The Rich Roll Podcast – Build The Life You Want: Arthur C. Brooks on Happiness, Transcendence & Creating Greater Life Satisfaction

Intro

In this episode of “The Rich Roll Podcast”, host Rich Roll interviews Arthur C. Brooks, a social scientist, public speaker, and professor at Harvard. They discuss the pursuit of happiness, the four pillars of happiness, managing emotions, making difficult decisions, and finding meaning in life.

Main Takeaways

The Pursuit of Happiness

• Happiness is not a destination, it’s a direction.
• Pursuing happiness in the usual places like promotions or bank accounts is a mistake.
• Happiness is a byproduct of pursuits less appreciated like relationships, doing hard things, creating value for others, and being in communion with the transcendent.

The Four Pillars of Happiness

• Brooks’ latest book, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, is entitled “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier” and focuses on strengthening the four pillars of happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith.
• Substance or activity abuse should be avoided, and one must be careful and stay away from anything that can lead to addiction.

Managing Emotions

• Dopamine is the neuromodulator of the anticipation of reward, not reward itself.
• Emotional self-management is key to managing urges and desires.
• Three techniques to be less governed by your feelings: practice, more time between what you feel and how you react, and analyzing someone else’s problem to see it as less of a problem.

Making Difficult Decisions

• Cultivating new habits is uncomfortable but necessary for personal growth and change.
• Contrary action, or doing the opposite of what our gut is telling us to do, can help us reassess our decisions and lead to personal growth.
• Hold yourself accountable to your mission statement and rate yourself regularly.

Finding Meaning in Life

• Meaning has three parts: coherence, purpose, and significance.
• Knowing what you believe and living according to it is the secret of happiness.
• Find a higher power of your own making and connect your life to something bigger than yourself.

Summary

The Pursuit of Happiness

Happiness is not something we can achieve by focusing solely on external achievements like promotions or accumulating wealth. Instead, happiness is a direction we move towards by nurturing relationships, engaging in challenging activities, creating value for others, and connecting with something greater than ourselves.

The Four Pillars of Happiness

Arthur C. Brooks emphasizes the importance of strengthening the four pillars of happiness: family, friendship, work, and faith. These pillars provide a solid foundation for a fulfilling life and should be prioritized over pursuits that can lead to addiction or temporary pleasure.

Managing Emotions

Brooks explains that dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is responsible for the anticipation of reward rather than the reward itself. By practicing emotional self-management and creating more time between feeling and reacting, we can gain better control over our urges and desires. Analyzing someone else’s problem can also help us gain perspective and react more thoughtfully.

Making Difficult Decisions

Growth and personal change often require cultivating new habits, which can be uncomfortable. Contrary action, or going against our initial instincts, can help us reassess our decisions and lead to personal growth. Holding ourselves accountable to our mission statement and regularly evaluating our progress can also contribute to a more fulfilling life.

Finding Meaning in Life

Meaning in life is composed of coherence, purpose, and significance. It is important to identify our beliefs and values and live consistently with them. Connecting to something bigger than ourselves, whether through faith or a self-defined higher power, can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

Conclusion

Arthur C. Brooks highlights the importance of prioritizing relationships, engaging in meaningful work, and finding purpose in life. By focusing on these aspects and practicing emotional self-management, individuals can build a happier and more fulfilling life. It is a journey that requires self-reflection, making difficult decisions, and connecting to something greater than ourselves.