Happiness Hacks That Actually Work (And What You’re Getting Wrong) with the World’s Leading Happiness Expert: Arthur Brooks
Dave Asprey
Nov 5, 2024
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Use Tylenol to alleviate emotional pain from social exclusion
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can literally mute the brain region responsible for the mental pain of social exclusion and heartbreak.
Prioritize fulfillment to avoid post-70 unhappiness
The people most likely to become unhappy after age 70 are those who had the most worldly success in their careers before 70.
Use sad music to process emotions and accelerate recovery
Listening to sad music when you're sad helps you connect with and understand your emotions, allowing you to recover more quickly.
Recognize emotions as data, not directives
The biggest mistake young people make is thinking feelings are good or bad; they are simply data from your limbic system telling your brain what's going on.
Express authentic amazement to build children's confidence
To build up your children, don't just say you're proud; find something they can do that you can't and express authentic amazement.
Manage desires for greater satisfaction and happiness
The formula for satisfaction is your 'haves' divided by your 'wants,' so managing your desires is a more efficient path to happiness than accumulating more.
Sculpt your life by removing excess for true happiness
In mid-life, happiness comes not from adding more to a full life (painting), but from chipping away commitments and possessions to reveal your essence (sculpting).
Honor pain as a catalyst for personal growth
Your suffering is unbelievably sacred, and the modern goal of pain elimination is a huge mistake for personal growth.
Recognize dopamine as anticipation, not reward
Dopamine is an anticipation chemical, meaning you often get a bigger rush thinking about getting something than you do from actually getting it.
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