Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World

We've made a lot of progress as a society, but we can still look to ancient times for some guidance and a dash of inspiration. Work your way through the broad contours of the course. Explore so-called "blue zones" and see how you can start "de-conveniencing" your own life.

Walking can do wonders for our mental and physical health. Explore the evolutionary biology, history, and philosophy behind the steps we take before exploring the intentional grounding technique. What is it? Where does it come from? And what can guest expert Francis Sanzaro teach us about connecting meaningfully with the terrains that lie underneath our feet?

The ancients took gut health seriously-so should we. Investigate different types of diets before zeroing in on the tried and true Mediterranean diet. Sit down with expert Shawn Stevenson to discuss good and bad foods. And finish by focusing on intermittent fasting, looking at its long history to its modern applications.

With no movie theaters or shopping malls to frequent, ancient peoples turned to the natural landscapes available to them. See how cultures old and new valued and thought about nature throughout time. Examine the importance of light in wellness and sleep. And reunite with Francis Sanzaro to talk through ways you can better connect with the natural world in your life.

It's no secret that social connection matters. But did you know that strong, supportive friendships help us live longer, too? Explore how ancient views of love and companionship have endured over time, and finish with a conversation with professor and psychologist Marisa G. Franco about how we can forge and maintain quality friendships.

What is "flow" exactly, and how do we know when we've entered a "flow state"? Explore what ancient thinkers had to say about creative thinking and human performance. Investigate flow on the molecular and neurological level. And sit down with expert Steven Hotler to see how you can enter a flow mind state yourself.

Negative thoughts can wreck our health and destroy our lives, but they're no match for a healthy dose of gratitude. Survey what "thankful thinking" means to different cultures and thinkers across history before digging into the benefits of gratitude with Dr. Christine Carter, a sociologist based in UC Berkeley.

Meditation is a powerful ancient technique worth examining in closer detail. Unearth the origins of meditation before exploring tantra, one of its many forms. Then, sit down with spiritual leader and self-professed tantra enthusiast Dr. Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati to talk about how the myriad ways meditation can improve our lives.

With a little bit of gumption, we can intelligently shape the world that surrounds us. Learn how important but relatively simple it is to curate your life by studying the ancient minds and methods that thought about it first. Finish by talking to Ronald L. Banks about what it takes to live a minimal lifestyle.

So, what does ancient wisdom have to offer the modern world? In the course's final act, zoom outward to pinpoint key takeaways from all 10 episodes, determining for yourself which harmful stimulants you can cut and which techniques and habits you can adopt to live a more fulfilled and happier life.