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How to Age Up

How to Build a Happy Life: Identify What You Enjoy

How to Age Up

The Atlantic Monthly Group, LLC

Education, Social Sciences, Science, Society & Culture, Self-improvement

4.0 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 23 November 2021

⏱️ 41 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In adulthood, many of us are forced to recalibrate our relationship with joy. As responsibilities multiply exponentially, time grows limited, and challenges mount, it becomes harder to make time for fun, let alone remember what it feels like. As we explore the key components of happiness—pleasure, joy, and satisfaction—we ask the foundational question: What really brings me joy? In this special-edition, bonus episode of How to Build a Happy Life, the psychotherapist and Atlantic contributing writer Lori Gottlieb demystifies one of the vital components of a happy life: enjoyment. Gottlieb believes that we not only find it challenging to make time for day-to-day enjoyment, but also struggle to identify what it should feel like. This episode was produced by Rebecca Rashid and hosted by Arthur Brooks. Editing by A.C. Valdez. Fact-check by Ena Alvarado. Sound design by Michael Raphael. Be part of How to Build a Happy Life. Write to us at howtopodcast@theatlantic.com or leave us a voicemail at 925.967.2091. Music by Trevor Kowalski (“Daydream in Silver”), Stationary Sign (“Loose in the Park”), and Spectacles Wallet and Watch (“Last Pieces”). Click here to listen to every full-length episode in the series. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is How to Build a Happy Life, the Atlantic's podcast on all things happiness.

0:11.6

I'm Arthur Brooks, Harvard professor and happiness correspondent at The Atlantic.

0:20.1

In this special bonus episode of How to Build a Happy Life series, I sat down with the Atlantic's

0:25.1

own Laurie Gottlieb.

0:27.8

We reviewed a lot of what we've covered in this series, from enjoyment and emotional

0:32.1

management to the practical ways to apply the science of happiness to our daily lives.

0:37.3

Enjoy.

0:38.3

Hi everybody and welcome to the Atlantic Festival.

0:50.7

I'm really delighted because this episode of the podcast, it features one of the top

0:56.3

psychotherapists in America today, the Atlantic's Laurie Gottlieb.

1:01.2

We're going to talk through some of the how-tos in navigating the natural ups and downs

1:05.6

in life.

1:06.6

Later in the episode, we're going to feature some of my very favorite guest stars, which

1:11.2

is you, our listeners.

1:13.1

So let's start by saying hi to Laurie.

1:16.4

Welcome to How to Build a Happy Life, Laurie.

1:19.0

Well, thank you so much.

1:21.2

It's great to be here.

1:22.6

Yeah, it's wonderful to have you here.

1:24.2

I've been looking forward to working with you in some way for the longest time.

1:29.3

When I, on the first day of class, I teach a class at the Harvard Business School called

1:33.0

Leadership and Happiness.

...

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