3 Ways to Stop Letting Your Past Control Your Life

More from Office Hours with Arthur Brooks All episodes →

1. 

   12 Oct 2026 · 50 minNew

   My 3-Step Protocol for Managing Anxiety

   If you struggle with anxiety, you might wish you could get rid of it altogether. But your brain’s alarm system exists for a reason. The trouble is that the way we live today can set it off far more often than it should. In this episode of Office Hours , I break down what anxiety actually is and what chronic anxiety does to your body. The key is understanding when anxiety is hurting us and when it can help us. I share three simple but powerful strategies to manage your anxiety and create more opportunities for happiness, adventure, and meaning in your life. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile…

2. 

   28 Sep 2026 · 51 min

   4 Ways to Avoid Your Professional Decline

   What happens when the abilities that brought you professional success start to decline? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore how our strengths change with age and how to be happier as they do. Drawing on my book From Strength to Strength , I explain fluid and crystallized intelligence and contrast how Darwin and Bach responded to professional decline. As always, I leave you with practical steps to help you navigate this transition and find more happiness, meaning, and fulfillment as you age. — Brought to you by: • LMNT —A science-backed electrolyte drink mix that helps you feel and…

3. 

   21 Sep 2026 · 56 min

   How to Be More Optimistic with Simon Sinek

   Simon Sinek is an optimist, bestselling author of Start with Why , and founder of The Optimism Company. In this special episode of Office Hours , part of the Be Hope podcast takeover during the United Nations General Assembly, Simon joins me to explore what optimism really requires. We discuss how optimism differs from hope, why relationships help us sustain a belief in a better future, how our expectations shape others, and why pessimism has become so powerful. We also explain how leaders can turn optimism into action through a clear vision, and how each of us can become more optimistic by…

4. 

   14 Sep 2026 · 51 min

   5 Ways to Kill Your Envy and Get Happier

   Dante had a particularly gruesome punishment for the envious: their eyes were wired shut. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore why envy is such a powerful happiness killer—and how to stop feeding it in your own life. — Brought to you by: • ⁠ Noble Mobile ⁠ —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple. It’s transparent. And if you use less data, you get cash back. Get an exclusive offer at: ⁠ ⁠ ⁠https://noblemobile.com/arthurbrooks⁠ — Where to find Arthur Brooks: • Website:…

5. 

   7 Sep 2026 · 51 min

   What Is the Happiest Personality? (It Actually Might Be Yours)

   If you’re an introvert, you might not like what the research has to say: Extroverts tend to be happier. But before you start striking up conversations with strangers in the elevator, there’s more to the story. In this episode of Office Hours , I explore how your personality might shape your happiness, what introverts and extroverts can learn from each other, and why understanding your natural tendencies can help you cultivate habits towards a more connected and, therefore, happier life. — Brought to you by: • Noble Mobile —With Noble, there is only one plan: The No-Bull Plan. It’s simple.…

6. 

   31 Aug 2026 · 51 min

   5 Ways to Find Your Faith

   Why do so many people drift from faith in early adulthood, only to feel drawn back to it later in life? In this episode of Office Hours , I explore the Hindu concept of Ashramas and the parallels with what modern science tells us about how our priorities change with age. As we get older, the worldly rewards we once chased can start to feel less satisfying. We begin asking deeper questions about wisdom, meaning, and transcendence. That’s what happens when you enter Vanaprastha —the stage of life when we turn our attention inward. I also share five practical steps for beginning (or…