WELL 25 — The Science and Practice of Joyful Living
Quarter: Winter
Instructor(s): Kelly McGonigal
Date(s): Feb 4—Mar 4
Class Recording Available: Yes
Class Meeting Day: Wednesdays
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Class Meeting Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Tuition: $330
Refund Deadline: Feb 6
Unit(s): 0
Status: Open
Quarter: Winter
Day: Wednesdays
Duration: 5 weeks
Time: 5:30—7:00 pm (PT)
Date(s): Feb 4—Mar 4
Unit(s): 0
Tuition: $330
Refund Deadline: Feb 6
Instructor(s): Kelly McGonigal
Grade Restriction: NGR only; no credit/letter grade
Recording Available: Yes
Status: Open
Joy is not merely a fleeting sensation; it is our capacity to feel uplifted by what is fundamentally “good.” Physiologically, joy provides energy and helps us recover from stress. Mentally, it broadens our perspective and renews optimism. Socially, joy bonds us and strengthens relationships. What if joy isn’t something we wait for, but something we can choose? How do we train our mindset to make joy possible, and how do we prepare biologically for it? This course, grounded in psychology and neuroscience, combines lectures with guided exercises, discussions, and real-world experiments to unveil practical strategies for amplifying joy in our daily lives. You'll learn to expand your capacity to feel, show, and share joy with others, transforming it from something that feels out of reach into a deliberate choice that fuels your aspirations and forges connections. Experience the profound impact of choosing joy, both as a resource for when life is hard and as a way to increase what is good in the world.
KELLY MCGONIGAL
Lecturer, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Kelly McGonigal is a psychologist and educator whose work shows us how to experience hope, connection, and meaning—even when life is difficult. She has taught science-based courses for personal transformation through Stanford Continuing Studies since 2008. She is the author of the international bestseller The Willpower Instinct, The Upside of Stress, and The Joy of Movement. Her latest book is The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage. Through the Stanford Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, she co-created the Stanford Compassion Cultivation Training. Her TED Talk, “How to Make Stress Your Friend,” is one of the most-viewed TED Talks of all time. Textbooks for this course:
There are no required textbooks; however, some fee-based online readings may be assigned.