Disclosure: This episode was sponsored by Kajabi. This post may contain affiliate links or links to the sponsor’s website. If you purchase an item using this affiliate link, Impact Theory may receive commission. Right now, Kajabi is offering a 30-day free trial to start your own business if you go to https://bit.ly/ImpactKajabi. You can try Aura for free for two weeks at https://bit.ly/3KJd7mC. The Smart, Simple Way To Stay Safe Online. Unlock your potential and transform your life 2024: https://bit.ly/3wB2YUL As simple as the idea of happiness seems on the surface, people still struggle with feeling lost, unhappy, and unfulfilled at an alarming rate. In this thought-provoking episode of Impact Theory, Arthur Brooks and I go deep, exploring the connections between evolutionary psychology, technology, religion, and the human desire for purpose & happiness. Arthur Brooks is a social scientist, Harvard professor, and bestselling author committed to helping people find success, happiness and deep meaning. He's a profound thought-leader in the space and recently released a book with Oprah called Build the Life You Want, The Art and Science of Getting Happier. Order a copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Life-You-Want-Science/dp/0593545400/ We touch on: - The potential of using idols for good - Differentiating between pain and suffering - The role of hard work, skill development, and outward focus for personal happiness - Distinguishing between transient pleasure and true enjoyment - Understanding your “why” and staying true to your personal values - Man’s tendency to pursue money, power, pleasure, and fame - Why hard work is a natural part of human happiness - Using creativity to reach flow-state and rediscovering yourself - The importance not allowing your views to define you Tune into this episode of Impact Theory as Arthur walks us through the challenges faced when questioning the world and the existential search for happiness so you can take practical steps towards more fulfillment and meaning in your life. Chapter Markers: [0:00] Chasing the Substitutes to God [12:38] Polarity of Values & Fear [34:53] Pleasure vs. Fulfillment [1:09:42] Why We’re Lost & Unhappy [1:45:00] Dating, Love & Sex [2:19:56] Ultimate Path to Success [2:43:06] Simulation Creates Illusion [3:06:27] Four Pillars to Build the Life You Want Powerful Insights From Arthur Brooks: “The best thing that you can possibly do is to think about the emotions that you're feeling, what they mean and how best to use them.” “All the things we really want in life. All of our deep desires are complex. All of our solutions are complicated, and we're throwing complicated solutions at complex problems and we're not getting happier.” “The first one is that there is meaning. You need to find it and live up to it.” “The essence of consciousness is one that gives you incredible transcendental information, but at the same time, it programs in a whole lot of misery.” “People who have the earliest success, the mind blowing success, they're the most likely to be unsatisfied with their lives at the end of their lives.” “The ultimate entrepreneurial experience is to give away your heart and to take a chance, [...] Fall in love. That's entrepreneurship.” “Humans are not intended to decline. Decline is hugely painful because happiness comes from progress. Unhappiness comes from regress.” “The falling tide of your life looks like you're losing everything, get your line in the water, because that's the most fertile period of your life.” “Happiness and unhappiness are not opposites. They're not. They're different experiences.” “If you're denied the flow state that uniquely comes to you through creativity, you're gonna you're gonna be practically suicidal.” “Love is the opposite of fear, love will actually neutralize inappropriate fear or excessive fear.” “You can be in permanent disagreement, but in love equilibrium, we just have to be people that can do that.” “You got to figure out which one you are and you must surround yourself with what you're not” Follow Arthur Brooks: Website: https://arthurbrooks.com/ X: https://twitter.com/arthurbrooks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/ Follow Me, Tom Bilyeu: Website: https://impacttheoryuniversity.com/ X: https://twitter.com/TomBilyeu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tombilyeu/