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The Daily Stoic · July 12, 2025 · 50m
Think About Death. Science Says You'll Be Happier.
Yale's happiness professor on the science behind memento mori. Santos's research confirms what the Stoics practiced: contemplating death doesn't make you morbid — it makes you grateful, present, and more likely to prioritize what matters.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Canon
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Santos: her Yale course ('The Science of Well-Being,' most popular in Yale history) centers on the hedonic treadmill as the core obstacle. The intervention that most consistently slows it: gratitude practices.
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Santos: the most common misconception about meditation is that it's relaxation. Her research shows it's training — strengthening attention, emotional regulation, and metacognition like weight training strengthens muscles.
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