How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship

How 7 Days Can Transform Your Relationship

Author: PRX and Greater Good Science Center January 30, 2025 Duration: 25:47
Scroll down for a transcription of this episode From daily check-ins to meaningful compliments and planned dates nights, we explore a 7-day love challenge to help couples strengthen their relationships.  Developed by renowned psychologists Julie and John Gottman. Based on decades of research, this week-long practice offers simple, actionable steps to deepen connection and nurture relationships. From meaningful check-ins and heartfelt compliments to the importance of touch, we uncover how small, intentional actions can create lasting bonds. Whether you're looking to reignite romance or strengthen your partnership, the 7-day love challenge provides practical tools to bring more love and connection into your life. Sign up for The Science of Happiness podcast's 7-Day Love Challenge to receive these science-backed practices delivered directly to your inbox at greatergood.berkeley.edu/7daylovechallenge This is part of our series The Science of Love. Day 1: Do a 10-minute check-in. This is great to do at the beginning or end of the day, but can be done any time that works for you. Day 2: Ask a Big Question. Ask your partner one big question and see where it goes. Day 3: Say Thank You! Take some time today to be a spy, looking out for all the positive stuff your partner does throughout the day. Day 4: Give a Real Compliment. If you were to paint a verbal portrait of your partner's strengths, which 3 to 5 words would you use? This is a chance to express to your partner the core, essential things you love and appreciate about them. Day 5: Ask For What You Need … By Describing Yourself. Ask what you need by talking about how you feel and what you need, not what they're lacking. Day 6: The Magic of Mini-Touch Create as many moments of consensual physical connection as possible -- and it doesn't have to be about sex. Day 7: Declare A Date Night! Invite your partner on a mini date. It doesn't have to be a fancy dinner, it can happen in the backyard, or on your porch. More about the 7-day love challenge: Drs. John and Julie Gottman are psychologist and the co-founders of The Gottman Institute. They created this practiced based on decades of research studying over 3,000 couples. Check out their book, The Love Prescription, Seven Days to More Intimacy, Connection, and Joy:  https://tinyurl.com/34nt5vv9 This episode is supported by The John Templeton Foundation. Follow us on Instagram: @ScienceOfHappinessPod We’d love to hear about your experience with this practice! Share your thoughts at happinesspod@berkeley.edu or use the hashtag #happinesspod. Find us on Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Help us share The Science of Happiness! Leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts and share this link with someone who might like the show: https://tinyurl.com/2p9h5aap Transcription: https://tinyurl.com/bdh2ezhr

What if the things that make life feel worthwhile aren't just abstract ideas, but observable, measurable phenomena? That's the territory explored in The Science of Happiness. Each episode moves beyond simple self-help platitudes, grounding itself in the concrete research from psychology and neuroscience. Hosted by the insightful Dacher Keltner, a psychologist whose work often centers on these very emotions, the conversations feel both authoritative and deeply human. You'll hear from people who are actively testing out specific, research-backed practices-from cultivating compassion to finding moments of genuine awe-and then discussing the real, sometimes messy results. This isn't about a constant state of cheer; it's about understanding the building blocks of a resilient and meaningful existence. The podcast, a co-production of PRX and the Greater Good Science Center, translates academic findings into accessible stories and actionable insights. Tuning in feels less like receiving a lecture and more like sitting in on a fascinating experiment about our shared human condition, one where the data points are moments of connection, gratitude, and personal discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Science of Happiness
Podcast Episodes
The Science of Love (Episode 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:16
In a culture that often reduces love to romance, Geena Davis helps us explore the science of love across the lifespan—revealing how our bonds with parents, friends, partners, and communities shape our health, happiness,…
How to Keep Your Humanity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:17
Discover what happens to our well-being when we respond to suffering with compassion, collective action, and why choosing to care can help us hold on to our shared humanity. Summary: In the face of widespread suffering,…
Happiness Break: Finding Calm in Uncertainty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:58
Psychologist and stress expert Elissa Epel leads us in a gentle, science-backed practice to calm our nervous systems and meet uncertainty with greater ease and acceptance. We want to hear from you! Take our quick 5-minut…
How Qigong Can Calm Your Mind and Body [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:09
Studies show qigong can strengthen your body and mind, and reduce cortisol levels. We explore this Chinese meditative movement practice that dates back over 4,000 years. Summary: After a period of intense stress, loss, a…
Happiness Break: An Affirmation Practice for the New Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:04
This New Year, affirm the wonderful qualities you already possess with this meditative writing practice with Chris Murchison called "I Am." How To Do This Practice: Settle your body and breath: Find a comfortable seat. C…
How Stories Shape Belonging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:18
Learn how the stories we tell and hear shape our relationships, values, and sense of belonging. Summary: Storytelling is more than entertainment. It shapes how we think, feel, and relate to others. In this episode of The…
Happiness Break: A Meditation to Inspire a Sense of Purpose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:17
Take a few minutes to reflect on someone who inspires you, and how you can embody the values you admire in them. You can also listen to this episode in Spanish here: https://tinyurl.com/4rjmambm How To Do This Practice:…
The Power of a Collective Pause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:13
Explore how students are using simple mindful breathing practices to navigate stress, stay grounded, and support their classmates. Summary: Classrooms often are confronted with difficult topics that can leave students ov…
Happiness Break: How Connecting With Ancestors Deepens Belonging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:07
Through a gentle ancestral meditation, discover how grounding in your roots can open the door to healing, meaning, and a deeper sense of belonging. How To Do This Practice: Settle Into Your Body: Notice whether you’re si…