No. 1 Happiness Expert If Your Friends Get Divorced So Will You! Single Friends Will Keep You Single! Obesity Is Contagious

In this engaging conversation, Arthur Brooks, a Harvard professor and happiness expert, delves into the complexities of happiness, debunking common misconceptions and highlighting the scientific underpinnings of well-being. Brooks emphasizes that happiness isn't a feeling but a pursuit of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning, and he discusses the contagious nature of emotions, the importance of struggle for joy, and the fallacy of arrival. He also touches on the genetic components of happiness and the influence of social connections on our well-being. The discussion further explores the distinction between empathy and compassion, the benefits of metacognition, and the power of focusing on what we can control. Throughout, Brooks offers practical insights into achieving a happier life, informed by both research and personal experience.

• Arthur Brooks shares his personal increase in happiness over time.
• He attributes his happiness growth to cracking the code of happiness.
• Brooks is a Harvard professor, social scientist, and author focused on teaching happiness.

"I take the same test year by year, and I am 60% happier than I was five years ago because I finally cracked the code."

"I am dedicated to lifting people up and bringing them together using the science and ideas around human happiness."

• The quote reveals Brooks' personal measure of his happiness and his professional dedication to enhancing happiness in others.
• His work involves applying scientific insights to improve well-being.

• Happiness is partially genetic, with about 50% determined by genetics.
• Introverts may experience more long-term happiness.
• Happiness can spread like a virus from person to person.

"I've studied the science of happiness, and I found that most of what society tells us is wrong."

"Happiness is about 50% genetic."

• Brooks challenges common societal beliefs about happiness and emphasizes genetic factors.
• The science behind happiness is complex and often misunderstood by society.

• Obesity, divorce, and happiness can be contagious among social networks.
• Happiness has been declining since 1991, which may be due to a lack of struggle and suffering.
• The "arrival fallacy" leads to the misconception that achieving a certain goal will bring happiness, whereas satisfaction often comes from progress.

"They were looking at the trajectory of people's lives, measuring everything for many years, and they found obesity is contagious."

"The problem is happiness has been in decline since about 1991."

• Brooks discusses research showing the spread of obesity and happiness within social groups.
• He notes a societal decline in happiness and suggests that overcoming challenges is essential for joy.

• Struggle and suffering are necessary for experiencing joy.
• The failure of diets is linked to the arrival fallacy.
• Progress, rather than the achievement of a goal, brings more satisfaction.

"Of the reasons is that we need struggle and suffering for us to actually get the joy that we seek."

"You actually get more satisfaction from the progress."

• Brooks explains that difficulties are integral to happiness.
• He points out that the journey towards a goal is often more satisfying than the goal itself.

• Arthur Brooks suggests four goals that lead to a happier life.
• He emphasizes the importance of setting realistic and meaningful goals.

"There are goals that actually do lead to the happiest life, and the more you have, the better off you are."

• The quote implies that certain goals are more effective in leading to happiness.
• Brooks hints at specific goals that contribute to a fulfilling life.

• Brooks teaches happiness and leadership at Harvard University.
• His research spans social psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics.
• He aims to educate future leaders on happiness to improve their success and well-being.

"I teach at Harvard University."

"I'm a professor of leadership, technically at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School."

• Brooks describes his academic position and the subjects he teaches.
• He highlights his focus on leadership and happiness, aiming to influence future leaders.

• Happiness within countries and communities can be measured over time.
• There is a decline in happiness in OECD countries since 1990.
• Measuring happiness across countries is methodologically flawed due to varying internal standards.

"You can look at the average well-being across a population where people are having more or less the same experience."

"In most of the OECD countries, including the United States and UK, our countries, happiness has been in decline since about 1990."

• Brooks discusses the possibility of measuring happiness within a consistent context.
• He notes a downward trend in happiness within developed countries.

• Arthur Brooks admits he is not naturally happy and has worked to overcome this.
• Research on identical twins shows a significant genetic component to personality and happiness.
• Brooks uses his background to shape a better life for his family.

"It's hard for me. I'm not a naturally happy person."

"Between 40 and 80% of your personality is genetic."

• Brooks shares his personal struggle with happiness and the genetic influences on it.
• He acknowledges the impact of genetics on personality traits, including happiness.

• Hope is crucial for survival and recovery from illness.
• Losing a spouse can impact survival, particularly for men due to differences in social relationships.
• Hope affects physiological processes and overall well-being.

"Hope is super critical on illness, on everything."

"When they give up, they don't take care of themselves, they don't do what they need to do."

• Brooks emphasizes the importance of hope in health and longevity.
• He explains how a lack of hope can lead to negative health behaviors and outcomes.

• Agency, the belief in control over one's life, correlates with happiness and longevity.
• Learned helplessness, a lack of perceived control, can degrade quality of life and reduce success.
• Empowering people to manage their internal states can increase power and hope.

"If you want to be happier, you need to understand the science."

"When you take on the identity of victim, you learn your helplessness, and that will degrade your quality of life."

• Brooks stresses the need for understanding happiness to improve it.
• He discusses the detrimental effects of adopting a victim mentality and the benefits of self-management.

• Happiness consists of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning.
• It is not a feeling but rather a pursuit of these three elements.
• Understanding the components of happiness provides strategies for becoming happier.

"Happiness is unattainable because it's a direction, not a destination."

"Happiness is something a lot more tangible. You start getting happier. The beginning of happiness, of getting happier, because true happiness is not the goal."

• Brooks clarifies that happiness is an ongoing pursuit, not an endpoint.
• He outlines the tangible aspects of happiness and its pursuit as a journey.

• Enjoyment differs from pleasure and involves people and memory.
• Pleasure is limbic and tied to survival, while enjoyment is a human experience involving the prefrontal cortex.
• Addictive behaviors focused on pleasure can lead to unhappiness.

"Enjoyment is not the same as pleasure, because pleasure is limbic."

"Anything that can be addictive, which pleasure-filled things typically can. If you do them compulsively over and over and over again, it will make you less happy."

• Brooks distinguishes between the biological basis of pleasure and the fuller experience of enjoyment.
• He warns against the pursuit of pleasure alone, as it can detract from happiness.

• The advertising of alcohol often depicts social situations to associate the product with happiness.
• Pleasure is increased when combined with social interactions and positive memories, leading to enjoyment.
• Alcohol companies aim to link their brand with the concept of happiness, not just immediate pleasure or potential addiction.

"Alcohol plus people plus memory equals enjoyment, and that leads to happiness because they want to join their brand to happiness, not just to pure pleasure and certainly not to addiction."

The quote explains how alcohol companies market their products by combining the pleasure of alcohol with the joy of social interaction and positive memories, thereby associating their brand with overall happiness rather than solitary consumption or addiction.

• Coca Cola advertisements focus on social enjoyment, such as sharing drinks during the World Cup with friends.
• While sugar and caffeine in sodas can be addictive, they are less likely to cause severe addiction compared to substances like alcohol.
• The enjoyment of soda is heightened in social settings, contributing to happiness rather than just pleasure.

"All the Coca Cola ads are like the World cup with your friends in summer with your friends."

This quote highlights the marketing strategy of Coca Cola, which emphasizes the social and enjoyable aspects of consuming their product, rather than the addictive properties of sugar and caffeine.

• Satisfaction is derived from overcoming challenges and the subsequent rewards.
• The ability to defer gratification is linked to greater success and happiness.
• Struggle and suffering are necessary components of achieving true joy.

"Satisfaction is the joy you get after struggle."

The quote summarizes the concept of satisfaction, emphasizing that it is the feeling of joy experienced after overcoming challenges, which is a crucial aspect of happiness.

• The Marshmallow Experiment by Walter Mischel tested children's ability to delay gratification.
• Children who waited for the second marshmallow tended to be more successful in various aspects of life.
• The debate continues over whether the ability to delay gratification is due to nature or nurture.

"The real question is, who's the 20%? It's Steve Bartlett. These are the people that went on to do distinguished things."

This quote refers to the results of the Marshmallow Experiment, highlighting that a minority of children who could delay gratification achieved greater success, like the mentioned Steve Bartlett.

• Emotional and physiological homeostasis means returning to a baseline state after highs or lows.
• The pursuit of happiness can lead to a hedonic treadmill, where satisfaction is fleeting, and desires continually increase.
• Managing desires is crucial for long-term satisfaction.

"Your satisfaction doesn't come from all the things that you have. So have more is not the right strategy. Satisfaction is all the things you have divided by the things that you want."

This quote explains that satisfaction is not about accumulating possessions but about the balance between what one has and desires. It suggests that wanting less can lead to greater satisfaction.

• Striving is not inherently bad, but the reward should be found in the process rather than the outcome.
• The "arrival fallacy" is the mistaken belief that reaching a goal will bring lasting happiness.
• True satisfaction comes from progress and the journey itself.

"What you wanted was not arrival. What you wanted was progress."

The quote challenges the common goal-oriented mindset, proposing that the desire for progress is more fulfilling than the actual arrival at a goal, which is often subject to the arrival fallacy.

• Goals that lead to lasting happiness involve faith, family, friendship, and work that serves others.
• Traditional goals related to money, power, pleasure, and fame can be intermediate goals but should not be the ultimate aim.
• The right goals for the new year should focus on deepening relationships and finding meaning in service.

"The four goals that really matter are faith, family, friendship and work that serves others."

This quote lists the four key areas that should be the focus of one's goals for true happiness, emphasizing the importance of relationships and service over material or superficial achievements.

• Fitness goals should be sustainable and centered on health and happiness rather than aesthetics.
• Consistency in healthy habits is more important than achieving temporary physical goals.
• Fitness can help manage negative affect, which is crucial for overall well-being.

"Working out every day is much easier than working out as often as I can."

The quote suggests that establishing consistent daily routines, such as regular exercise, is more effective for maintaining health and happiness than sporadic efforts.

• Meaning consists of coherence, purpose, and significance.
• Finding meaning involves understanding why one is alive and for what they would be willing to die.
• The quest for meaning is a personal journey that requires deep introspection and clarity of values.

"Meaning is really a combination of three things. It's coherence, purpose, and significance."

This quote defines meaning as a triad of understanding the reasons behind events, having direction in life, and feeling that one's existence matters, all of which contribute to a fulfilling life.

• Arthur Brooks emphasizes the importance of seeking purpose and meaning in life rather than waiting passively for it.
• He suggests that coherence, significance, and purpose are key components of meaning.
• To start the journey of finding purpose, he recommends asking oneself two questions: "What am I willing to die for?" and "Why am I not dead yet?"

"You have to have a much better, more specific sense of what you're looking for. And these things, coherence, significance and purpose as part of meaning, are the way to do it."

This quote underlines the necessity of actively searching for meaning in life through self-reflection and understanding one's core values.

• Steve expresses concern for those who don't know what they would die for or why they are alive.
• Arthur Brooks sees this uncertainty as an opportunity for an adventure to discover those things.
• He suggests that there are things worth discovering but one hasn't been actively seeking them.

"It's incredibly good news because that's the basis of your adventure, is to find those things."

Arthur Brooks frames the lack of known purpose as an exciting starting point for personal exploration and growth.

• Arthur Brooks distinguishes between finding enjoyment and finding meaning.
• He asserts that while enjoyment is a pillar of happiness, it is not the same as finding one's meaning in life.
• He encourages asking different questions to navigate towards meaning rather than just seeking enjoyment.

"What I enjoy is a different pillar of happiness. A lot of people will say, if I figure out what I enjoy, then I'll find my meaning. No, those are different."

This quote clarifies that enjoyment and meaning are distinct aspects of happiness and that understanding this difference is crucial in the pursuit of a fulfilling life.

• Arthur Brooks advises starting with a moral foundation to find answers to life's purpose.
• He recommends identifying moral principles and non-negotiables as a basis for living.
• He cites Carl Jung's assertion that happiness stems from living in accordance with one's beliefs, and unhappiness from violating them.

"What do I think is right and wrong? What are my moral principles? What are my moral non negotiables? That's the moral basis of living."

The quote highlights the importance of understanding and adhering to one's moral convictions as a foundation for a meaningful life.

• Arthur Brooks explains that acting against one's beliefs, such as cheating, causes unhappiness because it is self-destructive and violates one's sense of integrity.
• He references various wisdom traditions that view sin as inherently self-harming rather than simply offending a deity.
• The discussion extends to the concept of agency, where failing to resist negative impulses can lead to feelings of helplessness.

"That's making them unhappy because that's doing violence to their own sense of propriety. You're hurting yourself."

This quote explains that the discord between one's actions and morals is a source of personal distress and undermines one's self-perception as a good person.

• Arthur Brooks outlines a three-part plan to begin finding answers to questions about meaning.
• The first part involves laying out one's moral philosophy and making a plan to live according to it.
• The second part calls for contemplation and experiencing transcendence through practices like mindfulness or prayer.
• The final part is about acquiring wisdom through reading philosophical and religious texts.

"So do the work. What do I believe? Spend some time in contemplation and do the reading. Your life's about to change."

This quote summarizes the actionable steps one can take to align their life with their beliefs and embark on a path toward deeper meaning.

• Arthur Brooks shares his experience of collaborating with Oprah Winfrey on a book.
• He describes Oprah's focus on lifting people up and using her influence in service to others.
• The book they co-authored is about managing emotions and focusing on what matters in life.

"But she's always looking for. It's interesting because she has the money and power and fame, and she uses them. She's cracked the code. She uses them in service of other people."

The quote illustrates Oprah Winfrey's commitment to using her resources and platform to positively impact others' lives, in alignment with the book's message.

• Arthur Brooks explains the Panas score system, which assesses the intensity of positive and negative moods in individuals.
• He categorizes people into four types based on their mood intensities: Mad Scientists, Cheerleaders, Poets, and Judges.
• Each personality type has its strengths and roles, with implications for entrepreneurship, leadership, and relationships.

"Everybody's got more or less the same emotions. Everybody feels joy and interest and surprise and anger and sadness and disgust and fear. But we have them in different intensities depending on who we are."

This quote introduces the concept that while emotions are universal, the intensity with which individuals experience them varies, shaping their personality and interactions.

• Arthur Brooks discusses the importance of seeking complementarity rather than similarity in relationships.
• He believes that differences between partners can be enriching and lead to personal growth.
• He warns against the desire to change one's partner to be more like oneself, as it can harm the relationship.

"You shouldn't look for your clone, you should look for your compliment."

Brooks advises that finding a partner who complements rather than mirrors oneself can lead to a more fulfilling and balanced relationship.

• Arthur Brooks identifies relationships and love as a primary area of interest for his students when discussing happiness.
• He notes that many are at an age where they are seeking meaningful connections and contemplating their future relationships.
• The discussion underscores the significance of love and relationships in the pursuit of happiness.

"It's the number one area of interest of my students."

This quote reflects the high priority that young adults place on understanding love and relationships in the context of achieving happiness.

• The process of falling in love involves a neurochemical cascade in the brain.
• CEOs are often dismissed for inappropriate relationships, with a common theme of not understanding what happened to them.
• Brain scans of people in love resemble those of methamphetamine addicts.
• Initial attraction triggers a hormonal reaction involving testosterone and estrogen.
• Subsequent increase in noradrenaline and dopamine leads to anticipation of reward and euphoria.
• A dip in serotonin levels causes ruminative and infatuated behavior.
• The ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for rumination, becomes more active with low serotonin.
• The attachment phase involves oxytocin, which creates a strong bond between individuals.

"I mean, somebody who's really in love has brain activity. It looks an awful lot like a methamphetamine addict's brain scan."

This quote highlights the similarity between the brain activity of someone in love and that of a drug addict, emphasizing the intensity of the neurochemical reactions involved in love.

"After that, you see a dip in serotonin, which is really interesting."

The quote discusses the decrease in serotonin levels during the process of falling in love, which is linked to increased rumination and infatuation.

"So it's like, and the longer you let it go, the harder it is for your brain not to be really captured."

Arthur Brooks explains that as the process of falling in love continues, it becomes increasingly difficult for the brain to resist the effects of the neurochemical changes, similar to addiction.

• Contrary to popular belief, being in love, particularly in the early stages, does not equate to happiness.
• Early stages of love are associated with jealousy and surveillance behaviors, which are not conducive to happiness.
• Evolutionary psychology suggests that sexual jealousy differs between men and women due to historical reproductive concerns.
• Men are most provoked by sexual infidelity, while women are more affected by emotional infidelity.
• The prevalence of misattributed paternity is discussed as an evolutionary concern for men.

"Are people that are in love and in relationships happier? Statistically, no."

Steve's question and Arthur's response clarify that statistically, being in love does not guarantee happiness due to the complex emotions involved.

"Nobody would say that when I'm surveilling my intimate partner, that's when I'm happiest."

Arthur Brooks emphasizes that behaviors driven by jealousy, such as surveillance, are not associated with happiness, despite being common in romantic relationships.

"The most jealousy provoking thing for men is an image of their intimate partner having sex with somebody else. For women, it's an image of their intimate partner saying, I love you to somebody else."

This quote explains the different triggers for jealousy in men and women, rooted in evolutionary psychology and reproductive strategies.

• Experimental tests show that performing moral deeds leads to greater happiness than moral thoughts or self-care activities.
• Charitable giving and volunteering can counteract loneliness and lead to increased personal happiness and empowerment.
• Helping others allows individuals to focus less on their own problems and gain a sense of perspective and peace.
• Arthur Brooks' research suggests that giving love leads to receiving love, and helping others can have a lasting positive impact on mood.

"If you're lonely, the most important thing you can do is volunteer."

Arthur Brooks advises that volunteering is a key action to combat loneliness, as it shifts focus from oneself to others and fosters a sense of connection.

"When you give love, you get love."

This quote summarizes the reciprocal nature of altruism, where giving love and help to others ultimately leads to receiving love and happiness in return.

• Emotional contagion is the phenomenon where emotions, both positive and negative, can spread like a virus among people.
• The emotional state of CEOs and leaders can significantly influence company culture and the mood of employees.
• Families and social groups are susceptible to emotional contagion, which can impact the overall well-being of its members.
• It is important for individuals to surround themselves with positive influences to avoid the spread of negativity.

"Negativity is a virus. But so is positivity that you can actually."

Arthur Brooks describes how both negativity and positivity can spread contagiously, affecting the emotional climate of groups and organizations.

"I can pretty quickly ascertain which virus is going around."

This quote illustrates Arthur's ability to detect the prevailing emotional state within a company, highlighting the impact of emotional contagion in the workplace.

• Living near a happy friend or family member increases the likelihood of becoming happier oneself.
• The Framingham heart study showed that happiness, obesity, and divorce can all spread through social networks.
• The proximity and intimacy of relationships strengthen the transmission of these social phenomena.

"Living within a mile of a friend or family member who becomes happier makes you 25% likelier to become happier, too."

Arthur Brooks cites a study that demonstrates the influence of geographical proximity on the spread of happiness within social networks.

"The more proximity that they have to you measured geographically, or in terms of the intimacy of the relationship, the stronger the transmission mechanism."

This quote explains that both physical closeness and emotional intimacy amplify the effect of social contagion in terms of happiness and other behaviors.

• There is a distinction between empathy, which involves feeling someone else's pain, and compassion, which is about taking action to help.
• Over-empathizing can lead to paralysis and may not be helpful, whereas compassion involves doing what is necessary for someone's well-being, even if it is difficult.
• In parenting, it is important to be compassionate rather than overly empathetic to effectively guide and support children.
• Taking care of one's own happiness is crucial to avoid being overwhelmed by others' negative emotions and to be able to offer genuine help.

"The best way to be a parent or a partner or a friend is to be compassionate. And that's not the same thing as empathy."

Arthur Brooks differentiates between empathy and compassion, advocating for the latter as a more effective approach in relationships and support systems.

"Take care of your own happiness so that you're not getting this negativity virus all the time."

This quote advises individuals to prioritize their own well-being in order to avoid being affected by the negative emotions of others and to maintain the capacity to help effectively.

• Extroverts tend to experience more positive affect and short-term happiness due to their sociable nature.
• Introverts, while they may not exhibit as much outward happiness, have deeper connections and more meaningful long-term relationships.
• The balance between enjoying social interactions and the need for alone time can indicate one's position on the introversion-extroversion spectrum.

"Extroverts, they tend to get more enjoyment, and introverts tend to get more meaning."

Arthur Brooks contrasts the types of happiness experienced by extroverts and introverts, with extroverts finding pleasure in social interactions and introverts deriving meaning from deeper connections.

• Metacognition is the practice of thinking about one's thinking and taking time to process emotions.
• It involves moving the experience of emotions from the limbic system to the prefrontal cortex, enabling a logical response to fears and anxieties.
• Journaling and writing down fears can help focus and reduce anxiety by engaging the prefrontal cortex.
• Metacognition allows individuals to manage their emotions more effectively and can lead to improved mental well-being.

"Metacognition simply means thinking about your thinking and taking more time as you react to your emotions."

Arthur Brooks defines metacognition and explains its role in processing emotions to achieve a more balanced emotional state.

"Writing journaling is phenomenal."

This quote highlights the value of journaling as a metacognitive practice to manage anxiety and fears by focusing and articulating them.