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
Happiness Break: Finding Yourself in Silence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:26
Zen and mindfulness teacher Henry Shukman guides us in a meditation that invites us to listen deeply and find clarity in quiet. How To Do This Practice: Find Stillness: Sit comfortably in a quiet space. Close your eyes i…
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Duration: 23:07
Learn why uncertainty fuels anxiety and how noticing our body’s stress signals can help us find calm. Summary: One in five adults in the U.S. report living with anxiety, and many of us struggle to control or avoid the fe…
What Happens When Caregivers Dance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:05
Even just a few minutes of dancing can shift energy, release emotions, and remind us to care for ourselves while we care for others. Summary: Dance isn’t just fun—it’s scientifically shown to make us happier, ease stress…
Happiness Break: A Science-Backed Path to Self-Forgiveness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:17
Through breath, compassion, and kind words to yourself, this guided meditation helps you forgive yourself, let go, and move forward with love. How To Do This Practice: Get Comfortable: Sit upright but relaxed. Close your…
How Gentle Touch Builds Connection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:45
Research shows that simple practices such as self-hugs, soothing touch, and hand-to-heart can calm the nervous system, supporting caregivers and the children in their care. Summary: From parents to teachers, caregiving c…
Happiness Break: A Meditation for When You Feel Uneasy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:11
In this guided meditation with poet and teacher Henry Shukman, learn how allowing discomfort, rather than resisting it, can open the door to greater calm and self-compassion. How To Do This Practice: Find a Comfortable P…
How To Tap Your Way to Calm and Clarity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:54
There’s a tapping practice shown to ease stress, balance emotions, and support healing. We explore the science behind Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT. Summary: Emerging research shows that a body-tapping technique ca…
Happiness Break: A Meditation for When Others Are Suffering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:55
Witnessing the suffering of others can be deeply painful. In this guided meditation, Anushka Fernandopulle helps you cultivate both compassion and the ability to soothe yourself in the face of that pain. How to Do This P…
David Byrne on How Music Connects Us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
Music helped former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne come out of his shell and connect with others—and research shows he's not alone. We explore the science behind how music shapes our social lives. Summary: Musician a…