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Learner Reviews & Feedback for The Science of Well-Being by Yale University

4.9
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38,478 ratings

About the Course

NEW TEEN VERSION AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being-for-teens In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life. THE SCIENCE OF WELL BEING WAS PRODUCED IN PART DUE TO THE GENEROUS FUNDING OF THE DAVID F. SWENSEN FUND FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING....

Top reviews

SN

Aug 27, 2020

This is an outstanding course! I was able to change into a more positive and productive mindset as taught in this course. I highly recommend it to everyone regardless of your profession or background.

BT

Nov 26, 2019

Loved the practical "rewiring" assignments that helped me with understanding what really makes us happy. Not only this course changed my life perspective but enriched the lives of the people around me

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476 - 500 of 10,000 Reviews for The Science of Well-Being

By Kellie S

Aug 21, 2020

This course has been a life-changer. It helped me understand my self even better and motivated me to reach to form my habits and reach my goals.

Everyone, no matter what career or status they are in their life should consider taking this course.

Professor Laurie Santos is very engaging and clear in her communication, so it's easy to digest and understand the somestimes complex knowledge she's sharing.

I truly believe that I am leading towards that good life and all thanks to this course, for arming me with the knowledge and strategies to keep going and never give up!

Thank you Coursera. Thank you Yale. Thank you Dr. Laurie Santos. So grateful for this free knowledge!

By Belinda N

Jun 18, 2022

I utterly enjoyed this course. The idea of having it done in the sitting room of the lecturer is amazing! The comfortable, warm atmosphere could actually be felt though I was not there. It definitely contributed to a less stressful environment such as a cold impersonal classroom in a school/college/university setup. I felt like I was one with the group of students and many times wished I could literally join in :-) Well done, Prof Santos, I really like your style! And the beautiful group of students who attended, I wish them all the best for future successes and specifically to continue on this road of self-improvement. Thanks again for a wonderful experience!

By MARA L S P

Sep 6, 2020

Hola Laurie! Ha sido gratificante encontrar que detrás de lo que creemos son acciones de sentido común, hay estudios e investigaciones que las respaldan.

Por estar ocupados "viviendo" nuestro día a día, olvidamos objetivos y metas que nos pueden hacer más feliz nuestra existencia y la de los demás.

Para mí ha sido una confrontación y me ha ayudado a parar (ayudada por la cuarentena) y reevaluar mis metas, objetivos y lo que quiero para mí.

Además, lo aprendido me ha ayudado en mi trabajo a impulsar a otras personas, por lo que me siento doblemente agradecida.

Es bueno dedicar tiempo a pensar en lo importante y este curso me ha hablado de ello.

De nuevo, gracias.

By Amy T

Jun 26, 2020

I went into this course not expecting anything and hoping to learn something I could make use of. Last night I completed this course and realised just how much I have learned. This is more than a course for well-being. It is a course that I strongly believe every person should complete. It is informative, clever, witty, enjoyable and lifechanging. Laurie Santos creates the space for her students to think critically, analyse their own existence and understand why we make the decisions we make. I have thoroughly loved every aspect of this course and I will carry my learnings and certificate with me through all the chapters of my life. Best decision I ever made!

By Christi L E

May 20, 2018

Highly recommend this course IF you are willing to dedicate your time to not just learning the material, but to the actual application of it to your own life on a daily basis. In order to achieve the maximum benefit and return for putting forth the effort to obtain a life of happiness . The educational material provided does not just start and end with the course, but will continue for a life time.This is an amazing course and I am so glad I found it extremely engaging, challenging and participated with my entire heart and mind to soak up as much as possible. I am planning on continuing my path of self learning and advancement for the betterment of myself.

By Aida L F

Aug 15, 2020

I SO enjoyed taking this course. I learned so much about how to be happy, the things it takes to intentionally be happy, and the Rewirement challenges are things I will carry over into my life overall.

I was never able to stick to challenges, but this course taught me discipline and determination in sticking with them and from here on out. I am extremely grateful for Professor Laurie Santos, and everyone who made this course possible.

I'm really hoping for a Part 2 of this course, I will definitely recommend this course to family and friends, and good luck to all the students taking this course, it was well worth it and I'll miss it and everyone involved.

By Emesh F

Apr 29, 2020

Absolutely awesome course. Well designed, and well put together to keep us engaged and motivated. I always wanted to attend an IVY league institution, but of course financially, and academically I was not up to par with those dreams even if I was an honors student. Being able to attend "virtually" and complete this course, as well as receiving a certificate of completion at the end, is pretty solid. I learned a great deal and promoted this to many military members I know as well as Friends and Family as I believe they can benefit immensely from this course. Thank you Prof Santos and YALE for allowing us the opportunity to attend and complete this course.

By Taoufiq J

Apr 19, 2019

What I learned from this course that we could live all our life without knowing the real meaning of happiness, simply because we haven't the right information.

However now I could say that all my exeptations (Grades, Job, Money, Material things, Love, ...) in life had another impact on my daily life

In Addition, I learnt how to react when I have annonyings futures and replace it with new habits as Gratitude, Support situation, Savoring, Exercice, Social support, bref I have a new Happiness Mindset

Finaly I could say thank you to the teacher Laurie Santos and Yale University, because of you, Now I see life from another perspective

Thank you :)

Taoufiq Janati

By Cíntia V

Jul 22, 2020

Finally, I would like to thanks to Yale University and Professor Laurie Santos for been offering this wonderful Course. I am very grateful for all that this Course have done for me! Furthermore, I am Brazilian and I am not fluent in English Language, so it was a great challenger for me to do a course of well-being in English. I am very thankful to achieve this final moment of the course!

And a last point but not least, I would like to thanks to my colleague who read my responses. I consider English language one of the most beautiful and I am really glad to be able to write in it, despite of the mistakes I may have done in my writting. Please forgive me!

By Belinda T M

Dec 8, 2021

This was a really good course. I enjoyed the videos and science behind it and the fact that Laurie knew we would not be perfect after 4 weeks but gave us strategies to combat the not doing including the WOOP technique. I think I will use this strategy myself. I currently use it for my clients and need to focus on myself to better myself and increase my happiness. I know this is up to me. Great science which proved some of what I had known intuitively such as smiling at people in a museum meant more people smiled back at me and I enjoyed the visit more.

Thanks Laurie. Making it free was also amazing and allows everyone to access this great course.

By Hollie K T W

May 8, 2023

Delighted living is not just action of happiness, joy, and gratefulness- it is a breathing condition of every second. It is a condition where sadness and anger does not have a chance to breath.You own the concepts – the emotional intelligence for anger and the sadness origination. You extinguish and replace anger, depression feelings compassionately with the functions of love, joy, gratefulness and happiness. You live a happy, joyful, delightful well -being life.

Life is generous, justice, and love.

The course is a mountain spring for the desert plants to blossom into beautiful plants. Acting and drinking from the mountain spring revives the student.

By Karen F

Dec 12, 2019

Very methodical. All assignments were challenging. The time for the duration of the course seems appropriate. I liked the reading materials and purchased a few of the books. I noticed the biggest change was when I practiced my character strengths. I wonder why it took me so long to just do the things that make me happy! The science is fascinating. It confirms some of the things I suspected, and also introduced me to new information, especially about how the brain works. I am more appreciative of simple solutions. I feel a forward momentum towards more joy and happiness and I couldn't be more grateful. Thank you Laurie Santos! You did an amazing job!

By MARTHA G A M

Oct 2, 2020

Fue maravilloso empezar el curso con tantas expectativas, al final fueron muchas las dificultades contra las que tuve que luchar porque me desmotivé un poco al no recibir los frutos de un lindo trabajo y luego viendo que todos mis compañeros eran igualmente suplicantes para obtener sus calificaciones. Quizá se pueda estudiar otra posibilidad de calificación. Muchas gracias. El curso es excepcional, es maravilloso. Me quedan tareas de recableado en mi vida y en la vida de quienes me rodean, pues es con ellos que comparto permanentemente mis logros y las ganas de creer en mi que ha logrado Coursera.

Gracias, Coursera, una linda labor. Muchas gracias.

By Victoria C

Dec 26, 2022

I'm 75 and retired. For lots of health reasons, I had pretty much mentally and spiritually "closed up shop" expecting death to come soon, especially since my cardiologist and oncologist agreed that I had "about a year" left to live. Well, that was more than five years ago, and a few months ago I was found to be cancer fee and my heart was damaged, but working well with medication. So I decided I needed to live again......and I found this course. I don't think I' m overstating it what I say that this course changed my life. I helped me to set realistic goals for my present health status. I'm thrilled. Thank you so much for this opportunity.

By Adarsh H

Jun 5, 2020

I found the course very interesting and practical. Laurie's sessions were engaging and varied. The discussions with other experts provided an understanding of different techniques/strategies that could be used as well as additional reading material. I am glad i took this course because it made me challenge my assumptions about well being and happiness and not only do i think differently now but actually do exercises to check out the efficacy. And the results have been extremely encouraging. i will recommend this course to everyone who would like to understand how our mind works and what we must be aware of to increase of sense of well being.

By Nicole K

Jun 14, 2018

This course is truly life altering. I've learned so much! Particularly that all those things that we've been chasing all our lives in the hopes of attaining happiness actually don't make us happier. Not to mention many of the things we avoid (I'm looking at you Social Connection) will, in fact, make us way happier. I think everyone should take this course. People honestly have no idea how to be happy and so many of us struggle with finding a reason to get out of bed in the morning. It shouldn't be like that. We all deserve happiness. I am forever grateful that I stumbled upon this course. It has changed my life. Thank You Yale and Laurie Santos.

By Michelle C

Mar 2, 2021

This is such a great informative course. I have learnt a lot during my studies during the course with such in-depth information and readings available to us. The 4 week rewirement challenge allows you to put the information you have learnt into practice. You feel it’s all worth while when you achieve your goals during the rewirement process. Starting with your Happiness and Well-being scores at the beginning and having them re tested at the end is also a good tool to see where your improvements are. At the beginning I did not sign up for the certificate but by the end I signed up to have the certificate to show my commitment to the course. 🙏🏼

By Anna L C

Nov 11, 2020

I did this course after listening to The Happiness Lab and really enjoyed it. I love that all the information is based on studies and actual results. Everything that's discussed in this course is really interesting and I feel like my emotional intelligence has gotten so much better. I was able to understand a lot of things about myself and create paths to successfully implement better habits in my life. Really appreciate all that I've learned, have shared a lot of my knowledge with the people around me. Definitely recommend if you want to learn what are some things you can do - and how to do them - and feel happier. And who wouldn't want that?

By Lynne S

Aug 17, 2020

This course was wonderful. It provided me with many tools that I will use continually throughout my life. The tools are easy to use, science-based and practical. The information in this course is well substantiated with science-backed studies, references to further readings and very data driven. I learned so much about human behaviour and in particular, my own mis-conceptions and mind growth. The content was interesting and Professor Santos was so engaging. All of the rewirement activities taught me so much about my mind set and how to actually promote change in my life for my own well-being. Thank you for this course. It is life-changing.

By Roubayi z

Dec 13, 2022

Overall experience, through this course and practice, I seem to have opened the door to a new world. I know that through practice, I can improve my sense of happiness. It depends on human effort. In fact, happiness is very simple. It is something we have ignored before. Pick it up and continue with practice, there will be more positive emotions, and things around me seem to be moving in a good direction, like a positive cycle, life suddenly brightens up, and life is full of strength. I plan to share this course with more people, so that they can also change their cognition, practice happiness operations, and improve their sense of well-being.

By Jacqueline M

May 9, 2020

I really enjoyed this course and found it very helpful during this difficult time of the pandemic. It gave some practical tools to use and some surprising elements which challenged some preconceptions. I already knew some of the concepts but this is a very good package and approach. I particularly liked WOOP as a strategy and will definitely use it in my life and work. Its important to address obstacles in advance as they can be very demotivating.

Professor Santos makes a very large amount of information and detail easily digestible and was a pleasure to learn from. I am very grateful for this course and would highly recommend it to others.

By Allen R

Feb 16, 2023

I thought it was a great class. The material was well organized and presented in a progressive manner so learning was a breeze. I can see why this class is the most sought out class at Yale.

I wish you had a class for the parents of the undergrads. Much of the pressure and material expectations come from external sources. Kids are taught what success looks like from the parents eyes. Students wouldn't be so stressed all the time and enjoy the journey. I am retired, a boomer, and my kids are through grad school so I understand quite well what drives the Gen Z population. Gen alpha will have similar challenges. Buckel up for a bumpy ride!

By ANA B

Sep 17, 2019

I rate the course as excellent!

Professor Laurie Santos has engaged students, like me, who live thousands of miles from YALE.

The content was fabulous and motivated me to leave my comfort zone (I was a sedentary person and after the course, I motivated myself to do physical activities on a regular basis).

I learned many concepts that will help me in my daily life. The ones I loved the most were: MISWANTING; Consciously practice SAVORING, learn about GROWTH MINDSET and MIND-WANDERING and the WOOP Method.

The weekly rewirements were awesome!

Congratulations to the entire team! You were brilliant!

Receive an affectionate thanks from Brazil!

By Daniela B

Sep 6, 2019

Even if I was a bit skeptical in the beginning, after the first week I realized this course offers precious insight about the way our mind works and all the ways it can trick us.

Laurie is the kind of teacher I wish I had when I was still in school and it was very easy to follow her and to pay attention.

I recommend this course to anybody interested in getting to know more about themselves and about the actual things that do make us happy. The information is well structured and valuable and you have lots of resources (books, studies, interviews) if you want to find out more about a particular topic discussed in the course.

Cheers!

Daniela

By Kaycee M

Jun 14, 2020

This course has been very engaging and useful. It's made me aware of misconceptions about happiness and features of my mind that make it hard to be happy. The most useful part of the course for me has been learning about strategies that have been proven to increase happiness and putting them into practice through the rewirements. I think this course is so valuable as it gives you a greater awareness about what can impact your happiness and wellbeing and because it helps you build habits that can lead to a more happy and fulfilling life. I would recommend it anyone - I think there is something for everyone to learn and get out of it.