Extended interview: Oprah Winfrey on life lessons, the road to happiness and new book
CBS Evening News・18 minutes read
Oprah Winfrey and Arthur Brooks collaborate on a book about defining and pursuing happiness despite external circumstances, emphasizing the importance of self-worth and spiritual beliefs in achieving fulfillment. They stress the significance of taking control of one's emotions and reactions to find happiness, rather than succumbing to envy or comparison on social media.
Insights
- Oprah Winfrey stresses the significance of defining happiness for oneself, sharing her personal realization that pursuing Broadway did not align with her happiness, leading her to choose a different path.
- Arthur Brooks and Oprah Winfrey discuss the concept of "happierness," emphasizing that happiness is not a constant state but a direction one actively chooses to pursue, highlighting the importance of self-worth, emotional control, and empowerment in achieving fulfillment.
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Recent questions
Who is Oprah Winfrey?
Oprah Winfrey is a renowned media icon known for hosting the Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years and managing various media platforms like the Oprah Winfrey Network and O magazine.
What is the concept of "happierness"?
"Happierness" is the idea that happiness is a direction one chooses to pursue, not a constant state.
How does Oprah Winfrey view envy?
Oprah Winfrey views envy as a significant obstacle to happiness, emphasizing the importance of avoiding comparisons on social media.
What are the core ingredients to achieving happierness?
The core ingredients to achieving happierness include family, friendships, work, and faith in something greater than oneself.
How does Arthur Brooks approach mastering emotions?
Arthur Brooks emphasizes the importance of being the captain of one's fate by controlling thoughts and emotions, advocating for self-mastery in choosing reactions for finding happiness.
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Summary
00:00
"Oprah's Pursuit of Happierness Through Self-Discovery"
- Oprah Winfrey is a renowned media icon, hosting the Oprah Winfrey Show for 25 years and now managing various media platforms like the Oprah Winfrey Network and O magazine.
- She has authored numerous books on self-care and healing, with a new book co-written with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks titled "Build the Life You Want: The Art and Science of Getting Happier."
- Oprah emphasizes the importance of defining happiness for oneself, as many people struggle to articulate what happiness truly means to them.
- She shares her personal experience of realizing that pursuing Broadway wasn't aligned with her happiness, leading her to choose Chicago instead.
- Oprah and Arthur Brooks discuss the concept of "happierness," highlighting that happiness is not a constant state but a direction one chooses to pursue.
- Envy is identified as a significant obstacle to happiness, with Oprah stressing the importance of not comparing oneself to others on social media.
- Oprah believes that recognizing one's worth and taking control of one's happiness is crucial, as one's own perception and actions ultimately determine their level of happiness.
- Arthur Brooks' teachings emphasize the importance of acknowledging negative feelings but not allowing them to dictate one's overall state of being.
- Oprah and Arthur Brooks collaborated on a book to spread the message that while external circumstances may be beyond control, one can control their emotional response to those circumstances.
- The core ingredients to achieving happierness, as outlined in the book, include family, friendships, work, and faith in something greater than oneself, emphasizing the importance of spiritual practices or beliefs in finding fulfillment.
17:44
Mastering Emotions: Key to Happiness and Success
- The key to happiness lies in mastering one's emotions, as emphasized by Arthur, who teaches the importance of being the captain of one's fate by controlling one's thoughts and emotions, with Oprah sharing her practice of starting and ending each day with gratitude.
- Oprah expresses her happiness for others' success, particularly women, highlighting the significance of empowering others to see their full potential, a sentiment echoed by Arthur, emphasizing the power of self-mastery in choosing one's reactions and ultimately finding happiness.
