Journalist Jodi Kantor and happiness expert Arthur Brooks on how to find purpose

Arthur Brooks observes a profound crisis of meaning among young people, which he links to technological and educational trends that prioritize technical efficiency over the deeper purpose and fulfillment found in meaning-rich experiences and relationships.

Depression and Anxiety Have Risen Among Young People Since 2008, With Meaninglessness as the Top Mental Health Crisis Predictor for Those Under 30

Brooks highlights a striking shift since 2008, noting that when he left academia at that time, college culture was full of happiness, social connection, and fulfillment. However, after returning in 2019, he finds that depression has tripled, anxiety has doubled, loneliness has surged, addiction has increased, and self-harm is more common than ever. He cites research showing that the most powerful predictor of depression and anxiety among people under 30 is their answer to the question “Does your life feel meaningless?” For many, the sense of meaninglessness eclipses the positive emotions and energies that once characterized academic life.

Ambitious young people, including high achievers and “strivers,” are also not immune. As Indira Lakshmanan notes and Brooks confirms, outward success and achievement do not guarantee a sense of fulfillment. Many successful individuals, including notable figures like Leo Tolstoy, experience deep dissatisfaction and a lack of meaning despite their accomplishments. This crisis of meaning strikes even among those who appear to have everything, emphasizing that traditional metrics of achievement fail to address the questions of life’s purpose.

Left-Brain Dominance Devalues Humanities, Arts, Philosophy for Technical Skills

Brooks argues that educational and professional culture now lean heavily toward what he calls a “culture of engineering, hustle and grind, and constant busyness.” This environment assumes that every problem can be solved by a complicated technical solution, leading to a deep devaluation of pursuits that cultivate meaning—such as the humanities, arts, and philosophy.

This shift has produced an “asymmetric” use of our brains. The educational focus is on how-to and what questions: technical skills, expertise, productivity—while largely ignoring the why questions related to life's deeper purpose. Brooks laments that upskilling has been prioritized in ways that suppress curiosity about the mysteries and values that give life depth. In this hustle culture, practical fixes outweigh the more difficult work of wrestling with meaning, further disconnecting individuals from sources of authentic fulfillment.

Smartphone Tech and AI Rewire Brains, Boosting Left-Hemisphere Functions, Suppressing Right-Hemisphere's Meaning-Finding Capabilities

Brooks explains that rapid technological changes, especially smartphones and artificial intelligence, have physically and psychologically rewired our brains in detrimental ways. He references the concept of brain hemispheric ...

Arthur Brooks introduces the metaphor of "macronutrients" to describe the essential elements that give life meaning: coherence, purpose, and significance. Drawing a parallel to protein, carbohydrates, and fat in nutrition, he argues that just as food requires all three macronutrients to sustain us, our experience of a meaningful life needs all three elements to be complete.

Coherence Is the Need to Understand why Events Occur and to Construct Explanatory Narratives Via Religious, Scientific, or Philosophical Frameworks

Coherence addresses the question: "Why do things happen in my life?" Brooks describes coherence as the human need for explanation and understanding. People construct narratives to make sense of events, which can be drawn from a variety of sources—religious doctrines, scientific theories, or even conspiracy beliefs. Regardless of the framework, having an explanation system is necessary to process experiences and circumstances.

Explanation Systems Needed For Understanding Events and Circumstances Despite Competing Frameworks

Brooks emphasizes that the content of these explanatory systems can vary widely, but the underlying need they fulfill is universal. Whether through faith, reason, or ideology, people seek organized structures that help them interpret the world around them and provide comfort amidst life's unpredictability.

Purpose Guides Actions, Motivating Daily Efforts and Long-Term Goals

Purpose answers the question: "Why am I moving in this direction?" Brooks distinguishes purpose from broader meaning by highlighting its motivating function. Purpose is about having a sense of direction and a reason for one’s actions, both on a daily level and for long-term aspirations.

Research: Arbitrary Goal-Setting Enhances Happiness By Providing Purpose

Research with undergraduate students shows that simply setting arbitrary goals—for example, striving to improve a grade from B minus to B plus—can significantly boost a sense of meaning and happiness. The act of goal-setting, no matter how minor or random the goal, provides an answer to "Why am I doing what I'm doing?" and imbues one's actions with a sense of forward movement.

Significance: Knowing Others' Liv ...

Arthur Brooks and Indira Lakshmanan explore practical digital detox techniques rooted in neuroscience and human evolution, emphasizing the importance of intentional boredom, detachment from devices, and embodied experience to inspire creativity, deeper connection, and meaning-making.

Avoiding Smartphones After Waking Programs the Brain: Pre-dawn Walk Validated by Neuroscience

Brooks strongly recommends not looking at your phone for the first hour after waking. He cautions against keeping the device by the bedside, as immediate device use negatively programs the brain and sets the tone for the day. Instead, he encourages people to get up at least half an hour before dawn and go for a walk, referencing the ancient Vedic concept of Brahman-Muhurta, during which the mind and body are primed for optimal functioning. Brooks highlights that new neuroscience research validates this practice: walking before dawn and engaging the brain without the interference of devices sets the neurocognitive foundation for a day marked by better thinking and improved emotional regulation.

Removing Devices During Meals Preserves [restricted term] and Relational Bonding From Eye Contact and Shared Eating

Brooks emphasizes that device-free meals are crucial for preserving [restricted term] and building relational bonds. Even a face-down smartphone on the table reduces [restricted term] production, as awareness of notifications or pending messages preoccupies the mind and disrupts the flow of interaction. He notes that Homo sapiens evolved to stimulate [restricted term]—a neuropeptide functioning as a bonding hormone—through eye contact and shared meals, dating back to sharing food around ancient campfires. The presence of devices interrupts these fundamental neurochemical conditions for connection.

Avoiding Devices Before Sleep Boosts Pineal Gland Health, Melatonin, and Marriage Stability

In the final hour before sleep, Brooks recommends putting away all devices. Artificial light and screen exposure before bed suppress the pineal gland’s production of natural melatonin, impeding rest and recovery. Device-free evenings are also essential for relationships: Brooks d ...

Craft Is the Accumulation of Skill and Expertise, Making Individuals Distinctive and Valuable, Offering Satisfaction Through Mastery and Protection Against Labor Market Instability

Jodi Kantor observes that truly happy and successful people consistently practice a craft—they possess skills and expertise others do not. Whether it's through radio work, surgical precision, or innovative advertising campaigns, these individuals cultivate a skill set over years, building a unique toolbox that distinguishes them from others. The slow accumulation of this expertise is not only practically beneficial but also deeply satisfying and enjoyable on a personal level.

Domain mastery does more than bring joy; it offers a sense of security and continuity in an unpredictable job market. Kantor cautions that the workplace is always changing and no one can predict what it will look like in the next five or ten years. By working with durable and time-tested skills—by developing a craft—individuals can buffer themselves against the randomness and instability of employment. While anyone can be let go from a job, the craft and mastery they've built cannot be taken away.

Long-Term Needs vs. Trendy Fields For Success

Kantor reflects on shifting trends in career advice over the years, recalling how at different times people were told to learn Japanese, study genetics, master Mandarin, or focus on computer science and coding. Mary Louise Kelly humorously admits she still doesn’t know how to code, despite this advice.

Kantor stresses that while all these ...

Jodi Kantor observes that the workplace can be a place of growth, wonder, fellowship, and progress. Contrary to the predominantly negative messages circulating about work in today’s culture, Kantor argues that work environments can offer protection from negativity and uncertainty by providing learning and achievement opportunities. By directly counteracting these negative cultural messages, she encourages people to reimagine work and career possibilities as sites not just of economic necessity, but of personal development and communal connection.

Career Success Often Emerges Unpredictably, With Satisfaction Building Over Years of Skill Development Rather Than Instant Achievement

Kantor shares her own story of rejection to illustrate that setbacks do not predict ultimate career outcomes. When she was a senior at Columbia, she was kicked off the Columbia Daily Spectator and believed she could not succeed as a journalist. Despite this early discouragement, her career brought her to unexpected places, and her skills improved over time. Kantor admits she did not originally understand that journalism, like many careers, is a craft honed over many years. She emphasizes that expertise requires a realistic, long-term outlook and gradual skill cultivation, rather than expecting instant achievement. Personal satisfaction and career success often build slowly, with repeated effort, r ...