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 rebeginning) your own spiritual journey.
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Where to find Arthur Brooks:
• Website: https://arthurbrooks.com/
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• Email: officehours@arthurbrooks.com
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(07:10) Lessons from Hinduism
(16:50) Ashramas: The four stages of life
Brahmacharya
Grihastha
Vanaprastha
Sannyasa
(30:05) The link between spirituality and midlife
(35:30) #1: Loosen your commitments to not believing
(38:47) #2. Spirituality as an entrepreneurial endeavor
(40:09) #3: Walk towards what you seek
(42:27) #4. Get a buddy
(44:14) #5. Find a teacher
(46:03) Q&A: The evolutionary purpose of dark triads
(48:35) Q&A: Having a two-way relationship with god
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Referenced:
• The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/the-meaning-of-your-life
• Arthur’s newsletter: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/newsletter
• The Happiness Scale: https://learn.arthurbrooks.com/the-happiness-scale
• The Autobiography of a Yogi: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785991663
• From Strength to Strength: Finding Success, Happiness, and Deep Purpose in the Second Half of Life:
https://www.amazon.com/Strength-Finding-Success-Happiness-Purpose/dp/059319148X
• Why do levels of religious observance vary by age and country: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2018/06/13/why-do-levels-of-religious-observance-vary-by-age-and-country
• Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0060628405
• More Americans say they’re spiritual, but not religious: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2017/09/06/more-americans-now-say-theyre-spiritual-but-not-religious/
• The sociopaths among us: How to spot (and avoid) a Dark Triad: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/podcast/the-sociopaths-among-us-how-to-spot-and-avoid-a-dark-triad
• ...References continued at: https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours
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