The advice that happiness expert and NYU professor Daniel Lerner offers in his just-released book U Thrive isn’t strictly for those embarking on their college years. “It’s for 30-year-olds, 40-year-olds, and 50-year-olds,” he told us in a recent visit to Lavin’s Toronto office.
“We just put it into context,” explains Lerner with a smile. In these two exclusive videos taken from his visit, Lerner discusses the importance of what he teaches in “The Science of Happiness,” his wildly popular freshmen class at New York University, the foundation for U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life). Why, for instance, are students spending so much less time with each other, and what does it have to do with managing anxiety and depression?
In this second video, Lerner goes on to discuss the vitality of face-to-face contact, for students and graduates alike. As he insightfully observes, humans evolved to communicate face-to-face, and as wonderful as technologies like iMessage and Skype are, they rob us of something energizing. Here, he discusses a few simple ways to find yourself back in the world of real live eye contact.
As a teacher, speaker, and strengths-based performance coach, Lerner is an expert in positive and performance psychologies. His key message is that developing a healthy (and happy) psychological state has a profound impact on the pursuit of excellence. He brings this uplifting message to students, established and high-potential performing artists and athletes, and numerous Fortune 500 companies and executives. U Thrive: How to Succeed in College (and Life), co-authored with Alan Schlechter, comes out April 18, 2017.
To book Daniel Lerner for your next event, contact the Lavin Agency, his exclusive speaker’s bureau.
