Happiness Pioneers Spent 3 Hours on Zoom, and the Recurring Theme Was Other People

Thirteen pioneers of well-being science met on a three-hour video call in January 2026 and named four central themes of a good life: having basic needs met, relationships, meaningful work, and living in line with one’s values. Their reflections were published Aug. 25, 2026, in the Journal of Happiness Studies, in a paper co-written by Simon Fraser University psychologist Lara Aknin.¹⁴

Of those themes, relationships came up most often. Writing about the discussion later, the authors described relationships as the linchpin of happiness across nearly every part of the conversation.⁷

The group brought a combined 600 years of research and lived experience to the call.² Six centuries of expertise, three hours on Zoom, and the most frequent answer would fit on a refrigerator magnet: other people.

A conversation, not an experiment

The paper is what journals call a Perspective. It gathers reflections from some of the field’s most prominent figures rather than reporting a new experiment or fresh data.¹ Aknin, a social psychology professor at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, wrote it with Harvard’s Säde Stenlund and economist Kelsey O’Connor.⁴

Where money fits

Money matters, and the paper does not say otherwise. Aknin said a comfortable income and financial security are important foundations, but once basic needs are met, extra income does less for happiness.³

Related: 13 Happiness Pioneers Held a 3-Hour Video Call and Put Other People First

The group agreed that reducing poverty matters enormously and that people need a basic income to live well. Beyond a certain point, extra money may add less to happiness, though researchers still debate exactly where that point is.⁴ Newsweek and SciTechDaily summarized the paper the same way.⁵⁶

What the experts say works

The pioneers’ themes point to a few habits that ordinary people can try:

• Invest in your people. “Happiness emerges from a symphony of factors, but if I had to pinpoint one secret to happiness, relationships with other people might be it,” Aknin said in remarks shared by Simon Fraser University. She added: “We know that having just one person you can count on is extremely consequential.”³
• Look for work that feels worthwhile. Meaningful work was one of the central themes.¹ “Happiness comes from doing work and activities that feel worthwhile and aligned with your values,” Aknin said.³
• Practice the small stuff. Several of the researchers said they have applied happiness science in their own lives by expressing gratitude, savoring good experiences, investing in relationships, listening more deeply, volunteering and being more socially engaged.²³

Aknin was also clear that the goal is not constant cheer. Happiness is not about feeling good all the time, she said.³ “Well-being grows when people shape their lives around their values, strengths and relationships, and learn to adapt when circumstances change.”³

What comes next

Looking ahead, the pioneers said the field needs to address declining well-being among young people and inequalities in well-being. They were optimistic that happiness research can have more impact, both on whole societies and on individual lives.¹