Happiness expert available: Case Western Reserve University researcher gives tips for how to build resilience, motivation and well-being in a time of crisis

CLEVELAND—The U.S. is facing a mental health crisis, marked by record levels of stress, burnout, political division and interpersonal conflict. As uncertainty and instability grow, many are searching for ways to build resilience, stay motivated and find happiness in a world that often feels chaotic.

Case Western Reserve University researcher Anthony (Tony) Jack, Elmer G. Beamer-Hubert H. Schneider Professor in Ethics, has spent over a decade studying what makes people thrive. A neuroscientist-turned-philosopher, he also teaches the university’s most popular undergraduate elective, The Art & Science of Happiness, and leads workshops for executives to foster well-being and stress resilience.

Jack can speak about happiness, resilience and the neuroscience of well-being in challenging times.

Jack’s brain-science based research reveals that the key to happiness isn’t just personal habits—it’s relationships. Here are his essential insights for navigating today’s challenges:

1. Relationships are everything. “The human brain is wired for social connection. More than wealth, success, or even personal health habits, the quality of our relationships predicts our happiness, emotional stability and physical well-being,” Jack said.
2. Every interaction matters. Well-being isn’t just shaped by close relationships—it’s influenced by daily interactions with colleagues, acquaintances and even strangers.
3. Flip the script on negativity. Our culture encourages defensiveness, outrage and self-promotion. “Instead, building meaningful connections requires strategies to foster understanding, trust and compassion,” he said.
4. Mindfulness is social, not solitary. Meditation and self-care are valuable, but the most impactful form of mindfulness is being emotionally aware and present in our interactions with others.
5. Truth depends on trust. Facts alone don’t change minds—relationships do. “The breakdown of social trust fuels misinformation,” Jack said. “To rebuild a shared reality, we must listen first, seek to understand and only then engage in meaningful dialogue.”