08/25/2026
If Arthur Brooks is right and happiness is the byproduct of experiencing satisfaction and enjoyment that are connect to meaning, what do you do when something is meaningful to you but it's not landing for others?
For me, the answer lies in what Brooks explained about satisfaction. He said that satisfaction is the joy that you get from an accomplishment after struggle. And the accomplishment is not more important than the struggle.
So then if I am doing something that matters to me or feels meaningful, embracing the struggle that comes with completing the task will lead to happiness. Whether or not others are interested in the final result has little impact on my capacity to experience happiness. Because the struggle is central to becoming happy.
Want to dive deeper into this idea? Link the newsletter that went out yesterday is in the comments.