Arthur Brooks’ life mission revolves around sharing his profound insights on happiness with the world. As a Harvard professor, this is precisely what he is paid to do. In his own words, “The secret to happiness is actually teaching happiness. That’s the reason I do it.”
To his surprise, his lessons reached far beyond the confines of the classroom, even catching the attention of one star student – Oprah Winfrey. During the pandemic, Oprah found herself in search of inspiration and hope, stumbling upon Brooks’ column in The Atlantic. She eagerly anticipated each installment, as they delved into the art of building a fulfilling life.
It was this fascination that led Oprah to directly reach out to Brooks. When asked about his initial reaction to hearing Oprah’s voice over the phone, he humorously replied, “Well, I said, ‘Yeah, and I’m Batman!'” But it was indeed Oprah, and she extended an invitation for dinner. Brooks quipped, “And I’m thinking, ‘What happened to my life?’ You know, I’m just a college professor who stumbled upon Oprah Winfrey’s tea house.”
Oprah saw Brooks as the perfect individual to engage in conversations about emotional well-being and the pursuit of happiness. She firmly believes in the power of sharing, whether it be bread or information, as it makes life richer. To disseminate their wisdom, the pair decided to co-author a book titled “Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier,” which was published by Portfolio on Tuesday.
This book challenges conventional notions about happiness. Is money a prerequisite for happiness? Brooks emphatically states, “No.” What about fame? Another resounding “No.” Power? Not at all. Good looks? Absolutely not. In fact, Brooks and Oprah argue that these pursuits often lead to misery.
Social media plays a significant role in shaping society’s perception of happiness. People constantly compare their lives to the carefully curated snapshots of others, which breeds envy. Oprah candidly shares how, over her 25-year career interviewing over 37,000 individuals, she encountered countless individuals who expressed a desire for happiness without truly defining what it meant. It is this lack of self-definition that prevents people from embarking on a true journey towards happiness.
According to Brooks, happiness is a delicate balance of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. Enjoyment derives from genuine connections and cherished memories, far different from fleeting pleasure. Satisfaction arises from overcoming struggles and achieving one’s goals. However, the concept of meaning is the most challenging to grasp. It involves finding coherence and purpose in life, recognizing that events and experiences happen for a reason.
When asked about their personal sources of happiness, both Oprah and Brooks shared glimpses into their lives. Oprah finds joy in nature and indulges in the simple pleasure of freshly baked olive bread. For Brooks, his basement gym is his happy place, where he can be found every morning at 5 a.m., followed by a cup of coffee. They both stress the importance of establishing routines and accepting unhappiness as an inherent part of the human experience.
In the end, Oprah emphasizes that while external circumstances may be beyond our control, we have complete control over our emotions. She cites the poem “Invictus” as a guiding principle, highlighting the power of taking control and steering one’s fate.
Together, Oprah and Brooks have embarked on a mission to teach others about the pursuit of happiness – a venture that brings them great fulfillment.
READ AN EXCERPT: “Build the Life You Want” by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey
For more info:
Story produced by Amiel Weisfogel. Editor: Carol Ross.
More Norah O’Donnell
Norah O’Donnell is the anchor and managing editor of the “CBS Evening News.” She also contributes to “60 Minutes.”
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
