163: Building A Life That Matters with Brian Dubow (Hit of Happiness)

What if you wake up one day and despite living up to society's definition of success, you feel empty inside?

That's what happened to today's guest Brian Dubow, host of Hit of Happiness and happiness coach.

By all accounts, Brian reached a level of success that most people envy. But he slowly realized that his drive to work hard was a defense mechanism protecting himself from asking the harder questions - like why he wasn't happy. And why he didn't actually care about a job that made his peers envy him.

So, his quarter-life crisis forced him to embark on a journey to rediscover his own happiness, quit his job, and launch Hit of Happiness - a podcast and coaching program that helps others build a life that matters.

If you've been silently wondering why your life hasn't led to the happiness you imagined, this episode is your first step towards building a life that matters. To you.

Here's what Brian and I discuss:

• How to undo your subconscious programming that's keeping you stuck in someone else's life

• Why thinking of happiness as an inside job is the fastest way to become happier in your day-to-day life

• The 3 phases of happiness (and why most men are stuck in the first two levels)

And more, including…

• The insidious way people will push you to do what they want you to do (and how defining success for yourself prevents you from living another person's dreams) (6:01)

• How to tell if your desire to be busy is a sneaky way to avoid your emotions (this is the case for most men) (6:38)

• What to do when you reach society's definition of happiness but not your own (7:26)

• How inspiration from others means you have a version of them living inside you (9:11)

• The "happiness is an inside job" secret that can triple your happiness without anything changing in your external environment (10:39)

• A potent question (Brian asks himself this every two weeks) that reveals the path to the life you're meant to live (16:42)

• Why do so many men feel like they're enough logically but not emotionally? (22:23)

• How to "listen" to what your feelings of being comfortably numb are trying to tell you so you don't live your life on autopilot and full of regrets (30:59)

• The counterintuitive way your internal world creates your external surroundings (not the other way around) (42:08)

• The "mood follows action" mindset shift that sounds simple, but can completely change the trajectory of your happiness (49:34)

Guest Bio:

Brian Dubow is the founder of Hit of Happiness and just another human trying to figure out life's purpose. Founded in March of 2020, his company came out of his desire to make a difference as a response to COVID-19. What started as a blog and coaching business has now grown into a podcast, a thriving community, a corporate consulting company, and a happiness revolution.

Brian is a Certified Happiness Trainer and feels strongly that understanding the science behind happiness is a powerful tool to improve overall wellbeing. By building habits backed by the science of happiness, we can all grow into our happiest and healthiest selves.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Hit of Happiness: If you're struggling with happiness or making your life count, Brian's happiness coaching and podcast can make you feel happier, more fulfilled, and more alive. Learn more here: https://hitofhappiness.com/

2. Follow Brian on Instagram: @hitofhappiness and feel free to reach out personally to Brian if you have any questions.

3. Man Flow Yoga Events: We just announced new locations for 2026 in-person events. Find the full list of cities we're coming to here: https://manflowyoga.com/man-flow-yoga-events/

4. Man Flow Yoga: Haven't signed up yet? Start your 7-day free trial and see how yoga can eliminate aches and pains better than other types of exercise here: https://shrtlnk.co/kP8M7