Nothing to Fix

From Robert Waldinger—director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, Zen master, practicing psychiatrist, and New York Times bestselling author of The Good Life—a revolutionary guide that draws on the latest scientific research and the timeless principles of Zen Buddhist thought to teach readers how to live their best life, from one moment to the next. “A masterclass in perspective, acceptance, and finding happiness where you least expect it.” —Mel Robbins "A must-read for anyone who is seeking clarity, purpose, and peace within themselves.” —Jay Shetty In 2004, Dr. Robert Waldinger became the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest-running study of happiness ever conducted. It should have been the crowning achievement of a psychiatry career spent uncovering what makes people thrive. Instead, he was left with a gnawing question: Is this all there is? To answer it, Waldinger embarked on a decades-long journey, immersing himself in rigorous Zen meditation training and delving into the lives of the Study participants, in the hopes of synthesizing psychological and spiritual concepts of what it means to live the good life. That journey culminates in this book. Waldinger’s therapy patients, the participants in the Harvard Study, and his Zen practice all pointed to the same universal truths: That life is less about what happens and more about how we meet what happens. That being “Zen” does not mean stoically tamping down feelings but instead turning toward them. And that we should focus less on the results of our life and more on the process of living. Nothing to Fix is a revelatory guide to the science and spirituality of human happiness—and offers readers radical perspective shifts that enable us to feel more completely alive.