“The easiest way to turn your values from a weapon into a gift is to close your mouth and listen when someone disagrees with you,” Arthur Brooks writes. “True listening is a gift—and people find it very persuasive”: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

Influence isn’t about shouting louder—it’s about listening with empathy. Real change happens when we offer our values as gifts, not weapons. My latest in @theatlantic. theatlantic.pulse.ly/ywrz0nihlb

Are you tired of the contempt that seems to pervade our society? I challenge you to consider a more radical and transformative approach—loving your enemies. It’s not about civility or mere tolerance, but a deliberate choice to will the good of others, even when it’s hard. This

“By understanding the inner workings of manifestation and using that knowledge the right way,” writes Arthur Brooks, “you can avoid the nonsense and realize a happier future for yourself”: theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

All of the pillars of happiness are about love, too: love for your family, love for your friends, love made visible by bringing your best self to work, and love for the divine through your transcendent journey.

Wake up an hour earlier. From my appearance on the Modern Wisdom podcast with Chris Williamson.

As uncomfortable as it is, regret is an amazing cognitive feat. It requires that you go back to a past scenario and imagine that you acted differently to change it, and with that new scenario in mind, arrive at a different present—and then compare that fictional present with the

Start with managing yourself, not with the outside world. From my conversation with Steven Bartlett.

No m'ha fet tanta il·lusió mai que em sortis un llibre. Al proper mes de novembre seré a Barcelona per presentar el llibre i signar exemplars. Podeu venir a escoltar el meu estrany accent en català.

Is meaning in life a struggle for you? Do you feel distracted by modern tech and unable to focus on what matters? Do you wish you were doing meaningful things but instead find yourself scrolling social media whenever you have a few minutes? Do you use dating apps but still

I'll speak at Action for Happiness today for self-care September about the science of happiness and how you can take better care of your happiness. It starts at 2pm ET / 7pm BST and will be an online event. Join me by clicking the link: actionforhappiness.org/build-happier-…

Psychologists have defined meaning as a combination of coherence (things happen for a reason), purpose (direction in life), and significance (your life matters). We can make do without enjoyment for a while, and even with little satisfaction. But if we lack meaning—which takes a

What is the current state of happiness?

If you walk the transcendental path, you will get happier, but only if getting happier is not your goal. Your goal must be seeking truth and the good of others.

We humans have a funny tendency to value what we are doing in terms of what people are giving us to do it. If someone pays us, it must be onerous—otherwise, they wouldn’t need to. That’s why the satisfaction in the experiments falls when the scientists introduce compensation.

True happiness isn’t found in the pursuit of pleasure, but in striving for something greater than ourselves. As John Stuart Mill reminds us, it’s the combination of purpose, personal growth, and social connection that leads to lasting fulfillment. theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…

I love coming to Utah and working with my friends at University of Utah. They are always so hungry to learn, but the real value is what I learn from them that I can take back to the rest of the country. They truly exemplify how to disagree constructively and exchange ideas across

Family life can be such a unique joy that no effort to build a happier life can neglect it. Even the best-adjusted families are challenging, especially surrounding conflict, compatibility, negativity, forgiveness, and honesty. To sum up, here are the main lessons to make each