<p>What do we actually need to live a happy life? Are marriage and children the pathway to fulfilment, or do they actually make you less happy?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This week, Jill talks to someone who has studied these questions in depth and come up with some illuminating answers that not everyone wants to hear.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Professor Paul Dolan is one of the world’s leading experts on happiness, a professor of behavioural science from the London School of Economics, the author of several books on happiness, and host of the podcast,<a href="https://pauldolan.co.uk/podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> <em>Get Happier</em></a>, among others.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He’s spent more than three decades researching how we can measure and value the richness of the human experience, and what he’s found is fascinating.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>One of the things we’re often told from an early age is the best way for us to achieve fulfilment is to get married and have kids.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>But does the science align with the fairytale? Do we need to partner and procreate to be a fully actualised and contented human? Or can we be truly happy alone?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>This is an illuminating and validating conversation about the science of doing life solo.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>You can find out more about Paul’s work through his<a href="https://pauldolan.co.uk/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> website</a>, learn more about his books<a href="https://pauldolan.co.uk/books-1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here</a> and check out his podcasts<a href="https://pauldolan.co.uk/podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> here</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>To stay in touch with Well Enough Alone, you can follow us on Instagram<a href="https://www.instagram.com/wellenoughalonepod/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> @wellenoughalonepod</a> or follow Jill<a href="https://www.instagram.com/jillstark__/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> @jillstark__</a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Well Enough Alone is a Spare Room production. Our producers are Kieran Simpson and Trent Bartlett.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Hosted on Acast.<a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> See acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>