Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by stlplace
(Always working in progress…)
(Update 11-04-2025) What Makes a Good Life? Lessons from the Longest Study on Happiness | Robert Waldinger | TED
(Original) 人生不如意十之八久下一句 (可与人言无二三): it seems to me it’s overly pessimistic? I don’t know.
Also, self-pity 自怜（自恋）is not good (Charlie Munger)
但开心和不开心都是人生常态[萌萌哒R] (Quoting a friend, do you want to know who is that friend 🙂
1. 是的。但是我想我们很多时候还是希望有亲人朋友可以倾述自己心里真实的感受：I understand it’s a luxury a lot of times.
2. 我觉得你说的很对/ spot on (or hit the nail on the head). For me I still work on it: setting realistic or low expectations for other people; hang out with my tribe (friends who can tolerate me 🙂
Harvard happiness professor Arthur Brooks
人生真正的快樂是什麼？大多數人都理解錯了… ► 聽聽哈佛教授怎麼說 – Dr. Arthur Brooks 阿瑟·布魯克斯（中英字幕）
哈佛教授：這才是人生真正快樂的3大要素 ► 少了其中一項，你這輩子就不會真正的快樂 – Dr. Arthur Brooks 亞瑟．布魯克斯（中英字幕）
Harvard Professor reveals the Science of Happiness in 15 minutes | Arthur Brooks [ARC 2025] (btw, what is faith according to Google; also, is Arthur Brooks conservative, scroll down a bit and you will see Google AI overview 🙂
Btw, I also googled “how creditable is arthur brooks on happiness”. I pasted the Google AI Overview below.
======
Arthur Brooks is highly credible on happiness, drawing on his background as a Harvard professor, bestselling author, and columnist for The Atlantic, combining scientific understanding with practical advice to offer a widely-read framework for a more meaningful and joyful life. His work, which defines happiness as enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning, is backed by his position at the Harvard Kennedy School and his extensive writing on the topic. Why He’s Credible
- Academic Authority: He teaches a course on “Leadership and Happiness” at Harvard Business School and is a faculty member at the Harvard Kennedy School.
- Bestselling Author: His book, From Strength to Strength, was a New York Times bestseller, demonstrating broad appeal and resonance.
- Influential Communicator: He reaches over a million readers weekly with his column “How to Build a Life” in The Atlantic.
- Science-Based Approach: He integrates scientific understanding of happiness, exploring how the brain processes emotions and how to build a meaningful life.
Key Aspects of His Work
- Happiness Equation: Brooks posits that happiness is built on three components: enjoyment, meaning, and satisfaction.
- Beyond Pleasure: He emphasizes that enjoyment is not the same as pleasure; the relentless pursuit of pleasure can be detrimental to a fulfilling life.
- Practical Frameworks: He provides actionable advice, such as managing emotional states, changing perspectives, and finding meaning in struggle.
- Meaning in Life: Brooks stresses the importance of finding a clear purpose to avoid distractions and frittering away time.
In Summary
Brooks’s credibility stems from his significant academic roles, successful publications, and commitment to presenting happiness as a skill that can be developed through understanding science and applying actionable strategies.
======
My own happiness index over the years?