Explore all emails from Arthur Brooks

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/wnh2hghq68vr7qsl/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) Hi Friend, Let me know if this scenario sounds familiar: You read a book that moved you, and told yourself that you were going to use its ideas to change your life. But then a few weeks passed—life, per usual, got in the way—and nothing really changed. Perhaps this describes you after reading my latest book, The Meaning of Your Life. If so, I have a solution. Building a more meaningful life requires more than reading alone. To begin transforming your life, you need time away from your routine. You need a physical space that invites reflection instead of distraction. And you need a small group of honest people wrestling with the same questions you are. (Exploring life’s ineffable questions with others, as I argue in my book, helps you to understand your own answers more fully.) This is why I’ve spent the last several months building something with MEA, a transformational science-backed retreat center. Together, we’ve created a new retreat ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/08hwh9h2rqwmezcp/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) held at the breathtaking Rising Circle Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, designed to take this work off the page and into real life, and taught by MEA’s expert facilitators, master navigators who don’t hand you a map, but teach you how to read your own internal compass through the shifting seasons of life. The June session is the inaugural gathering, and to celebrate, I’ll be stopping by in person to help teach some of the sessions. That will be followed by an intimate couples retreat ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/vqh3hrhor83n0muw/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWVhd2lzZG9tLmNvbS93b3Jrc2hvcC90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi11cy8= ) hosted by me and my wife, Ester. ​ -->Learn More ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/08hwh9h2rqwmezcp/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) Learn More ( https://retreats.arthurbrooks.com/ )​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/08hwh9h2rqwmezcp/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) The Meaning of Your Life, June 14th - 19th Built around the framework in my book of the same name. Several days of real work in a small cohort, focused on the questions most of us have been quietly postponing: Why do things, good or bad, happen in my life? Why am I moving in my current direction? Why does my life matter? You’ll leave with clarity about which parts of your life need nourishing, tools for breaking the doom loops that keep you stuck, and a small group of peers who walked those days alongside you. While future retreats will be taught by MEA’s master facilitators, I’ll be dropping by in person to help teach at this inaugural session. I hope you’ll join me! Learn more here. ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/08hwh9h2rqwmezcp/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ ​ The Meaning of Us, June 19th - 22nd A retreat for couples—and one my wife Ester and I will be leading together. I’ll be bringing my background in behavioral science, and Ester will be bringing her background in philosophy and theology. Our hope is that entwining these disciplines will be interesting and useful to you, but above all, we’ll have one big goal: exploring ways to fall in love more deeply, which will help you stay in love for life. It’s the only time we’re doing this together this year. If that sounds like something you and your partner are ready for, visit here to learn more. ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/l2hehmhl7wvo2ecg/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tL2NvdXBsZXM= )​ Space is limited, and discounts are available for those who choose to attend both sessions. See you in Santa Fe, ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/wnh2hghq68vr7qsl/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) P.S. — There’s a short video at retreats.arthurbrooks.com ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/08hwh9h2rqwmezcp/aHR0cHM6Ly9yZXRyZWF0cy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) where I walk through what the experience is actually like. If you’re on the fence, start there. ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/m2h7h5h3zw0o55sl/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/dpheh0henrwq6nil/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/e0hph7h7o5wkvgc7/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/7qh7h8h953p0l2s9/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/owhkhqhwd5l492cq/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/z2hghnhex0ro6lsz/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp/x0hph6he0xdn2mbg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/4zu96drw7zfehp8o7kmcxh69kodoza5h6m6zp )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/dpheh0hen0069vbl/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, If you’ve picked up a copy of The Meaning of Your Life ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/7qh7h8h95ool25a9/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi15b3VyLWxpZmU= ), you’re aware that one of the fastest ways to find meaning is to get out into nature. That’s my topic today. But before I get to that, let me put in a quick plug for my column this week at The Free Press, where I weighed in on the recent social media volley between President Trump and Pope Leo. What’s a serious Catholic supposed to think and do? My view is here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/owhkhqhwdrr9mvbq/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL3AvYXJ0aHVyLWJyb29rcy13aGF0cy1hLWdvb2QtY2F0aG9saWM= ). (Free Press subscribers get immediate access; if you’re not subscribed yet ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/p8heh9h4ozz6wnhr/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL2FjY291bnQ= ), please do consider it.) One of the weird things about professor life is that, while I stay the same in age every year, my students seem to get younger and younger. Early in my career, I was pretty close in age to my graduate students. Now, well…let’s just say that if I dug up my old fake ID—which said I was 21 when I was actually 17, so I could buy beer—I could get Medicare instead. Yours truly, age 17. I thought that wispy ‘stache would make me look nearly 21. Staying in close contact with a lot of young adults doesn’t tempt me to try to fit in. (“Good morning, fellow youths!”) But I do learn their lingo. For example, lately they use the following expression: “Touch grass.” (No, you degenerates, that has nothing to do with the demon weed you and your ne’er-do-well friends were smoking back in the 70s.) It means to get in touch with reality by going outside in nature without your phone. For a lot of them—and us—natural beauty has become quite rare, and not an ordinary part of life. Today, 85 percent of adults say they spent more time outside when they were kids than today’s children.¹ The trend away from nature has some straightforward explanations. First, the world is more urbanized, so nature is less at hand. Second, technology is displacing the outdoors as a primary source of recreation and activity; this is especially true for young people. No surprises there. If this predicament describes you—an urbanite with an indoor job, who spends their leisure time on devices—then you might be suffering from elevated stress, anxiety, even depression. Nature is a cure for that. The evidence that time spent in nature raises happiness is abundantly clear, but the reasons why are less intuitive.² For example, those who spend more time in nature tend to be less concerned about the opinions of others, and nature time even works to increase our creativity and problem-solving abilities. Put differently, nature helps to break the monotony of everyday life; best of all, it helps us transcend ourselves. Want more of these benefits? Try these three ideas. * Take a vacation outdoors. Perhaps you’re currently planning your summer vacation. If so, resist the urge to visit another urban area. Try somewhere with trees, mountains, water, or all three. * Use nature to recalibrate your body and mind. Countless experiments show that natural light synchronizes our circadian rhythms. Ditch your devices and go outside first thing to walk and watch the sun rise. Your well-being will improve almost immediately. * Make nature contact a daily habit. Years ago, I also started walking after lunch and dinner. I quickly found that this practice calmed me down and helped me focus on what truly matters: my faith, family, friendships, and the meaning in my work. I live in an urban area in Virginia, but I have routes near my home that maximize my contact with nature, including parks and even a small forest. Not everyone has a forest handy; as a general rule, just get the most green where you can walk. If you’re interested in a deeper dive on the benefits of nature and how to get more of it in your life, I covered this topic on my podcast, Office Hours ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/x0hph6he0ww2vqcg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9wb2RjYXN0L3doeS15b3UtbGl0ZXJhbGx5LW5lZWQtdG8tdG91Y2gtZ3Jhc3M= ), this week. I hope it will inspire you to go touch grass. See you next week, fellow youths, Arthur ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/dpheh0hen0069vbl/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) P.S. If you have a second, I wonder if you might help me out with the following digital poll. I want my weekly emails to be maximally interesting to you, so please vote below on which theme you’re most keen to see in future issues. (Antics and nonsense from my life are not a choice below, because those are coming, whether you want them or not.) What topic would make you most excited to open next week’s email? --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2ODkmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Daily happiness habits ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2ODkmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTAmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Finding meaning ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTAmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTEmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Work, success, and career fulfillment ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTEmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTImdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Love and relationships ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTImdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTMmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Aging well and the second half of life ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTMmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) --> ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTQmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) Faith, spirituality, and philosophy ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/6qheh8hle77r83s9/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2xscy5raXQuY29tLzQxNTMzP29wdGlvbl9pZD0xNDk2OTQmdG9rZW49Z2t1cDg1Z2tlcWE1aGx3NDZlNWlyaDhvZGdwZW1ibWhvN29xNA== ) References​ ​ [1] “Global survey finds we’re lacking fresh air and natural light, as we spend less time in nature.” (21 May 2019). VELUX and YouGov [2] Capaldi, C. A., Dopko, R. L., & Zelenski, J. M. (2014). The relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in psychology, 5, 92737. ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/kkhmh6hnvllw0psk/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/58hvh7hg2mmxdef7/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/25h2hoh3w229krs8/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/qvh8h7hdprrw97ug/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/g3hnh5hmw3394lh3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/9qhzhnhdrppwoxfz/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/3ohphkh3g77me9up/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) This newsletter aims to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit to become happier. Every week I go deeper on these ideas over at The Free Press. You can read my full columns here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4/n2hohvhv033qzkt0/aHR0cHM6Ly8wYjdjMjdhMS5jbGljay5raXQtbWFpbDMuY29tL240dTRnbXpxcXZ0dmh4MDh6M3JiNmg2d3EwMHdsZmxoZzdnMjQvN3FoN2g4aDlsNTg0b2xzei9hSFIwY0hNNkx5OTNkM2N1ZEdobFpuQXVZMjl0TDNjdllYSjBhSFZ5TFdKeWIyOXJjdz09 ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4 ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/gkup85gkeqa5hlw46e5irh8odgpembmho7oq4 )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/reh8hohmz3o245a2/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Before we get into the newsletter this week, a couple of quick academic updates. The first is my Free Press column this week: “Grade Inflation Won’t Make You Happy.” You may have heard that the faculty at Harvard are starting to think about how persistent grade inflation is harmful to students. With a little economic theory, I break down the controversy. Read the full column here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/08hwh9h2r9povmfl/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL3AvYXJ0aHVyLWJyb29rcy1ncmFkZS1pbmZsYXRpb24td29udA== ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access; if you’re not subscribed yet ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/8ghqhohon270zlbk/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL2FjY291bnQ= ), please do consider it. Second, I announced last week that I’ll be stepping back from my full-time professorship at Harvard. Don’t worry, I’m not doing so “to spend more time with my family.” HAHA, Heaven forbid! No, I am just reorganizing the schedule so that I can spend more quality time out on book tour, enjoying airport lounges and Courtyard Marriotts. I’ll announce some new academic affiliations in the coming weeks. And speaking of book tour, I feel a little like Johnny Cash in his 1996 classic, “I’ve Been Everywhere.” Fortunately, that’s because my book ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.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 ) has stayed atop the charts, opening at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Thanks for picking up a copy of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness. Get it before they run out! (Actually, they won’t run out. They’ll cut down the last tree on Earth to make more copies, if necessary.) Now, on to the newsletter content you have been hankering for. (Hankering!) If you celebrated Easter, you might also have observed the Lenten season. During this time, many Christians made a Lenten resolution: usually, that meant giving up something they enjoyed (like sweets) as a form of sacrifice. But now that we’re beyond Lent, let me ask: Did that resolution stick? In the same vein, even if you don’t observe Lent, have you lived up to your New Year’s resolutions? Probably not. I’ve spent a lot of time studying resolutions, and the data are pretty grim. For example, among Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, about 50 percent fail by this time of year. The problem is that most resolutions are about self-denial: quit the sweets, stop doom-scrolling, skip the blacked-out benders to Vegas in stolen school buses that involve a high-speed police chase across four state lines. (Well, that seems oddly specific.) These types of resolutions are often unsuccessful in the long-term because they are negative in nature. In contrast, successful resolutions tend to be more associated ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/z2hghnhexkm4nxsp/aHR0cHM6Ly9wdWJtZWQubmNiaS5ubG0ubmloLmdvdi8xMTkyMDY5My8= ) with the positive: * Practicing self-liberation (that is, strengthening willpower by reinforcing the belief that one can change) * Rewarding oneself for ongoing success * Avoiding situations of temptation * Engaging in positive thinking (envisioning success) So, here’s the answer: deploy positive substitution, not mere self-denial. Instead of denying yourself the sweets, focus on filling up on tasty, healthy food. Don’t command yourself to stop scrolling through social media before sleep; leave the phone downstairs, and pick a good book to bring to bed. And rather than relying on sheer willpower to curb your uncontrolled Vegas benders, try moving to a cabin off the grid in northern Saskatchewan. One last point. The meta-goal of any resolution should be more love and happiness. You’re not substituting alcohol with exercise to lower your LDL cholesterol per se; instead, you’re doing so to have more years with the ones you love the most. So when in doubt, recall your meta-goal. And prepare to be happier via your new habits. With love from my family to yours, Arthur ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/reh8hohmz3o245a2/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) P.S. What happens in Saskatchewan stays in Saskatchewan. ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/6qheh8hle53kzmto/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/25h2hoh3w8qv6xa3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/qvh8h7hdp4l7zxcl/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/3ohphkh3g2kom2ir/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/n2hohvhv0xl8qgf6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/48hvhehm8p75lqix/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/8ghqhohon270dlck/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) This newsletter aims to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit to become happier. Every week I go deeper on these ideas over at The Free Press. You can read my full columns here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox/m2h7h5h3zqlg5eim/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL3cvYXJ0aHVyLWJyb29rcw== ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/mvup3rogw6a5hqz2womtmhrx8xn3nf3h5w5ox )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/58hvh7hgx4m5e6b6/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Dear friends, Happy Easter to all who celebrated it this past Sunday and will continue all through the octave. I hope you got a lot of chocolate eggs in your basket, as well as those marshmallow Peeps that we all say are gross, but secretly love. Some of my happiest memories are of Easter mornings as a child, gorging myself on refined sugar before heading off to church. That is, until my health-conscious mom (who baked all our bread, kept us on a vegetarian diet six days a week, canned our vegetables, and made us take brewer’s yeast pills) put her foot down and decided our Easter baskets would henceforth contain sunflower seeds and a block of cheese. No, I’m not kidding. Yes, I am still bitter. From my column this week Every week, I go deeper on the science of happiness over at The Free Press. This week's topic is “Don’t Waste Your Suffering.” Why do we suffer, and how do the bad times facilitate meaning? And, paradoxically, why do our attempts at eliminating suffering backfire so terribly? I explore those questions in this week’s column, which also happens to be an excerpt from The Meaning of Your Life ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/25h2hoh39q275qs3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi15b3VyLWxpZmU= ). Read the full column here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/9qhzhnhdweppkkt9/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL3AvYXJ0aHVyLWJyb29rcy1kb250LXdhc3RlLXlvdXItc3VmZmVyaW5n ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access; if you’re not subscribed yet ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/n2hohvhvql33wxa6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL2FjY291bnQ= ), it’s worth it. A huge thanks to all of you who picked up a copy of my new book The Meaning of Your Life ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/25h2hoh39q275qs3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi15b3VyLWxpZmU= ). I’m delighted to report that it debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. This book was years in the making, and I’m glad that so many people are enjoying it. If you haven’t already, please do feel free to pick up copies ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/25h2hoh39q275qs3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi15b3VyLWxpZmU= ) for yourself and a few thousand of your closest friends. In the media for the book, I recorded a lot of fun podcasts with interesting people. For example, a few days ago, I sat down with Trevor Noah on his show What Now? At the beginning of a fantastic and fun conversation, he asked me, “Are we happy yet?” My honest answer was that most people don’t actually know. Not because we haven’t thought about it, but because we don’t know how to measure it, or if it is possible to measure at all. It turns out happiness is measurable. If you follow my work, you’ll be familiar with what I believe is the best definition of happiness: Happiness = Enjoyment + Satisfaction + Meaning For a good measure of this, which gives a comparison with others in the population and a breakdown across the three “macronutrients,” you can take this test ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/48hvhehml7rrz9tx/aHR0cHM6Ly9sZWFybi5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tL3RoZS1oYXBwaW5lc3Mtc2NhbGU= ) on my website. You’re probably well aware that the globe is in the midst of an unhappiness epidemic. Lots of people have their opinion as to why, but I believe the deepest culprit is a crisis of that last macronutrient, meaning. That’s a big problem, which is why it is the focus of my new book. The first step in acquiring more meaning is knowing where you stand. How much meaning do you have in your life? And are you searching for it? You can take the Meaning in Life Questionnaire ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/reh8hohmdo009es2/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9xdWl6L21lYW5pbmctaW4tbGlmZQ== ) on my website, too—it’s completely free, and you’ll receive results immediately. This survey was created by academics twenty years ago and has been used widely by researchers ever since. Upon completion, you’ll be placed into one of four profiles of my own creation: * Relentless Seeker: You have a lot of meaning, but are actively searching for more * Happy Homebody: You’ve found meaning, and aren’t searching anymore * Hopeful Wanderer: You haven’t found meaning yet, but you’re looking hard * Lost in Place: You haven’t found meaning yet, and don’t know where to look Knowing your profile is an excellent first step on your adventure toward finding meaning in life. In upcoming issues, which I’ll deliver weekly on Fridays, this is the type of content you can expect: distilled, actionable material to help you on your journey. See you next week, Arthur ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/58hvh7hgx4m5e6b6/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) P.S. If you want to hear me explain the full framework in a more irreverent setting than I’m usually in, Trevor Noah and I covered all of it, plus failure, embarrassing moments, and why happiness is messier than we want it to be on What Now? You can listen here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/8ghqhohod7lleguk/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj14SFptdzNKaFQ0OA== ). ​ ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/m2h7h5h35l88kmum/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/dpheh0he6200z5hm/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/owhkhqhw90rr3ptv/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/p8heh9h46pzzkocq/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/e0hph7h7vd0098c8/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/z2hghnhe6m339zsp/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/kkhmh6hnwolld5cl/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) This newsletter aims to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit to become happier. Every week I go deeper on these ideas over at The Free Press. You can read my full columns here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg/9qhzhnhdweppqgt9/aHR0cHM6Ly8wYjdjMjdhMS5jbGljay5raXQtbWFpbDMuY29tL240dTRnbXpxcXZ0dmh4MDh6M3JiNmg2d3EwMHdsZmxoZzdnMjQvN3FoN2g4aDlsNTg0b2xzei9hSFIwY0hNNkx5OTNkM2N1ZEdobFpuQXVZMjl0TDNjdllYSjBhSFZ5TFdKeWIyOXJjdz09 ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/zlu5d27vkxhnhkxo6qgiphwl04ww7h6h9x9pg )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/8ghqhohodn35gosk/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Welcome back. This newsletter is coming straight from me again, and I couldn’t be happier to have this direct line to you. You may have received some of my work recently through The Free Press, where I’ve loved reaching new readers. But this newsletter has always been something different: a focused, weekly dispatch on the ideas and practices I believe can genuinely make your life better. (And once a month, a few details of my trials and tribulations as a road warrior.) My column this week in The Free Press was “Why Your Neighbor Became a Conspiracy Theorist. And Maybe You, Too.” It digs into what attracts people to conspiracy beliefs. I’m generally skeptical of what everyone seems to be saying and thinking—whether it’s the mainstream view or a conspiracy theory. Instead, I put my trust in the 19th-century American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, whose work for me is like a cool glass of water on a hot summer’s day. Perhaps his greatest essay is “Self-Reliance,” written in 1841. Try these choice nuggets from that essay for some key lessons for good living. “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist,” Emerson wrote. Even if you’re inclined to agree with the conventional wisdom, you should still be a skeptic, he believed. Think and act independently, because to embrace the wisdom of any party or clique is to put on a “prison-uniform.” Emerson did not mean doing everything for yourself, such as growing all your food or removing your own appendix. He meant making choices about your life and welfare based on independent beliefs and convictions—and avoiding cultural fads and ideological panics. So don’t conform; question everything. Of course, that means sometimes you’ll be wrong—so be willing to change your mind and own it. This is hard: People hate to appear inconsistent because they’re afraid of appearing weak or unserious, even hypocritical. Emerson dismissed this fear with one of his essay’s most famous lines: “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines.” He thought that you should say what you believe to be true today without apology, whether or not that matches what you said yesterday. A modern way of following this advice is to refuse to participate in ideologically polarized culture, especially online. Changing your mind openly is an important form of being honest, and complete honesty is crucial. You can make your own decisions and form your own beliefs only “by speaking the truth,” a matter so serious that he calls it “the state of war.” Before you dismiss this as hyperbolic, consider how much lying and appeasement is involved in taking the path of least resistance in life. To be truly self-reliant, you must have the courage to stand up to this placatory impulse. Emerson’s big takeaway: Think for yourself. Amen to that. *************** Personal Update *************** This is launch week for my brand-new book, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/l2hehmhl274kori6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1vZi15b3VyLWxpZmU= ). Do treat yourself to a copy, and maybe pick one for someone you love who’s feeling a bit lost. The book tour will consume my spring, so I will soon be feeling a bit lost myself, at least geographically. The routine starts with a week of media appearances in New York. I joined the anchors of CBS Mornings (where I am a contributor) for a few days, and did a lot of other television and radio interviews. Here I am talking to the wrong camera. Oops. In New York, I make sure to stay in a hotel with a beautiful view to lift my spirits. Behold the majesty of Mother Nature! Sometimes, the green room is comfortable. Sometimes, it’s more like a cell. Here I am comfortably relaxing in the latter, before a hit. I may be gone from home but at least my roommates can see me on TV. Next week starts the travel: Florida, California, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New Jersey; and always, plenty more New York. See you in the TSA line! Love, ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/8ghqhohodn35gosk/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) Arthur P.S. Now that my book is out, let me invite you to join our virtual membership ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/dpheh0he6nk7qdtm/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS90aGUtbWVhbmluZy1tZW1iZXJzaGlw ) to dig deeper on the concepts covered in The Meaning of Your Life. You’ll get monthly live training and a Q&A with me, unlimited access to my new “Ask Arthur” AI tool so that you can get answers to your questions at any time (it’s like having me talking to you at 3am—which is weird), curated readings, and more. If you choose the six-month option, you’ll receive two months for free—plus a one-time code for The Happiness Scale, my own research-backed assessment of your happiness. Our first live session is coming up on April 17. We’ll be discussing purpose, and how to define your personal baseline for meaning and build the foundational habits that make everything else possible. I hope to see you there! (And if you're interested in my column on conspiracies ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/7qh7h8h9l5840lsz/aHR0cHM6Ly9wcmV2aWV3LmtpdC1tYWlsMy5jb20vY2xpY2svZHBoZWgwaHpobS9hSFIwY0hNNkx5OTNkM2N1ZEdobFpuQXVZMjl0TDNBdllYSjBhSFZ5TFdKeWIyOXJjeTEzYUhrdGVXOTFjaTF1WldsbmFHSnZjaTFpWldOaGJXVXRZUzFqYjI1emNHbHlZV041TFhSb1pXOXlhWE4w ), please do give it a read!) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/p8heh9h46od79wfq/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/6qheh8hlrew2p9io/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/25h2hoh39wgo75i3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/9qhzhnhdwrx2p6t9/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/wnh2hghq764owoa7/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/8ghqhohodn35lofk/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/m2h7h5h35z9n8wsm/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) This newsletter aims to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit to become happier. Every week I go deeper on these ideas over at The Free Press. You can read my full columns here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2/7qh7h8h9l584olsz/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlZnAuY29tL3cvYXJ0aHVyLWJyb29rcw== ). Free Press subscribers get immediate access. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2 ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hn2vrm7t6h9lqgg3oanh343p2 )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hnxrl7kc6h9lno7rehnh343p2/m2h7h5h35mwo0nfm/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Tomorrow we’re gathering for the live launch event for The Meaning of Your Life, and I wanted to send you a quick reminder. Over the past week, I’ve been sharing some of the deeper questions behind this book. Questions about meaning, direction, and what it really means to live a meaningful life. Tomorrow, we’ll actually sit with those questions together. And I don’t want you to miss it. It won’t be recorded—it will only be available live. If you’ve been meaning to join, this is the moment. * Coherence: Why do things happen the way they do in my life? * Purpose: Why am I moving in this direction? * Significance: Why does my life matter? These are the questions I talk about in the book—and what we’ll explore together tomorrow. We’ll be starting live at 11am ET—and I’d love for you to be there when it begins. I hope you join me. Save your seat now. -->Save your seat for tomorrow ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hnxrl7kc6h9lno7rehnh343p2/dpheh0he68rqwqtm/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Save your seat for tomorrow ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hnxrl7kc6h9lno7rehnh343p2/m2h7h5h35mwo0nfm/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hnxrl7kc6h9lno7rehnh343p2 ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/5qumrw3z2pu7hnxrl7kc6h9lno7rehnh343p2 )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/6qheh8hlr7p28lfo/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, I thought you might enjoy seeing a few behind-the-scenes moments from the making of The Meaning of Your Life. Writing this book was a long and sometimes difficult process. You’ll see some notes, some manuscript pages, some moments from recording, and a few glimpses into what the process actually looked like. This book took a long time. Part of the reason is simple: it is the hardest book I have ever written. I say that very literally. In my work as a behavioral scientist, I am used to asking questions that data can answer. I am comfortable with evidence, models, analysis, and the kinds of problems that yield when you apply enough rigor. But the meaning of life is not that kind of problem. It belongs to a different category altogether. And so I found myself writing and rewriting, thinking and rethinking, because I was dealing not with a technical puzzle but with the deepest mysteries of human existence. I stayed with this project for so long because I have been on a journey to find the answers myself over the years. Like you, I’ve had seasons in life where things looked successful on paper but still left deeper questions unresolved. From the outside everything seemed to be moving forward. But internally the deeper questions about meaning, purpose, and direction kept returning. Those experiences pushed me to study happiness and meaning much more seriously. They eventually shaped the ideas that became this book. Years ago, when I was writing my first book, a friend told me, “Write one paragraph at a time.” I have never forgotten that advice. It is one of the ways I have learned to face big things in life: not all at once, but faithfully, piece by piece. This book was like that too. Paragraph by paragraph. Day by day. Question by question. I hope these behind-the-scenes moments give you a little glimpse into the care—and struggle—that went into this book.I’d love the chance to reflect on these questions of meaning together. If you’d like to celebrate the launch with me, come and join the live event on March 27th, where we’ll talk through these ideas together, with special guests. -->Register for the launch event ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/qvh8h7hdwr86meil/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Register for the launch event ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration )​ P.S. Pre-order for the book is still available. ​ -->Pre-order the book ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/qvh8h7hdwr86meil/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Pre-order the book ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/6qheh8hlr7p28lfo/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/3ohphkh3m7qd5gar/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/wnh2hghq7wro2ea7/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/8ghqhohodlg568uk/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/dpheh0he60q7lobm/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/z2hghnhe63odqdfp/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/6qheh8hlr7p2mlso/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq/58hvh7hgxm59r7a6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/92ulrpomk6tnh6wr7opb9hzd2n54ktwhz9zeq )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2/wnh2hghq7o2630c7/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Some of the most important things in life cannot be solved. They can only be lived. Love is like that. Beauty is like that. Faith is like that. And suffering is like that. One of the great confusions of modern life is that we are tempted to treat every human problem as if it were technical. We ask about the meaning of our lives the way we might ask how to build an app or improve a spreadsheet. But meaning is not that kind of question. It belongs to a different part of us. It requires contemplation, humility, mystery, and courage. (These are the kinds of things we’ll explore together in the live event ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2/8ghqhohod56nx4bk/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ).) I came to realize this during a reflective season of my own life, when deeper questions about meaning surfaced. This is one reason I write in the book about the need to reclaim the mystery of real life: love, beauty, faith, and the unknowable aspects of existence. Not because we should reject modern life, but because we need to put technology in its proper place—and stop allowing it to crowd out the deepest experiences of being human. In love, for example, the ancient Greeks believed that romantic love could begin with attraction, but if it matured properly, it could lead us toward beautiful souls, beautiful ideas, and ultimately toward what is most meaningful in life. That vision has always moved me because, in my own life, I have seen how love can mature into something far deeper than passion. At the beginning of love, there is passion. But if you are fortunate, and if you are faithful, that passion can become companionship in the search for meaning itself. And then there is faith. For me, faith does not mean having all the answers. It means accepting that much of life will remain a mystery—and that the mystery is not the enemy. It is part of the point. Faith knits together the parts of life that make sense with the parts that do not. This is the journey I’ve been on in my own life. It is not about optimizing our lives, but understanding them more deeply. If you’ve felt this tension—the sense that your life cannot be reduced to something to optimize, but must be understood more deeply—then don’t leave it here as just another idea. On March 27, I’ll be hosting a live conversation where we’ll explore these questions together—what they mean, how they show up in our lives, and how to live them on the journey toward meaning. These are not questions to postpone. -->Explore this live with me. ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2/8ghqhohod56nx4bk/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Explore this live with me. ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration )​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2/l2hehmhl2km7k0a6/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC12aXAtcmVnaXN0cmF0aW9u ) P.S. If you’re not able to join us live, you can read the opening chapter of the book here ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2/dpheh0he679n7ksm/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4ucHJvZC53ZWJzaXRlLWZpbGVzLmNvbS82OTA4OWRkM2ZiZTEwMTlhNzZjMzc4YjYvNjliMDE3YzQxYzgwMjBiOTZjMWQyMzA4X1RoZSUyME1lYW5pbmclMjBvZiUyMFlvdXIlMjBMaWZlJTIwRXhjZXJwdC5wZGY= ). 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2 ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/o8un7r4e6ohqh699wwnhvhqw987w8iohqrqz2 )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/l2hehmhl2v9wn0a6/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, If you read the preview excerpt ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/e0hph7h7vwg5lws8/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4ucHJvZC53ZWJzaXRlLWZpbGVzLmNvbS82OTA4OWRkM2ZiZTEwMTlhNzZjMzc4YjYvNjliMDE3YzQxYzgwMjBiOTZjMWQyMzA4X1RoZSUyME1lYW5pbmclMjBvZiUyMFlvdXIlMjBMaWZlJTIwRXhjZXJwdC5wZGY= ) I shared earlier this week, you may have already seen the three questions that structure the book—the ones I'll return to here. One of the most common mistakes ambitious people make is the assumption that once they achieve the goal, happiness will stay. It won’t. There is actually a name for this: the arrival fallacy. It is the false belief that when you get the promotion, build the company, publish the book, lose the weight, or hit the number, you will arrive somewhere emotionally permanent. You will feel done and settled. But that is not how human beings work. We adapt. We return to equilibrium. We cannot keep satisfaction in the way we imagine we can. This is why so many high achievers eventually become confused by their own lives. They have done what they said they would do. They have points on the board. But they still feel restless. Sometimes empty. Sometimes bored. Even strangely detached from the very life they worked so hard to build. The answer is not to stop striving. The answer is to stop expecting achievement to answer a question it was never meant to answer. Achievement can give you satisfaction. It cannot give you ultimate meaning. That is why in this book I focus on a deeper set of questions: Why do things happen the way they do in my life? Why am I moving in this direction? Why does my life matter? If these questions feel familiar, I’ll be exploring them in more depth during the live launch event on March 27. You’re welcome to join me. -->Join the event ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/z2hghnhe6rv0kocp/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Join the event ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration )Perhaps you've been living efficiently but without depth—productively but without peace—this book is for you. Eventually, every ambitious person runs into the same moment. You look at the life you’ve worked so hard to build, and a quieter question appears underneath the achievement: "What is all of this for?" I share how these questions can help you navigate your success, your ambition, and the search for meaning in your life. -->Pre-order the book ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/x0hph6he2d6xpea5/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC12aXAtcmVnaXN0cmF0aW9u ) Pre-order the book ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-vip-registration ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/l2hehmhl2v9wn0a6/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/9qhzhnhdw3mn6ra9/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/reh8hohmdvrn3ot2/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/08hwh9h2ew5q94al/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/l2hehmhl2v9w40u6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/7qh7h8h9lp738mcz/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/z2hghnhe6rv07oip/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk/x0hph6he2d6xzet5/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/0vu572nedgh9h9enwzkblhv8x3q35hnh9x9mk )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/z2hghnhe6773kkbp/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Before my next book, The Meaning of Your Life, comes out on March 31, I want to share an exclusive with you: an excerpt from the book. Let me start by saying, I wrote this book because I believe many people are living with an ache they can’t quite name. They are functioning. They are achieving. And they are staying busy. Somewhere underneath all of that is a quieter question: What is all of this for? That question became personal for me years ago. From the outside, my life looked full. Work was fulfilling. Opportunities were opening up. But the deeper questions about direction, purpose, and meaning didn’t disappear simply because things were going well. If anything, they became more persistent. So I began studying the science of happiness and meaning seriously—not because I had everything figured out, but because I needed the answers myself. That search eventually led to this book. It’s not a question you solve the way you solve a technical problem. You cannot answer it the way you would answer, “How do I lose ten pounds?” or “How do I get more done before lunch?” Meaning is different. It is deeper than that. It has to be lived. It has to be encountered. And in many cases, it has to be suffered for a little while before it becomes clear. In the book, I explain the idea that meaning has three parts: First, coherence: Why do things happen the way they do in my life? ​Second, purpose: Why am I moving in this direction? ​Third, significance: Why does my life matter? I think this excerpt—and the book—may speak to you, if these questions have been bothering you. -->Read the excerpt ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/e0hph7h7vee0lnh8/aHR0cHM6Ly9jZG4ucHJvZC53ZWJzaXRlLWZpbGVzLmNvbS82OTA4OWRkM2ZiZTEwMTlhNzZjMzc4YjYvNjliMDE3YzQxYzgwMjBiOTZjMWQyMzA4X1RoZSUyME1lYW5pbmclMjBvZiUyMFlvdXIlMjBMaWZlJTIwRXhjZXJwdC5wZGY= ) Read the excerpt ( https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69089dd3fbe1019a76c378b6/69b017c41c8020b96c1d2308_The%20Meaning%20of%20Your%20Life%20Excerpt.pdf )I’d love to know what you think when you read it. P.S. If what you read resonates, I hope you’ll preorder the book and join me for the exclusive global live launch event on March 27! -->Pre-order my copy ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/z2hghnhe6773keup/aHR0cHM6Ly9odWIuYXJ0aHVyYnJvb2tzLmNvbS9tZWFuaW5nLW9mLXlvdXItbGlmZS1ldmVudC1yZWdpc3RyYXRpb24= ) Pre-order my copy ( https://hub.arthurbrooks.com/meaning-of-your-life-event-registration ) ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/z2hghnhe6773kkbp/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/x0hph6he2zzwp3f5/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/58hvh7hgx00mnqc6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/qvh8h7hdwvvr4pil/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/n2hohvhvqgg3x7t6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/wnh2hghq744wkdi7/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/08hwh9h2exxdx0bl/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd/vqh3hrho044p4vbg/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) These aren't happiness hacks. They're weekly data-driven insights you'll actually use to live a happier and more meaningful life. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.kit-mail3.com/wvuwoqrv46fghk7grznt7hnz9qn5la8h4q4xd )​

​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/e0hph7h08r99zzu8/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== )​ Hi Friend, Thanks for subscribing. I’m genuinely glad you’re here. People often ask me if there’s a secret to happiness. I understand the impulse behind the question. Most of us are looking for something, a rule, a trick, a formula—that finally makes things click. But I think it’s the wrong question. Happiness isn’t a destination. You don’t arrive, unpack, and stay there. It’s more like a direction. Something you move toward. Something you practice. The real aim isn’t to be happy once and for all, but to become happ-ier over time. That’s what my updates are for. I’ll share ideas drawn from behavioral science and from real life, things I’ve learned through research, teaching, my own mistakes, and of course, the mistakes of others. You won’t find the typical “hacks” or “shortcuts” here. Just ways of thinking more clearly about your choices, your relationships, your health, meaning, and, of course, your happiness. I’ll help provide you with the tools to build this, day by day. Because this work is grounded in social science, I also pay close attention to data from real people. From time to time, I’ll invite you to pause and reflect on your own experience too. A good place to begin is with a simple question: Which do you find more difficult: happiness or unhappiness? It sounds odd at first, but the distinction matters more than you might expect. If you’re curious, you can explore it by taking the Happiness Scale ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/z2hghnhewzl2xghp/aHR0cHM6Ly9sZWFybi5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tL3RoZS1oYXBwaW5lc3Mtc2NhbGU= ), a science-backed assessment I created to measure well-being across enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. It’s designed to give you a clear snapshot of what’s supporting you, and where a small shift might make the biggest difference. And if you’d rather think through these ideas in a more conversational way, you might enjoy my podcast, ‘Office Hours ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/p8heh9h4xeqw0ksq/aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tL29mZmljZS1ob3Vycw== ).’ It’s where I talk through questions about happiness, work, love, meaning, and suffering (and more)—often the same questions people ask me in real life. You can listen to it on YouTube ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/dpheh0heqk3pv5um/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vcGxheWxpc3Q_bGlzdD1QTERrc1VOTkU5Z19aQzZZSjNlRzlsaFpyTU9HNklWdUdS ), Spotify ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/x0hph6henzgqo9h5/aHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3Nob3cvM2ZUMEZMRnNQZ1YybWJWanVPbzNKVj9zaT0zZmUzNDk0NmVjZTM0ZmYx ) and Apple ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/e0hph7h7kexr65u8/aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0cy5hcHBsZS5jb20vbm8vcG9kY2FzdC9vZmZpY2UtaG91cnMtd2l0aC1hcnRodXItYnJvb2tzL2lkMTgzMjExOTg0Mg== ) Podcasts. I hope what you find here is useful. And if at any point it’s not, you’re always free to step away. Warmly, ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/e0hph7h08r99zzu8/aHR0cHM6Ly9hcnRodXJicm9va3MuY29tLw== ) Arthur ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/z2hghnh3ql99g4tp/aHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9hcnRodXJicm9va3M= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/p8heh9hznqkkv2cq/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9hcnRodXJjYnJvb2tzLw== ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/x0hph6hw5q88gzi5/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZmFjZWJvb2suY29tL0FydGh1ckJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/6qheh8h7m9vvq6to/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGlua2VkaW4uY29tL2luL2FydGh1ci1jLWJyb29rcy8= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/reh8hohm5d8dpkh2/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vY2hhbm5lbC9VQ0d1eUZSakpRRkdDS3pmSFRCdldNNkE= ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/58hvh7hmr6ppe9b6/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9AYXJ0aHVyY2Jyb29rcz9sYW5nPWVu ) ​ ( https://0b7c27a1.click.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3/25h2hoh2kmrr57h3/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhyZWFkcy5uZXQvQGFydGh1cmNicm9va3M= ) This newsletter is aimed to provide a simple, practical weekly toolkit for everyone to become happier, and includes information from my "How to Build a Life" column published in The Atlantic. 1640 Boro Place Floor 4, Tysons, VA 22102 ​Unsubscribe ( https://0b7c27a1.unsubscribe.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3 ) · Preferences ( https://preferences.convertkit-mail2.com/qdu2wp4307h8ux6rg2tgu820mwkkb4h848x3 )​