516: How to become a happier person & find your meaning in life | Social scientist Arthur Brooks, Ph.D.

“Most people are happier at 70 than they were at 30," says Arthur Brooks, Ph.D.

Arthur, a social scientist and professor at Harvard, joins us to discuss how to maintain deep friendships, find your purpose, and strengthen your joy muscles, plus:

- The biggest myths about happiness (~00:10)

- How Arthur defines happiness (~03:23)

- Enjoyment vs. pleasure (~05:24)

- The problem with extreme thinking (~11:43)

- What we’re getting wrong about satisfaction (~13:43)

- How to find your life’s meaning (~16:56)

- How happiness changes as you age (~22:25)

- How to balance true happiness with achievement (~25:59)

- How to maintain deep friendships (~28:17)

- Do introverts make better friends? (~31:15)

- The power of gratitude for happiness (~34:36)

- Easy wins for lifelong happiness (~36:37)

- Why you should try “emotional caffeine” (~41:39)

- How Arthur strengthens his own happiness muscles (~44:21)

- How to make those around you feel happier (~47:13)

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Referenced in the episode:

- Arthur's book, Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier.

- Arthur's website.

- mbg Podcast episode #388, with Arthur.

- mbg Podcast episode #344, with Lisa Miller, Ph.D. & her research.

- mbg Podcast episode #435, #213 and #166, with Ryan Holiday.

- Check out Arthur's words in The Atlantic.

We hope you enjoy this episode, and feel free to watch the full video on YouTube! Whether it's an article or podcast, we want to know what we can do to help here at mindbodygreen. Let us know at: podcast@mindbodygreen.com.

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