SALT LAKE CITY — Secrets of lasting happiness are coming to Utah in September.
Catherine Sanderson, a popular professor of psychology at Amherst College, promises to share all she can in her upcoming presentation, "Positive Psychology: The Science of Happiness," at the state's first One Day University event at the Salt Lake City Library on Sept. 17.
"I love talking about the science of happiness because really, we all want to be happy, so this isn't a hard topic to sell," Sanderson said. "My favorite aspect of this talk is that people will learn cutting-edge information about the empirical science of what makes us happy, but they will also leave with specific, practical strategies they can implement in their own daily lives."
One Day University is an event featuring more than 200 popular professors from 60 different colleges and universities around the country speaking on educational and entertaining topics to mostly older audiences, according to founder Steven Schragis. One Day University has drawn crowds in more than 22 states and nearly 50 cities, according to The Washington Post.
Sanderson is one of four professors speaking at Salt Lake City's first One Day University, of which the Deseret News is a sponsor. David Helfand of Columbia University will speak on the topic, "What We Know About the Universe (and What We Don't Know)"; Orin Grossman of Fairfield University will discuss "Three Musical Masterpieces That Every Music Lover Should Listen To"; and Matthew Mason, of Brigham Young University, has titled his presentation, "The Civil War: Surprising Things You Probably Never Knew."
Sanderson gives between five and 10 talks for One Day University each year and has enjoyed interacting with each audience. This is not her first trip to Utah. Her parents met as students at BYU and her grandparents at one time lived in Orem.
"My only regret about the talk is its timing," Sanderson said. "I wish it were a winter talk so I could get in a couple of days skiing at Alta."
Sanderson's presentation on the "Science of Happiness" will address the roles of money, IQ, marriage, friends, children, weather and religion in finding lasting happiness. It will also include research findings and practical ways to increase a person's psychological well-being, she said.
"They will learn why happiness matters at a really fundamental level because happiness impacts our work productivity, how we treat others and our physical health," Sanderson said. "They will learn common errors we make in thinking about what makes us happy. ... They will also learn about what scientific research tells us does make us happier, such as spending time in nature, holding religious beliefs and having good relationships."
Although she doesn't do every single thing she preaches, incorporating many of the methods and strategies for greater happiness has made a difference in Sanderson's personal life, she said.
"Giving the science of happiness talk has literally changed my life," she said. "I spend lots of time reading, writing and talking about what makes people happy, and therefore have a constant reminder of how I can implement strategies to experience greater happiness in my own life."
For more information about One Day University or to register for the event, visit www.onedayu.com or call 800-300-3438. General admission is $179. Deseret News readers can register for only $109 by entering the coupon code "DESERET."
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