High achievers are great at chasing success, but often struggle to enjoy it. Harvard professor, bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist Arthur Brooks has spent decades studying what creates happiness, what undermines it, and how to build more of it into our lives. In his new book The Happiness Files, he shares science-based insights from his How to Build a Life column and his Harvard course “Leadership and Happiness.” Arthur reveals why achievement alone can leave you feeling empty, the “arrival fallacy” that traps strivers, and the three ingredients for lasting fulfillment—helping you shift from chasing happiness to building it.

Show Notes

• Why reinventing yourself every 7–12 years can create a richer, more fulfilling life. (2:10)
• Arthur’s approach: treat your life like a startup. (6:25)
• Haves ÷ Wants = Fulfillment (9:56)
• Happiness is not a feeling. Pursue enjoyment, satisfaction and meaning. (11:29)
• The arrival fallacy: the misconception that reaching a specific goal or milestone will lead to lasting happiness (13:50)
• Why high achievers often have trouble with enjoyment or meaning (18:42)
• The six keys to building a meaningful life (21:21)
• True enjoyment comes from pairing the things you love with people and memories. Treat your leisure as seriously as your work. (23:26)
• High performers aren’t afraid of failure itself; they’re afraid of how they’ll feel if they fail. Confronting those emotions head-on, repeatedly, is the path to freedom. (26:33)
• The Striver’s Curse is realizing your dreams—only to find they were the wrong ones, leaving you successful but unfulfilled. (31:50)
• Why strivers are most likely to be lonely and the difference between real friends and deal friends (34:02)
• Why you need a reverse bucket list (37:22)
• The formula for true life success: love people, use things, and worship the divine. (42:37)

Resources / People Mentioned

• The Happiness Files by Arthur C. Brooks
• How to Build A Life (Atlantic column)
• Office Hours with Arthur Brooks (podcast)
• Build the Life You Want by Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey
• Harvard Business School: Leadership and Happiness
• The Way of a Pilgrim (book)

 Recommended For You

Did you enjoy this episode? Then listen to:

• Simon Sinek on How to Lead with an Infinite Mindset
• Gretchen Rubin on Habits to Increase Your Happiness
• Adam Grant on Finding Motivation and Meaning at Work

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