Below is a lesson from Kyle Maierhofer on what Arthur Brooks teaches us about happiness, as well as our key learnings.

The Blue Courage team is dedicated to continual learning and growth.  We have adopted a concept from Simon Sinek’s Start With Why team called “Learn, Share, Grow”.  We are constantly finding great articles, videos, and readings that have so much learning.  As we learn new and great things, this new knowledge should be shared for everyone to then grow from.

Unlocking Happiness: Key Learnings from Arthur Brooks' Teachings

By Kyle Maierhofer

This is Arthur Brooks.

A Harvard professor who teaches happiness to MBAs, CEOs, and politicians.

His classes are impossible to get into and even have a "grey market" zoom link.

Here's 9 of his ideas that unlocked my happiness journey (and can do the same for you).

Professor Brooks teaches three tenants to cultivate happiness:

1. Understanding what it is

2. Practicing habits that enable it

3. Teaching what you've learned

Continue reading here.

Key Learnings:

1. 1. Understanding Happiness: Happiness is not a destination but a journey. The goal is to "be happier" and it's achieved through the steps taken on the journey of happiness.

   2. Nature and Happiness: Biological and societal drives push us towards pursuits like money and power, but true happiness requires recognizing and aligning these pursuits with greater intentions.
   3. Love People, Not Things: Prioritize relationships over material possessions. Happy people focus their time, love, and attention on people, not on accumulating things.
   4. The Dark Side of Success: Success addiction can lead to neglecting important aspects of life. It's important to build an integrated life where personal and professional aspects complement each other.
   5. Money and Happiness: While money can improve well-being at low levels, beyond a certain point, it doesn't significantly increase happiness. Focus on how money enables happiness habits rather than chasing it for its own sake.
   6. Happiness as a Habit: Cultivate happiness through habits involving relationships, meaningful work, and spirituality, reminding yourself that the world is bigger than you.
   7. Eulogy Virtues vs. Resume Virtues: Prioritize virtues that you want to be remembered for, such as love and character, over career achievements and accolades.
   8. Sharing Happiness Knowledge: Teaching others about happiness can increase one's own well-being. There's a poetic beauty in spreading happiness.
   9. In summary: focus on the importance of understanding happiness, prioritizing relationships, balancing success with personal life, and finding fulfillment beyond material pursuits.True happiness comes not from external achievements but from internal growth and meaningful connections with others.