Happiness Guru Arthur Brooks: A Personal Journey

Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and behavioral scientist, has made a name for himself by studying happiness. But his journey didn't start with a desire to help others. It began with a personal quest to understand his own unhappiness. He compared happiness to astronomy, thinking he could study it but not change it. His wife challenged him to try changing his own happiness. He took her advice and started teaching a class on the topic at Harvard. This personal transformation not only made him happier but also inspired others, including celebrities like Oprah and Matthew McConaughey, and even former presidents. One person deeply impacted by Brooks' work is David Cornbrooks from Arlington, Virginia. Diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, David found solace in Brooks' writing. He discovered the power of humility, a concept Brooks emphasizes. Humility, according to Brooks, is not something we naturally crave. Instead, we're wired to make ourselves look better than others. But by embracing humility, we can find a deeper sense of life. Brooks also delves into the idea that loneliness can be cured by helping others who are lonely. He believes that giving away happiness can lead to more happiness. He argues that happiness isn't just a feeling but a combination of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. Meaning, he says, is about understanding why we're alive and what we'd give our lives for.