Overview of the Course

Most approaches to wellbeing focus on isolated habits, motivational slogans, or quick fixes. This course takes a systems-based biological approach. Thriving is not constant positivity or relentless optimization—it is the capacity of brain and body systems to regulate under stress, adapt to change, and sustain health over time.

This course integrates neuroscience, physiology, psychology, and evidence-informed contemplative practices into a coherent framework—so you’re not left juggling disconnected advice. Instead of treating sleep, stress, mindset, or exercise as separate topics, we examine how they interact within an integrated nervous system.

We begin by building agency. You’ll clarify your values, intentions, and behavioral patterns, and develop a practical framework for assessing where your current systems support—or undermine—your wellbeing. From there, we examine the underlying science: neuroplasticity and epigenetics, large-scale brain networks, neuromodulators, and stress physiology. The goal is nervous system literacy—understanding the mechanisms that shape your experience.

The second half of the course turns knowledge into application. We explore how physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and other daily behaviors influence regulation. We then examine psychological and contemplative practices that measurably shape attention, emotional balance, and social connection.

Throughout, the emphasis is on sustainable patterns rather than short-term hacks. By the end of the course, you will have a systems-level map of how brain, body, and behavior interact—and practical strategies for cultivating durable resilience in a complex world.

This course is designed for curious adults, professionals, students, educators, and health-minded individuals who want depth without dogma and science without hype. No prior background in neuroscience is required—only a willingness to engage thoughtfully and apply what you learn.

This course will be freely available as written sessions and video lectures. Its purpose is education and public access to support wellbeing and thriving for a broad audience.

I am currently working on the course. If you are interested in being notified when it goes live, please send me a brief email at john@johnguzowski.com.

Origins of the Course

This course grew out of a course I designed and taught at the University of California, Irvine: The Mind-Body Connection in the Neuroscience of Wellbeing (BioSci 48). Over multiple offerings, students from diverse backgrounds and majors engaged deeply with the material, applying biological and psychological principles to their own lives.

The overwhelmingly positive feedback reinforced something important: people are hungry for rigorous science presented in an integrated, practical way. This online version builds on that foundation and expands it for a broader audience.

Student Reflections from the Original University Course

The original university course on which this material is based was taught at the University of California, Irvine and received consistently exceptional student evaluations. In 2023 and 2024, I was ranked within the top 10 out of more than 2,900 eligible faculty for the Professor of the Year award.

Here are a few testimonials out of hundreds from student evaluations and Professor of the Year nominations:

• “Best course I've taken at UCI. Life-changing knowledge and actionable information.”

• “This class gives you the tools necessary to thrive and WHY they work.”

• “The structure of the course was well-designed. The instructor started with an overview of lifestyle practices, then taught us about systems and cellular neuroscience, before diving deeper into how the lifestyle practices connected to the neuroscience.”

• “One of the most important classes I have ever taken at UCI. It improved my life pretty substantially and I think will help me in my personal life for years to come.”

• “This course has been instrumental not only in my academics but my overall wellbeing. I have been implementing changes in my life based on the data presented & observations.”

• “He explains everything in the most simple way… relates the course material to our surroundings and daily life which makes it really easy to understand.”

• “The course allows students to become empowered to take control of their mental health through understanding the neuroscience behind the wellbeing practices and lifestyle choices they make.”

• “I have learned how basic cellular neurobiology is affected by well-being practices such as mindfulness, exercise, adequate sleep and nutrition.”

• "One of the most important classes I have ever taken at UCI. … It improved my life pretty substantially and I think will help me in my personal life for years to come. Take it!

• "Even though I have been studying wellbeing techniques on my own for over a year, this course has significantly changed how I view diet, exercise, sleep, and mindfulness and led me to be happier and more motivated in my daily life."

• "“The material covered is so important and helpful in learning how to live our best lives. I think everyone would benefit from a class like this one.”