Podcasts

What’s your new year’s resolution? Is it the right one? Research shows that between one-third and one-half of Americans make new year’s resolutions. However, research also shows that fewer than half of resolutions are still successful by June. What’s the secret for a successful resolution? In this episode, Arthur and Ceci share the habits that make resolutions stick. Also, Arthur explains how to set the right resolution in the first place—that is, one that will bring you happiness directly—and he has two suggestions for you.

This episode is brought to you by The Jordan Harbinger Show, Skillshare, and Feetures.

We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at arthur@arthurbrooks.com or ceci@arthurbrooks.com with your happiness questions.

Special Event: If you enjoy the show, you won’t want to miss an exclusive event on leadership and happiness that I’m doing with a very special guest as part of my popular Harvard Business School class. The event will be livestreamed on my Facebook page on January 16, so be sure to “Follow” me on Facebook or signup for my newsletter here to be among the first to hear the details.

References and further reading:

New Year’s Resolutions That Will Actually Lead to Happiness |Arthur Brooks

Auld lang syne: success predictors, change processes, and self-reported outcomes of New Year’s resolvers and nonresolvers |Norcross, J., Mrykalo, M., & Blagys, M.

Cigarette Advertising to Counter New Years Resolutions | Basil, M., Basil, D., & Schooler, S.

Tiny Habits | Fogg, B. J.

Counting Blessings Versus Burdens: An Experimental Investigation of Gratitude and Subjective Well-Being in Daily Life | Emmons, R. & McCullough, M.about:blank

Intervention Studies on Forgiveness: A Meta‐Analysis | Baskin, T. & Enright, R.

Are you always a little blue around the holidays? Or perhaps, like many, you’re just finding it hard to get into the holiday spirit during this difficult year, marked by loss and family separation? In this episode, Arthur and Ceci provide some holiday happiness assistance and share how you can build your holiday to make it truly happy and meaningful.

We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at arthur@arthurbrooks.com or ceci@arthurbrooks.com with your happiness questions.

References and further reading:

Don’t Isolate Yourself This Holiday Season | Arthur Brooks

The pandemic has brought life to a standstill for many, not just economically, but physically, as well. Polling data reveals that Americans are plagued by a state of inactivity. Combine that with the usual indulgences of the holiday season, and you can bet that come New Year’s Day, there will be a record number of diet and exercise related resolutions. Does eating right and exercising lead to greater happiness? In this episode, Arthur is joined by personal trainer and co-founder of Mind Pump Media, Sal Di Stefano, to answer this question and provide some tips for living a healthier, happier life, all year round.

References and further reading:

Sedentary Pandemic Life Is Bad for Our Happiness | Arthur Brooks

Mind Pump Media

In the Western world, we have celebrations to mark life events in the first half of our lives—graduations, weddings, baby showers—but, we don’t celebrate becoming middle-aged. Instead, we often bemoan the “midlife crisis.” Turns out, that’s the wrong way of looking at middle age. In this episode, Arthur is joined by Chip Conley, founder of the Modern Elder Academy, who has dedicated his life to helping people through the transition to the second half of life. They discuss how “middlescence” can be a joyful and fruitful time, if managed well and share some advice for having an even happier second half of life than the first.

References and further reading:

Emotional Equations: Simple formulas to help your life work better | Chip Conley

Wisdom Well: Chip’s Blog | Chip Conley 

About Modern Elder Academy

The happiness effect of competitive elections is real: Losing an election hurts. In fact, research shows that in presidential elections, having your candidate lose can depress happiness for months. How are you feeling post-election? In this episode, Arthur and Ceci explore the research on happiness and post-election suffering. Also, Arthur shares some much-needed advice for those attempting to cope with Trump’s loss; but for those celebrating a Biden victory, Arthur has some advice for you, too.

References and further reading:

How to Cope with Election Agony | Arthur Brooks

Losing Hurts: The Happiness Impact of Partisan Electoral Loss | Pierce, L., Rogers, T., & Snyder, J.

Presidential Elections, Divided Politics, and Happiness in the USA | Pinto, S., et al.