Wellness and Human Flourishing with Deepak Chopra (podcast)

This podcast episode features Dr. Deepak Chopra, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality. Dr. Chopra is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation, and the author of over 90 books translated into over forty languages. In addition to holding a number of positions at medical schools across the US, Dr. Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution for the last thirty years.

This conversation explores the connection between our minds and our physical health; between the way we decide to approach life, and the likelihood that we will flourish in our lives.

Key takeaways from this discussion:

• To live in a state of human flourishing is by Chopra's definition to live in "a state of flow, where, in every moment you feel no resistance, no regrets, no anticipation. You respond intuitively, flawlessly, in the moment, in a way that is nurturing, that is kind, that has empathy, compassion, love, joy, and equanimity."
• The degree of safety, satisfaction, and happiness we feel; how pleasurable our relationships are; how integrated we are into community are linked to our physical health, says Chopra.
• "Do you see the world as a problem or do you see the world as an opportunity?" asks Chopra. "If you’re constantly criticizing, condemning, complaining, or being the victim, obviously you see the world as a problem. That’s a set point for unhappiness. On the other hand, if you see the world as an opportunity, then you’ll have a set point for happiness."
• Flourishing goes beyond individual wellness. "If you have worthy goals that are not only about you, and if you know how to make other people happy by giving them attention, affection, appreciation, and acceptance, then that’s the fastest way to be, “happy”. When you make somebody happy, you automatically feel happy."
• Chopra is hopeful that if more people recognize our interconnectedness it will create a positive disruption, and room for innovation. "Social scientists are talking about emergence and collective creativity. If you have shared vision and emotional bonding complementing each other’s strengths, maximum diversity, and open, transparent systems, you will have true creativity and emergence."

Read the transcript from the interview conducted by journalist Richard Sergay, presented by writer/producer Tavia Gilbert. Featuring: Dr. Deepak Chopra, founder of The Chopra Foundation.

This episode is a Gold 2022 Hermes Creative Awards Winner, and has received a 2022 Gold dotCOMM Award in the Health and Fitness category!

Built upon the award-winning video series of the same name, Templeton World Charity Foundation’s “Stories of Impact” podcast features stories of new scientific research on human flourishing that translate discoveries into practical tools. Bringing a mix of curiosity, compassion, and creativity, journalist Richard Sergay and writer / producer Tavia Gilbert shine a spotlight on the human impact at the heart of cutting-edge social and scientific research projects supported by TWCF.