF FORTUNE MAGAZINES TOP 500 SMALL AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND IT'S STOCKS RISEN BY 600% IN THREE YEARS. THE COMPANY ATTRIBUTES ITS SUCCESS TO ITS MANAGEMENT STYLE BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AND CLAIMS TO BE COMMITTED TO CREATING HAPPY WORKERS.

>> Bob Stiller: IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYEES, I FEEL WHY SHOULD THEY CARE ABOUT YOU? YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE NOT GONNA GO OUT AND SUPPORT THEM, WHY SHOULD THEY SUPPORT YOU AND I THINK THERE IS AN APPRECIATION THAT GOES BACK AND FORTH AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE A LOT MORE WILLING TO COME FORWARD AND MAKE THE ORGANIZATION SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU CARE ABOUT THEM.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BOB STILLER VISITS THE ASSEMBLY LINE QUITE A BIT, CHATTING WITH THE WORKERS AND OFTEN INVITING THEM UP TO THE BOARD ROOM TO HELP PLAN THE COMPANY'S FUTURE.

>> Roger Garufi: I FELT VERY WELCOME, VERY PART OF THE CULTURE. I HAD NEVER WORKED ANYWHERE WHERE MY OPINION WAS EVER SOLICITED OR ACCOUNTED FOR ANYTHING SO TO ME, IT WAS JUST A REAL FEELING OF EMPOWERMENT TO BE ABLE TO HELP DESIGN OUR OWN COLLECTIVE FUTURE.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE COMPANY CONSTANTLY ASKS ITS WORKERS WHAT THEY'D BE HAPPIEST DOING. IF YOUR DREAM FOR EXAMPLE IS TO BE A COFFEE TASTER, THEY'LL TRY TO MAKE IT COME TRUE. THIS APPROACH IS CALLED APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY, ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY AT WORK.

>> Bob Stiller: WE DO ASK WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN HAPPIEST, WHAT WAS IT, WHAT WERE YOU DOING OR IF YOU REALLY REFLECT BACK OVER YOUR CAREER WORKING, WHAT TYPE OF THING HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THAT MADE YOU HAPPY AND WHY DID IT MAKE YOU HAPPY?

>> FEEL YOUR ROOTS DOWN DEEP IN THE EARTH AND YOUR BRANCHES AND LEAVES ABSORBING THE SUN'S ENERGY.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ALL EMPLOYEES ARE OFFERED MEDITATION AND YOGA INSTRUCTION.

>> ONLY DO THIS IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE. IF IT HURTS, DON'T DO IT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND SPECIAL STRETCHING EXERCISES FOR THOSE ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE.

>> PUT YOUR ARMS UP OVER YOUR HEAD.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: A 24- HOUR COUNSELLING SERVICE IS ALSO AVAILABLE AND THEY'LL PAY FOR ANY EMPLOYEE WISHING TO JOIN A WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM OR STOP SMOKING. WHY?

>> Betsy Stanford: IF EMPLOYEES ARE SETTLED IN HOW THEY'RE FEELING, THEN THEY'RE GONNA BE MORE PRODUCTIVE.

>> Betsy Stanford: IF THEY HAVE BOTHERSOME THINGS GOING ON, THEN THEY'RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT THEY'RE DOING AT WORK. THEY'RE BUSY PAYING ATTENTION TO WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S THE BOTHERSOME FEELING.

>> Betsy Stanford: WHETHER IT'S A PHYSICAL AILMENT OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR MIND OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING ON AT HOME IN THEIR FAMILY. SO, THE PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE ADDRESS ALL THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS. IF THEY'RE HAPPY, THEN THEY'RE GONNA HAVE A GOOD ATTITUDE AND THEY'RE GONNA WORK HARD AND THE COMPANY'S GONNA GROW.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: BUT HOW HAPPY ARE OUR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS GROWING AS THEY APPROACH THEIR FINAL ASSIGNMENT?

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO IS IDENTIFY SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN INSTRUMENTAL TO YOUR GROWTH.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: SOMEONE WHO LOBBIED FOR YOU ONE TIME, CHAMPIONED YOU AND I WANT YOU TO TELL THEM FACE TO FACE HOW MUCH THEY'VE MEANT TO YOU AND HOW MUCH YOU APPRECIATE IT. IT'S CALLED THE GRATITUDE VISIT.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE GRATITUDE VISIT WILL BE THE BIGGEST BARRIER ON THE ROAD TO HAPPINESS. IT REQUIRES SELF-KNOWLEDGE AND HONESTY AND COULD MEAN EXPOSING THEIR VULNERABLE SIDE TO OTHERS. ♪ ♪

>> Maria: HI, SUVASH!

>> Suvash: HOW ARE YOU DOING?

>> Maria: I'M FINE, HOW ARE YOU?

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF EMBRACING ALL KINDS OF OPTIONS AS YOU PURSUE HAPPINESS. LAUGHTER YOGA COULD BE ONE OF THEM.

>> All: HA HA HA HO HO HA HA HA! HO HO HA HA HA!

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: THE IDEA BEING THAT LAUGHTER...

>> Maria: AND LAUGH.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: EVEN PRETEND LAUGHTER. MY NAME IS MARIA.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: CAN STIMULATE THE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF JOY.

>> Maria: WHICH RHYMES WITH HOW ARE YA.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Maria: THAT'S WHAT LAUGHTER YOGA IS ABOUT. IT'S SIMPLY ABOUT LAUGHING FOR NO REASON. THAT THE BODY DOESN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENT BETWEEN PRETEND LAUGHTER AND REAL LAUGHTER.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: EVEN THOSE WHO SEEM TO HAVE IT ALL SOMETIMES NEED A GENTLE PUSH TO FIND MORE MEANING IN LIFE. [Telephone ringing] >> Carol Kauffman: HELLO THERE. IS THIS JORDAN?

>> Jordan Silberman: IT IS. HI CAROL, HOW ARE YOU?

>> Carol Kauffman: I AM FINE.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: MED STUDENT JORDAN SILBERMAN'S USUALLY PRETTY HAPPY BUT HE'S WORRIED ABOUT HIS STUDIES. POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY MAY HELP HIM ADJUST HIS VIEW OF THINGS.

>> Carol Kauffman: TELL ME ABOUT YOUR STUDYING CHALLENGE THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE FACING RIGHT NOW?

>> Jordan Silberman: I MEAN, IT'S JUST AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION AND I MEAN, THERE'S REALLY NOT AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF REASONING OR THOUGHT INVOLVED. IT'S JUST SOME STUDENTS DESCRIBED AS DRINKING FROM THE FIRE HOSE, IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, MEMORIZING ENORMOUS AMOUNTS OF INFORMATION.

>> Carol Kauffman: MHMM. JORDAN, YOU FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THE WORK. I DON'T HEAR YOU ASKING FOR "OH GOSH, I'M AFRAID I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO DO IT." WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL BE?

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WORKING AS A HAPPINESS COACH ALLOWS PSYCHOLOGIST CAROL KAUFFMAN THE PRIVILEGE OF HELPING NORMALLY CONTENTED PEOPLE SHARPEN THEIR INSIGHT INTO THEMSELVES. [Music playing] >> Carol Kauffman: IN MY COACHING PRACTICE, THE MAIN WORK IS FOLLOWING THE TRAIL OF DREAMS, HELPING PEOPLE IDENTIFY WHAT THEY WANT AND TO HELP THEMSELVES GET THERE.

>> Carol Kauffman: SOMETIMES YOU COULD BE SO SUCCESSFUL THAT YOU VEER OFF TRACK AND WE LOOK AT ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT CAN COME THEIR WAY AND SEE WHICH ONES REALLY LINE UP WITH THEIR VISION OF WHAT THEY WANT. WHEN YOU ARE WORKING WITH YOUR STRENGTHS, YOU HAVE A LOT OF ENERGY AND WHEN YOU ARE HAVING TO DO WROTE THINKING, YOUR ENERGY GOES DOWN. I'M WONDERING IF TRACKING YOUR ENERGY LEVEL MIGHT HELP YOU KNOW WHEN YOU NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> Jordan Silberman: SO, YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF I START TO FEEL LIKE START FALLING ASLEEP AFTER I'VE BEEN WROTE MEMORIZING FOR FIVE MINUTES, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT THE INFORMATION IN A DEEPER WAY. IS THAT SORT OF WHAT YOU'RE GETTING AT?

>> Carol Kauffman: YEAH, EXACTLY. LIKE, TRYING TO CREATE KIND OF WAVES OF INTEREST FOR YOURSELF THAT YOU CAN THEN KIND OF RIDE UNTIL THE NEXT TROUGH.

>> Jordan Silberman: UH HUH, YEAH, THAT'S A REALLY INTERESTING IDEA. SO, UM -- >> Carol Kauffman: ULTIMATELY, THE IDEA IS TO HAVE A LIFE WORTH LIVING. LIKE THE FORTUNE COOKIE SAYS, "SUCCESS IS GETTING WHAT YOU WANT, HAPPINESS IS WANTING WHAT YOU GET."

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: AND THE WISDOM TO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU HAVE. OUR WORKSHOP PARTICIPANTS ARE ON THE HOME STRETCH NOW ON THEIR WAY TO THEIR LAST ASSIGNMENT. THE GRATITUDE VISIT. [Music playing] >> Ann-Marie MacDonald: JAMES HAS RECOGNIZED THAT KATHLEEN, HIS WIFE, IS THE PERSON WHO'S HELPED HIM MOST AND THAT TELLING HER THIS IS LONG OVERDUE.

>> James Byers: [Sighing] I REALIZED I HAVEN'T EXPRESSED THAT KIND OF FACE TO FACE GENUINE GRATITUDE OR THANKS FOR THE ROLE THAT SHE'S PLAYED IN MY LIFE AND OUR KIDS LIVES. WE'VE KIND OF GROWN NOT OLD BUT MATURE TOGETHER.

>> Kathleen Byers: YEAH.

>> James Byers: WE HAVE THREE KIDS.

>> Kathleen Byers: YEAH.

>> James Byers: AND IT'S OCCURRED TO ME THAT I VERY RARELY EXPRESS HOW I FEEL TOWARDS YOU AND I'M SORRY THAT I HAVEN'T DONE IT MORE OFTEN BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT... UM, YOU... MAKE ME VERY HAPPY. YOU'RE A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND MATE AND I LOVE YOU AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO A WHOLE PILE OF MORE YEARS OF ENJOYMENT TOGETHER.

>> Kathleen Byers: WOW. SAY NO MORE.

>> Both: [Laughing] [Music playing]

>> Jennifer Ford: I WAS SO ANXIOUS GOING INTO THIS. MY FATHER, HE'S QUITE STOIC, YOU KNOW, WITH DADDY, IT'S BLACK AND IT'S WHITE. THERE'S NO GREY. I DON'T SAY I LOVE YOU FACE TO FACE. THEY KNOW IT BUT I DON'T EXPRESS THAT VERY OFTEN AT ALL.

>> Jennifer Ford: DADDY AND MOMMY, YOUR CARING AND YOUR GUIDANCE, YOUR TIME IS UNWAIVERING... AND I HOPE THAT I'VE HAD THE DECENCY AND THE COURTESY TO LET YOU KNOW THIS BEFORE, BUT IF I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU BEFORE, I'M LETTING YOU KNOW NOW THAT I LOVE YOU AND THANK YOU BOTH VERY, VERY MUCH.

>> Jennifer Ford: I'M GLAD WE HAD THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, YOU KNOW, CHAT. [Music playing] >> I GUESS SHE SPOKE FROM MY HEART, SHE SPOKE FROM WHAT IS THERE. YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD SAY THIS TO MY MOM.

>> Dave Gerilami: HEY, THERE.

>> HEY!

>> Dave Gerilami: HOW ARE YA?

>> GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

>> Dave Gerilami: GOOD.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> Dave Gerilami: I CHOSE A LONG- TIME FRIEND OF MINE AND OLD ROOMMATE. I WANTED TO EXPRESS TO YOU THAT I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR NOT ONCE BUT TWICE STEPPING IN FOR ME WHEN I REALLY NEEDED TO FIND A PLACE TO STAY AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, JUST THE WAY YOU ARE SUCH A QUIET BUT SUCH A CARING, STRONG PERSON. SO, I RECOGNIZE THAT.

>> THANK YOU. THAT'S GREAT. [Chuckling] >> Dave Gerilami: MAYBE I SHOULD GIVE YOU A HUG.

>> Both: [Laughing] >> Ann Brayden: SIMILAR TO DAVE, I CHOSE A FRIEND. HER NAME IS ALLISON AND SHE DID SOMETHING FOR ME THAT, THAT I'LL NEVER FORGET. OKAY.

>> Allison: THIS IS FUNNY.

>> Ann Brayden: I KNOW!

>> Allison: WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Ann Brayden: I GOT DUMPED, I'VE JUST NEVER FELT THAT LOW IN MY LIFE AND SHE JUST LITERALLY HAPPENED TO BE THERE. THE WORDS OF WISDOM THAT CAME OUT OF HER IN THAT PARTICULAR PERIOD OF TIME STUCK WITH ME.

>> Allison: SO, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> Ann Brayden: UM... YOU WERE THERE FOR ME WHEN I REALLY NEEDED YOU AND I WANTED TO COME AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT BECAUSE, UM...

>> Allison: REALLY?

>> Ann Brayden: I'M ACTUALLY REALLY GRATEFUL THAT YOU WERE THERE FOR ME, UM, RECENTLY WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH A REALLY HARD PATCH AND, UM, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU.

>> Allison: OH, ANN!

>> Both: [Chuckling] >> Allison: OH, COME ON.

>> Ann Brayden: UM...

>> Allison: BUT, YOU KNOW...

>> Ann Brayden: YOU WERE JUST SOLID FOR ME.

>> Allison: OH NO, NO!

>> Ann Brayden: NO, NO, NO. CRAP, UM, YEAH, SO I JUST, I REALLY NEEDED TO TELL YOU THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOU BEING THERE.

>> Allison: I WANNA HUG YOU.

>> Ann Brayden: OKAY.

>> Allison: OKAY, YOU'RE SO GOOD, ALL RIGHT?

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: JENNIFER, IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO START, HOW DID YOU FEEL AS YOU WERE EXPRESSING THIS GRATITUDE TO THEM?

>> Jennifer Ford: LITTLE. I FELT LITTLE. LIKE A CHILD. IT WAS HUMBLING, BUT I KNEW THAT IT WAS A MOMENT IN TIME THAT I WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR FOREVER AND EVER.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: DAVE, HOW DID IT TURN OUT, THE GRATITUDE VISIT?

>> Dave Gerilami: IT MADE ME FEEL, UM, IT MADE ME FEEL HAPPY TO, UH, GO THROUGH A PROCESS OF THINKING ABOUT SOMEBODY AND THEN ACTUALLY SITTING THEM DOWN AND HAVING IT BEING SOMEWHAT OF A SURPRISE WAS KIND OF EXCITING. AS I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT LEADING UP TO THAT DAY, I WAS THINKING THIS JUST DOESN'T REALLY HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: JAMES.

>> James Byers: IT WAS, IT WAS... EYE OPENING. A CLOSE MOMENT AND WE BOTH FELT IT. YOU KNOW, INSTEAD OF US BEING AT DIFFERENT POINTS IN OUR RELATIONSHIP, WE SEEM TO HAVE COME CLOSER TO EACH OTHER.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: FANTASTIC.

>> James Byers: MHMM.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: LAST BUT NOT LEAST AT ALL, ANN.

>> Ann Brayden: UM, SO, YEAH, IT WAS REALLY POWERFUL AND I FELT BUOYED BY THE SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP AND IT REALLY JUST REMINDED ME THAT OTHER PEOPLE AND YOUR RELATIONSHIPS TO THEM CAN JUST COMPLETELY IMPROVE YOUR LIFE, COMPLETELY IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. YEAH, AND SHE WAS NO EXCEPTION.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: IT'S BEEN QUITE A TRIP FOR THESE FOUR PEOPLE. NOW, IT'S ALMOST OVER, OR IS IT JUST BEGINNING?

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: THE TIME HAS COME TO TEST THE CLAIM, CAN WE INCREASE HAPPINESS? WELL, WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, LET'S BRING OUT THE ICE SO WE CAN RETAKE THE COLD PRESSER TEST.

>> James Byers: I PUT ON MY BATHING SUIT THIS TIME.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: [Chuckling] OKAY. TWO, ONE AND DIP.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: YOU MAY RECALL THEIR ICY DIP AS THE WORKSHOP BEGAN TESTING FOR A HAPPINESS BASELINE BECAUSE STUDIES SHOW THAT POSITIVE PEOPLE HAVE A HIGHER PAIN THRESHOLD. HAVE THEY CHANGED? ♪ >> Dave Gerilami: IT'S GETTING WARM.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Dave Gerilami: IS THAT A BAD SIGN?

>> Jennifer Ford: NO WAY.

>> Ann Brayden: I'M GONNA COME OUT NOW 'CAUSE I BEAT YOU LAST TIME SO I'M GONNA TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM AND GIVE IT TO YOU.

>> Dave Gerilami: THANKS.

>> James Byers: [Laughing] >> Ann Brayden: NOW IT HURTS.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: AND JAMES AND DAVE, YOU CAN TAKE YOUR HANDS OUT. THAT'S THREE MINUTES.en: WOW.

>> Dave Gerilami: OOH.

>> All: [Laughing] >> Ann Brayden: NOW YOU KNOW...

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: GOOD JOB.

>> Jennifer Ford: OOH!

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE. YOU DID ACTUALLY GO LONGER, ALL OF YOU.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE, THEIR SCORES ARE HIGHER TOO. IN TERMS OF GENERAL HAPPINESS LEVELS AND SATISFACTION WITH LIFE.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WHAT'S GROWN, IT SEEMS, IS THEIR SENSE OF AWARENESS.

>> Jennifer Ford: IT'S THESE LITTLE MIRACLES, THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HAPPEN EVERY DAY THAT REALLY, I THINK, ADD TO YOUR OVERALL WELL BEING AND HAPPINESS.

>> Ann Brayden: I THINK THIS PROGRAM HAS REALLY HELPED ME IDENTIFY THOSE VALUES THAT MAKE ME WHO I AM. HOW THEY'RE GONNA GUIDE ME TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON I WANNA BE.

>> James Byers: IT'S LIKE A JOLT, LIKE A TREMOR THAT SENT ME OFF MY EXISTING PATH AND PUT ME ON TO POSSIBLY A NEW, A NEW PATH.

>> Dave Gerilami: SOME OF THE OUTCOMES THAT STAND OUT FOR ME ARE HOW PRAGMATIC MAYBE SOME, OR THE PRAGMATISM, SOME OF THE TOOLS AND YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT IT IN THAT SENSE AND SAY HEY, IT'S AS SIMPLE AS THAT.

>> Robert Biswas-Diener: I THINK THEY ALL HAD A GROWTH EXPERIENCE, I THINK ALL OF US DID, AND I THINK THAT THAT EXPERIENCE WAS NECESSARILY POSITIVE. ULTIMATELY, THAT'S THE AIM.

>> Ann-Marie MacDonald: WHICH BRINGS US AROUND TO JEFFERSON AGAIN BECAUSE HE HAD IT RIGHT. IT'S THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS THAT COUNTS, THE NEVER-ENDING PROCESS PROMPTING US TO SEEK AND GROW AND IF WE'RE LUCKY, RECOGNIZE A WHOLE PILE OF REASONS TO SMILE.