Essentials: The Science of Gratitude & How to Build a Gratitude Practice

While most people spend their lives chasing happiness, their efforts are often counterproductive. In Habits of a Happy Brain, Loretta Breuning explains that our brains evolved to promote our ancestors’ survival by triggering “happy” chemicals to reward behaviors like eating and hunting for food. In modern times, we’ve replaced those effort-based rewards with quick fixes—such as binge-eating candy or chips—that offer instant gratification but leave us unfulfilled. Over time, these quick fixes become habits that are difficult to break. However, there’s hope: Breuning says that by understanding how your brain achieves happiness, you can rewire it to build positive, sustainable happiness habits instead.

In this guide, we’ll discuss the brain chemistry of happiness, how harmful happiness-seeking patterns develop, and Breuning’s methods for building and maintaining healthier happiness habits. In commentary, we’ll supplement Breuning’s arguments and recommendations with research and additional sources on happiness and productivity, like That Little Voice in Your Head by Mo Gawdat.

In The Book of Joy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama offer reassurance that joy is not as elusive as you might think. While many look for joy in a different relationship, a different city, or a different job, they argue that joy can be found exactly where you are no matter what your life looks like.

Written by Douglas Abrams, The Book of Joy documents a week-long conversation between Tutu and the Dalai Lama about the nature of joy—what it is, why it matters, and how you can find it. In this guide, we’ll outline the path to joy that Tutu and the Dalai Lama describe. We’ll also point to scientific research that supports their suggestions and supplement their advice with that of others who have tackled the same questions, including Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl and philosophers such as Aristotle.

In Trauma Stewardship, Laura van Dernoot Lipsky writes that we can better care for others who have gone through trauma by learning to care for ourselves—a practice she calls trauma stewardship. Trauma, loss, and suffering are everyday realities, damaging not only to those who suffer from these challenges directly, but also to the caregivers who witness and tend to others’ trauma. Lipsky argues that to be fully present and emotionally available to others, we must address the impact of secondary trauma (the harm we experience when exposed to others’ trauma). Lipsky's trauma stewardship framework addresses how to manage secondary trauma, create a better work-life balance, and practice mindful self-care so you can support others to your fullest capacity.

In this guide, we’ll explain Lipsky’s concept of trauma stewardship, discuss the warning signs of secondary trauma, and provide ways you can replenish your energy for healthy caregiving. Along the way, we’ll provide additional psychological insights about trauma exposure and other experts’ advice on self-care and compassion.

You were born to be a badass, but are you getting the most out of your life? In You Are a Badass, author Jen Sincero helps you identify and change the self-sabotaging thoughts and behavior patterns that are stopping you from living up to your potential.

Creating a better life requires only one simple shift: Going from wanting to change your life to deciding to change your life. This book will explain why you are the way you are, how to change what you don’t like, and how to love yourself as you create a new, awesome life.

Do you want to achieve greater personal and professional success? In Million Dollar Habits, entrepreneur and motivational speaker Brian Tracy outlines proven strategies and habits that can propel you toward your goals. Whether you're seeking financial independence, a more rewarding career, or a heightened sense of well-being, Tracy's insights offer a clear roadmap to amplify your influence and impact.

In this guide, we’ll explore how a positive mindset and self-concept promote success. We’ll also discuss the role of good habits in building a successful life. Finally, we’ll dive into Tracy’s specific advice for achieving financial and personal success. In our commentary, we’ll look at other perspectives on what it means to be successful and delve deeper into the psychology behind habits.

You were born to be a badass, but are you getting the most out of your life? In You Are a Badass, author Jen Sincero helps you identify and change the self-sabotaging thoughts and behavior patterns that are stopping you from living up to your potential.

Creating a better life requires only one simple shift: Going from wanting to change your life to deciding to change your life. This book will explain why you are the way you are, how to change what you don’t like, and how to love yourself as you create a new, awesome life.

In The Book of Joy, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama offer reassurance that joy is not as elusive as you might think. While many look for joy in a different relationship, a different city, or a different job, they argue that joy can be found exactly where you are no matter what your life looks like.

Written by Douglas Abrams, The Book of Joy documents a week-long conversation between Tutu and the Dalai Lama about the nature of joy—what it is, why it matters, and how you can find it. In this guide, we’ll outline the path to joy that Tutu and the Dalai Lama describe. We’ll also point to scientific research that supports their suggestions and supplement their advice with that of others who have tackled the same questions, including Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl and philosophers such as Aristotle.