Podcast Summary: "Happier with Gretchen Rubin"
Episode: More Happier: How Do We Know Ourselves and Our Values? A Short Quiz Reveals So Much
Release Date: May 10, 2025

Introduction

In this engaging episode of "Happier with Gretchen Rubin," host Gretchen Rubin teams up with her sister, Elizabeth Craft, to delve deep into the realms of self-knowledge and personal values. The episode features a special guest, Susie Welch, a distinguished professor at NYU Stern School of Business, bestselling author, and creator of the Welch Bristol Values Inventory. Together, they explore how understanding one's values can significantly enhance happiness and life satisfaction.

Guest Introduction: Susie Welch

Elizabeth Craft introduces Susie Welch, highlighting her impressive credentials:

• Position: Professor at NYU Stern School of Business
• Initiative: Leads the NYU Stern initiative on purpose and flourishing
• Teaching: Conducts the highly popular class, "Becoming You"
• Authorship: Penned several New York Times bestselling books
• Consulting & Podcasting: Consultant for major American companies and hosts the rapidly growing podcast, "Becoming You"
• Latest Work: Authored a new book titled "Becoming Youg," focusing on discovering one's true self to craft a fulfilling life and career.

Elizabeth Craft:
"Susie is my new friend. Susie, you and I are double neighbors."
(02:07)

Susie’s PhD Achievement

A significant highlight of the conversation is Susie Welch's triumphant achievement of completing her PhD at the age of 65. She shares the emotional journey of her oral defense at the University of Bristol, England.

Susie Welch:
"My happiness is a shocker, which is that at the ripe old age of 65, I finally finished my PhD."
(06:42)

She recounts the intense moments during her defense, the camaraderie with examiners, and the overwhelming joy upon being awarded her doctorate.

The Importance of Values and Self-Knowledge

Gretchen Rubin emphasizes the transformative impact of understanding personal values on happiness.

Gretchen Rubin:
"Learning my values really did make me happier. I feel selfishly like it's really made me happier, but I feel like it's going to help a lot of people."
(05:45)

Susie concurs, highlighting the philosophical underpinnings of her work.

Susie Welch:
"When you have a language of values, it's so liberating."
(06:42)

They discuss how self-knowledge serves as a cornerstone for making informed life choices, enhancing personal fulfillment, and navigating complexities in relationships.

The Welch Bristol Values Inventory

At the heart of the episode is Susie Welch's development of the Welch Bristol Values Inventory, a modern, non-judgmental tool designed to help individuals identify and prioritize their values.

Susie Welch:
"I created a new values inventory, which I think is very modern and not judgy, which is called the Welch Bristol Values Inventory."
(17:14)

Key Features:

• Top Five Values: Provides users with their top five values with specificity.
• Conflict Identification: Highlights values that are in conflict.
• Values Gap Analysis: Illustrates the gap between held values and expressed values.

Susie Welch:
"The most powerful thing that it does that everyone should know is it tells you the gap between the values you hold and the values you're expressing."
(17:14)

The tool aims to offer actionable insights, enabling individuals to align their lives more closely with their core values.

Application of the Values Inventory

The discussion delves into practical applications of the Values Inventory, showcasing real-life scenarios where understanding values can resolve conflicts and enhance decision-making.

Susie Welch:
"If you have a very high value of say, scope, but you're in a job that's very routine... your variance could be up to 100%."
(18:15)

They explore how discrepancies between values and actions lead to feelings of dissatisfaction and how the inventory can help bridge that gap.

Elizabeth Craft:
"I took it and I was amazed at how many things became clear as I answered the questions which I had just never considered before."
(18:47)

Impact on Relationships and Personal Growth

Understanding and prioritizing values play a crucial role in interpersonal relationships and personal development. The hosts discuss how conflicting values can strain relationships and how clear communication about values can foster understanding.

Susie Welch:
"My husband's a workaholic... but it's actually about his high work centrism and my low work centrism."
(35:57)

They emphasize that recognizing and respecting differing values prevents misunderstandings and promotes harmonious relationships.

Gretchen Rubin:
"This gives you a way to say nobody's right and nobody's wrong. It's just that people have different values."
(34:23)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Susie Welch on Self-Knowledge:
  "When you have a language of values, it's so liberating."
  (06:52)

• Gretchen Rubin on Values and Happiness:
  "Learning my values really did make me happier."
  (05:45)

• Susie Welch on PhD Achievement:
  "At the ripe old age of 65, I finally finished my PhD."
  (06:42)

• Susie Welch on Value Conflicts:
  "Place is part of the values list because it can drive everything."
  (22:01)

• Gretchen Rubin on Value Prioritization:
  "To what degree do you organize your life around your values?"
  (22:05)

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, both hosts express their increased happiness and gratitude for Susie's contributions.

Susie Welch:
"I'm feeling so happy speaking to you. I feel great."
(38:36)

Elizabeth Craft:
"You can read her new book 'Becoming Youg' and take her online quiz to learn more about your values."
(39:06)

Gretchen Rubin closes with an inspiring quote, reinforcing the episode's theme.

Gretchen Rubin:
"The best time to start a happiness project is 20 years ago. The second best time is now."
(38:08)

Key Takeaways

• Self-Knowledge Through Values: Understanding and prioritizing personal values is pivotal for achieving happiness and fulfillment.

• Welch Bristol Values Inventory: A modern tool that helps individuals identify, prioritize, and align their lived experiences with their core values.

• Resolving Value Conflicts: Clear communication and understanding of differing values can mitigate conflicts in personal and professional relationships.

• Practical Applications: The Values Inventory offers actionable insights, enabling individuals to make informed life choices that resonate with their true selves.

For those seeking to enhance their self-awareness and align their lives with their core values, Susie Welch's "Becoming Youg" and the Welch Bristol Values Inventory present invaluable resources.