Summary Of Summary of Build The Life You Want By Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey E-Book

Sarah Reads

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Für Kinder und Jugendliche
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Please note this is a Summary of Build The Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier by Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey. It is not meant in any capacity to replace the original book.

In Build The Life You Want, and through the scientific research, personal anecdotes and practical strategies, Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey provide the readers with everything they need to better manage their emotions, and build the four key pillars of a happier life. The book dives deep into each one of these four pillars, which include family, friendship, work and faith, offering the reader practical strategies to strengthen each one of these areas. By learning to control your emotions and improving in each one of these four areas, you will immediately see an increase in your overall happiness and your life will be much more fulfilling, despite the problems, pain and challenges you may be currently going through. This book serves as a blueprint for crafting your own happiness and taking charge of your future today.

Grab your copy of the summary of this amazing book to find out how to build the life you’ve always dreamed of with practical tips from two of the most influential people in the self help and spirituality space. 

Leseprobe

Sarah Reads

Summary Of Build The Life You Want By Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

The Art and Science of Getting Happier

Copyright © 2024 by Sarah Reads

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

First edition

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Contents

Disclaimer

Introduction

Part One: Happiness and Unhappiness: A Different Perspective

Ditch The Myths Standing Between You And Happiness

What Is Happiness Then?

The Role Of Unhappiness And Negative Emotions In Being Happier

Part Two: Emotions and How To Better Manage Them

Learn Metacognition

Choose A More Positive Emotion

Don’t Focus Too Much On Yourself

Part Three: Four Pillars For A Happier Life

Pillar One: Family

Pillar Two: Friendship

Pillar Three: Work

Pillar Four: Faith

Disclaimer

This is a summary of Build The Life You Want By Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey:

The Art and Science of Getting Happier. It is not meant to replace in any capacity the original book, but to deepen the reader’s comprehension of the book.

Introduction

Randy Pausch, a renowned computer scientist, delivered his last lecture at Carnegie Mellon University in 2007, filled with joy despite a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis and only a few months to live. Hundreds of students attended his speech, expecting it to be emotional, sad and full of regrets. But the professor disappointed everyone in the room. Rather than feeling sorry for himself, in his speech, he celebrated life, love, and joy, focusing on the positive aspects of his life rather than the grim reality he is facing. Pausch continued to inspire others through media appearances and online posts about his health and personal joys even while his health was deteriorating until he passed away in 2008.

But how do people like the professor Randy Pausch manage to be happy and fulfilled while battling one of the deadliest cancers ever known to mankind or going through life’s cruelest experiences? The answer to this question is what this whole book tries to explore.

The book is divided into three sections. The first section explores the concepts of happiness and unhappiness, providing a different perspective on the two concepts, which will completely change how you approach happiness. The second section is all about emotions and how to better manage them, helping you be better equipped to navigate the rollercoaster of emotions life throws at you everyday. Once you know how to manage your emotions, you are then ready to start building a happier life. The authors argue that there are four main pillars you should build to lead a happier life, which include family, friendship, work, and faith. The third section of the book explores these in detail. If you are ready for a completely different view on happiness, actionable strategies to stop being a slave to your emotions and build a happier life, buckle up, and let’s get started.

Part One: Happiness and Unhappiness: A Different Perspective

The authors believe that our misunderstanding of what happiness is and our constant battle with unhappiness and negative emotions, are what keep us unhappy and unfulfilled. That’s why, in the first chapter of their book, they address these two important issues, as a first step towards demystifying what makes people like professor Randy Pausch live a fulfilling life, despite the challenges he was going through.

The authors start by debunking two of the common myths people have about happiness. Then, they define what happiness is, according to them. After that, they talk about the role of unhappiness and negative feelings in living a happier life.

Ditch The Myths Standing Between You And Happiness

According to the authors, there are two myths you need to get rid of first before you find true happiness.

The First Myth: Happiness is a destination. We picture happiness as a permanent state of constant bliss, a point at the end of the tunnel we can reach only when we achieve this and that. The authors argue that seeking happiness is like constantly looking for the Eldorado, the ancient mythical city of gold. It just doesn’t exist. The authors view happiness as a direction instead, a journey we can move towards everyday.

The Second Myth: Circumstances are the happiness blockers. We blame our jobs, relationships, finances for keeping us stuck in misery. It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking “once I get that promotion, find the perfect partner, or win the lottery, then I’ll be happy.” But here’s the liberating truth: no external circumstance can guarantee or block your happiness. Even in the face of challenges, you have the power to choose your direction, to find meaning and joy in the present moment.

Letting go of these myths is the first step towards a happier life. Accept that complete bliss is a fantasy, not a reality. Stop yearning for the mythical El Dorado and start appreciating the journey itself.

What Is Happiness Then?

Instead of seeking a mythical end point, the authors suggest we redefine happiness as a journey, a combination of three building blocks, or what the authors call “macronutrients”, which include enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose.

Enjoyment is not just pleasure, but conscious, shared experiences that feed our soul. For example, a thanksgiving feast enjoyed with loved ones, not simply devoured out of hunger, provides true enjoyment, not just pleasure.

Satisfaction is the thrill of accomplishing goals, the reward for effort. It’s the A on the test, the promotion at work, the house bought, the promise fulfilled. This sweet taste, earned through sacrifice, fuels our sense of progress.

Purpose is the anchor that keeps you grounded amidst life’s storms. It helps you find meaning in suffering and transforms pain into an opportunity for growth. It also gives your life a direction and fuels you to face challenges fiercely.

The Role Of Unhappiness And Negative Emotions In Being Happier

Enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose, the pillars of happiness, paradoxically hold within them inherent elements of unhappiness. For example, joy often necessitates effort and sacrifice, while satisfaction is the result of overcoming challenges. As for purpose, it frequently entails suffering. Therefore, a more fulfilling approach to happiness, according to the authors, lies not in eliminating unhappiness, but embracing it and realizing it is natural and helps us get happier.

Experiencing negative feelings helps us stay safe, learn and grow and be more creative. Our brains are hardwired with a negativity bias, meaning we often prioritize processing negative emotions faster than positive ones. This ensures we are vigilant against threats and take necessary precautions for survival. Unhappiness serves as an alarm system, keeping us safe from potential harm. Additionally, negative emotions like sadness and regret act as learning tools. They prompt us to reflect on past experiences, identify mistakes, and adjust our behavior for future success. Without the sting of regret, we might repeat unproductive patterns. Unhappiness motivates us to learn and grow. Finally, while often associated with gloom, unhappiness can be a wellspring of creativity. Most inventions and works of arts we see today are created by people who were going through tough times. Melancholy, a typical emotion among creative people, can focus the mind and drive artists to explore deeper themes and create impactful works.

Through a honey and bees analogy, the authors encourage us not to focus solely on the end goal of feeling happy, or the honey, but to also appreciate the journey and experiences that lead to it, or the bees. This includes embracing challenges, setbacks, and even unhappiness, as they contribute to growth, resilience, and a deeper understanding of ourselves and a more fulfilling life.