Meet Eric Barker
Eric Barker is the creator of a blog called “Barking Up the Wrong Tree,” which presents scientific answers about how to ‘be awesome at life.’ He’s also the author of two bestselling books. “Barking Up the Wrong Tree” addressed the science of success and his new book, “Plays Well With Others,” addresses the science behind relationships. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and has an MBA from Boston College and a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA.
Why Eric Is Mentally Strong
Eric doesn’t just reshare information that is readily available. Instead, he goes deep into the research studies to separate fact from fiction. He then shares why so many of the lessons we’ve grown up believing aren’t actually true.
What You’ll Hear on the Show
How to define a friend How many friends it takes to improve your well-being Why friends may matter more than family when it comes to life satisfaction The link between friendship and happiness How friends can improve your health and help you heal from illness faster How spending time with friends might be worth $93,000 How to develop deeper friendships How too much small talk actually hurts relationships and what to do about it How work friends can make you 96% happier with your life Why it can be extra beneficial to have a community of friends who know each other How the modern world is creating more parasocial relationships and why this is a problem The dangers of loneliness Why you can feel lonely in a crowded room The cure for loneliness How to make friends as an adult How to feel like you’re lifelong friends with someone in 45 minutes The most important thing you can do to maintain the friendships you already have The two things that show us that we’re being a real friend Why we should focus more on connecting with people rather than impressing them
What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength
Many people pursue happiness as an individual goal. But, there’s a strong link between social relationships and happiness. Yet, friendship is a topic that is often neglected. We discuss the importance of strong family relationships, yet not everyone has a healthy family that bolsters good mental health.Friends are the relationships you choose. And choosing to develop relationships with people who support you can go a long way toward helping you become the strongest and best version of yourself.
Quotes From Eric
“Friendship is great. Communities are even better.” “A lot of social media ends up coming out of the buddy budget. It’s that the more time we’re on Instagram talking to people, the less time we’re usually doing it face to face.” “If you feel like you’re not connected—like people aren’t thinking of you or don’t care about you— then you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.” “If people don’t know about your struggles, they can’t help.”
More About the Podcast
The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes For media or public speaking inquiries, contact Amy here.
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