Arthur C. Brooks

There is no age or time of life that isn’t still an opportunity for personal progress.

We evolved to form snap judgments about who’s friend and who’s foe, but we need to be more evolved now.

An uninhibited quest for authenticity sounds great. But if that just means acting out, you’re unlikely to be so happy.

The key to transcendence starts with a practice, not your feelings.

If you feel too rushed even to read this, then your life could use a change.

The great Swiss psychoanalyst left us a surprisingly practical guide to being happier.

The research shows that you probably have less effect on your kids than you think—with one major exception: Your love will make them happy.

Sick of standing in line? Instead of looking at your phone, read on.

It can ruin your relationships.

Knowing how this most visceral emotion can be abused by bad actors is your best defense.

Tibetan Buddhist wisdom you can use

The science of how to stop saying yes to everything—and be happier

Grumbling about something can feel as if it offers relief, but it spreads misery. Here’s how to break the habit and make everyone happier.

Think of romance as being like a business start-up: You have to be prepared for failure, and learn from it, to realize ultimate bliss.

Do you have an important project in mind? The 19th-century philosopher’s approach is still timely today.

The less debt you carry, the happier you’ll be.

It can be lonely in the corner office. So it’s worth knowing that you could be sacrificing a little happiness.

That person who poses as your ally but isn’t? Here’s a way to ensure you’re not one.

Take a cue from the Danish philosopher: Instead of seeking a new life, go deeper into the one you have.

A good place to start is simply by writing down what’s bothering you.

Your future will probably be better than your past.

Amid the seasonal whirl of hedonistic excess, try taking a quiet moment out.

If mementos of personal triumphs are starting to make you feel like a has-been, you might be better off without them.

The placebo effect can’t cure disease, but it really can work for you.

Here are some rules for deciding whether a new social-science finding is really useful to you.

Ancient philosophers proposed it, modern researchers have confirmed it: Being thankful is good for you.

Talking about ourselves too much hurts our happiness—and can signal deeper problems.

When Shakespeare called a good night’s rest the “balm of hurt minds,” he was really onto something.

“Who in the world am I?” asks Alice in Wonderland. It turns out that business school has a useful theory to help you answer that.

The question of whether sugar is simply a treat or actually a nasty trick goes way beyond Halloween.

You’re bound to come across the “Dark Triad” type of malignant narcissists in life—and they can be superficially appealing. Better to look for their exact opposite.

The business world turns out to have a very useful metaphor for people thinking about how to find happiness in a romantic partnership.

To see yourself as you truly are is to discover the rewards of being more humble.

The philosopher Bertrand Russell knew something about unhappiness. He also knew how to overcome it.

The way to break the cycle is by creating meaningful boundaries between work and life.

The most important thing to realize is that happiness is not a destination but a direction: How you travel through life is what counts.

The best lesson from Mike Tyson’s boxing career is not about ring craft; it’s about having the right goals in life.

All it takes is matching your personality to the holiday.

Simply seeking out people who are different from you will make you smarter and more contented.

A partial “sorry” is worse than none.