Arthur Brooks knows as much as anyone about the science of happiness. He teaches it at Harvard and writes an excellent newsletter called The Art and Science of Happiness.

Today, as he gears up for a new book, he dropped a powerful post that I had to share. Here’s my quick summary:

To understand what makes you—you—you first have to choose your philosophy.

• Philosophy A: The real you is waiting to be discovered. Your true self already exists within—you just have to uncover it.
• Philosophy B: The real you is created. Your identity is shaped by what you do, what you believe, and how you show up in the world.

If you believe in Philosophy A, turn to the faith tradition of your choice and become a student of that path.

If you believe in Philosophy B, get clear on who you want to become—and then align your decisions, actions, and beliefs with that vision.

There’s no right or wrong answer here—just the importance of choosing a path. And if that path no longer serves you, you can always choose a different one. What matters most is that you begin.

In my own life, I’ve found that we tend to receive what we actively seek—as long as we treat that seeking as more than just a thought experiment. You have to do things. Read, explore, try, stretch. When you do, life has a way of shifting to meet you where you are, bringing your desires within reach.

I’m sharing the full text of Arthur’s post below since there isn’t a direct link to it yet. If this resonates, I highly recommend subscribing to his newsletter—it’s consistently that good.

From Arthur:

I am in the second draft right now of the hardest book I have ever written, on the meaning of life. It comes out on April 14, 2026, so stay tuned. In the meantime, I will give you some threads here and there in this newsletter related to the new book’s ideas. Today is an example, on how to find your essence, which is the inner, expressive “you-ness” of you.

What the science says

To find yourself, you first need to decide if at your core you are a discovery theorist or a creation theorist: whether your essence already exists but you need to discover and understand it, or whether it has yet to come into existence and you need to create it through your choices, beliefs, and actions. 

Theory 1. Essence precedes existence. Religions generally follow the discovery theory that your essence is ordained before you are born, and that your life’s work is to discern and embrace it. 

Theory 2. Existence precedes essence. Existentialist philosophers, like Jean-Paul Sartre, argue that we must create our essence in order to lead a fulfilling and responsible life. 

Theory 3. There is no essence. Nihilists such as Arthur Schopenhauer suggest that life has no meaning or purpose, and that to look for it is delusional. An honest, ethical life requires acknowledging this fact and simply learning to live with it.

What I think

Deciding between these theories will give you purpose and intentionality—and a way to proceed with the enterprise of your life. Whichever of these philosophical positions speaks to you, the quest to find yourself should begin with this question: Do I believe I have an inherent essence? If not, the second question that follows is: Can I create an essence? Different paths to self-enlightenment depend on how you answer.

What you can do

Option 1: If you are a religious person, this can be a straightforward process: Dive into your faith to find yourself. Become a student of your religion in order to be a student of your own essence. But even if you aren’t religious, try out different philosophies in work and life: Experiment, reflect, and assess what your wanderings bring to your sense of meaning and purpose.

Option 2: To create an essence, start by imagining the person you wish you were—not in trivial terms, such as money and possessions, but in what matters, such as relationships, values, and integrity. Then assume the essence of that person in your life by acting like that person. Research suggests that this method can enable you to reap the benefits of those qualities. To grow into this person, act as if you were them—and make their essence fully yours.

Option 3: I don’t happen to agree with nihilism, but some people do. If you are in this position, then your path is straightforward: No need to agonize, just live—at which point, you have found yourself.

You may ask, what if I have chosen the ‘wrong’ strategy? 

The answer is: It probably doesn’t matter.

These theories are not meant to paralyze you, but to get you started on your venture with a sense of direction. The real danger is not that you find yourself too slowly or with unnecessary struggle; it’s that you never start your search at all.

✌🏽. ❤️. 📈 . 🤲🏾