How to Find the Meaning of Your Life in an Age of Emptiness | Arthur Brooks - EP 748
Passion Struck with John R. Miles · John R. Miles
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Show Notes
What if the real crisis of our time isn’t stress, burnout, or even anxiety—but a loss of meaning?
In this powerful episode of the Passion Struck podcast, I sit down with Arthur Brooks—for the third time—to explore his most urgent work yet: The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.
Arthur reveals a striking trend: since 2008, rates of depression and anxiety—especially among young, high-achieving individuals—have surged dramatically. But beneath the surface, he argues, this isn’t just a mental health crisis. It’s a meaning crisis.
We’ve built a world optimized for achievement, productivity, and constant stimulation—yet increasingly disconnected from the deeper human needs that make life feel worth living. In this conversation, we explore why success without meaning often leads to emptiness, how modern life pulls us away from purpose, and what it actually takes to build a life rooted in coherence, significance, and service.
Passion Struck is the #1 alternative health and personal growth podcast dedicated to human flourishing and the science of mattering. It is ranked #1 on FeedSpot’s list of the Top Passion Podcasts on the Web and is consistently recognized among the world’s top business and mindset podcasts.
Check the full show notes here: https://passionstruck.com/arthur-brooks-the-meaning-of-your-life/
Explore guided prompts, reflections, and a companion reflection guide connected to this episode at: https://www.theignitedlife.net/p/why-we-are-losing-the-war-for-meaning
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Connect with John
- Keynotes, books, podcast, and resources: https://linktr.ee/John_R_Miles
- Children’s Book — You Matter, Luma: https://youmatterluma.com/
- Pre-Order The Mattering Effect: https://matteringeffect.com/
- Get the book The Meaning of Your Life: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-of-your-life
In This Episode, You Will Learn:
- The Psychogenic Epidemic: Why college-educated young adults are experiencing a crisis of meaning despite having the "most going for them".
- The Left Brain Trap: How modern life overemphasizes productivity and logic while neglecting love, connection, and transcendence.
- Love and Service as Anchors: Why meaning is not found in what you achieve, but in how you relate to others and contribute beyond yourself.
- Technology and Disconnection: How constant stimulation and digital engagement are quietly eroding our sense of meaning and belonging.
- Transcendence and Purpose: Why connecting to something greater than yourself is essential for long-term fulfillment and wellbeing.
- Designing a Meaningful Life: Practical ways to realign your life toward purpose in a world that constantly pulls you away from it.
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Every human deserves to feel seen, valued, and like they matter. Wear it. Live it. Show it. https://StartMattering.com
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