For Harvard Professor, Arthur Brooks, what does it mean to be a “professor of happiness”? It’s not about teaching people to chase fleeting feelings or superficial joys. It’s about understanding happiness as a profound, multidimensional experience. At its core, happiness is not just a feeling. It’s a combination of three essential elements: enjoyment, purpose, and satisfaction. Let’s dive deeper into each of these.

Enjoyment: More Than Pleasure

Enjoyment goes beyond mere pleasure. Pleasure is a biological response—a reward from the ancient parts of your brain, like the limbic system, urging you to repeat an action. Think of the pleasure of tasting a delicious dessert. It’s momentary and automatic.
Enjoyment, however, is enriched by your humanity. It requires intention and often involves sharing experiences with others. Imagine savoring a Thanksgiving dinner with loved ones—it’s not just about satisfying your hunger but also about creating memories. True enjoyment activates a different part of your brain, the prefrontal cortex, and becomes part of your long-term happiness.

Purpose: Finding Meaning in Life

Purpose is the compass guiding your life. But here’s the paradox—true meaning often comes through struggle. People discover their resilience and life’s purpose during times of challenge: losing a loved one, enduring hardships, or overcoming failures. These moments of suffering forge meaning and enrich life in ways comfort cannot. As strange as it sounds, the path to happiness often passes through unhappiness.

Satisfaction: The Elusive Prize

Satisfaction is perhaps the trickiest to master. It’s the joy of reaching a goal—a feeling you get when you graduate, land your dream job, or achieve something significant. Yet, satisfaction is fleeting. The “new car smell” fades, and the California sunshine eventually becomes just another part of the daily grind. Why? Our brains are wired for homeostasis, always bringing us back to baseline, preparing us for the next challenge or opportunity.

So, what do we do? Are we doomed to this endless treadmill? Not at all. The key is to shift focus from what you have to what you want.

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The Formula for Lasting Happiness

True satisfaction is not about increasing what you have but about managing what you want. Think of it like a fraction:
Satisfaction = What You Have / What You Want

Most people work hard to maximize their “haves.” They chase promotions, buy bigger houses, or aim for grander achievements. But if your “wants” grow faster than your “haves,” satisfaction becomes elusive. The secret lies in reducing your wants. As the Dalai Lama wisely said, “Learn to want what you have, not to have what you want.”

The Reverse Bucket List

Instead of listing things you desire, make a list of cravings you’re ready to let go of. Free yourself from the constant chase. When you detach from the idea that you need something to be happy, you find peace. This doesn’t mean you stop striving, but it does mean you stop equating happiness with achievements.

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Anchoring Happiness in the “Good Four”

If material pursuits won’t bring lasting satisfaction, what will? Focus on these four pillars of life:

1. Faith: Cultivate a sense of something larger than yourself. This doesn’t have to be religious—it could be meditation, a walk in the forest, or connecting with ancient wisdom. The goal is to zoom out and find perspective.
2. Family: Treasure the unbreakable bonds, even when they’re challenging. These are the people you turn to at 2 AM in a crisis. Don’t let trivial disagreements damage these relationships.
3. Friends: Seek real friendships, not transactional ones. True friends enrich your life and support your growth.
4. Work: Meaningful work isn’t about titles or paychecks. It’s about earning success through effort and serving others. Any job can be fulfilling when it meets these criteria.

These four pillars represent different kinds of love—love for life, for family, for community, and for purpose.

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Rethink Happiness, Rethink Life

Happiness is not about chasing the next big thing or running faster on the treadmill. It’s about managing your desires, cherishing connections, and aligning your work with deeper values.

Ask yourself:

• Am I focusing on the right things?
• Have I been chasing temporary highs instead of lasting fulfillment?
• How can I bring faith, family, friends, and meaningful work into the center of my life?

Happiness isn’t about having more; it’s about wanting less—and appreciating what truly matters. If you’re ready to step off the treadmill, you might just find that the joy you’ve been seeking was within reach all along.