Arthur Brooks on Your Calling and How to Find It

The crisis of meaning among young people gets a lot of press; but a quieter crisis of calling afflicts every generation today. Dr. Arthur Brooks says the causes are the same: not knowing what our life is really and ultimately for.

In his talk at The Heights Forum Convivium 2025, Dr. Brooks shares the facts about calling—where neuroscience, psychology, and theology all agree, and how he (finally) found his. He goes on to say that helping young people to discover the true Christian purpose of life and then one's personal calling is the missionary work of teachers.

Chapters:

00:04:12 Teaching: a missionary field 00:06:15 Crisis of meaning among the young 00:07:35 Crisis of calling among more than the young 00:14:23 Sanctifying ordinary work 00:18:42 The marshmallow experiment: not all it seems 00:24:40 High achievers with no calling 00:27:55 Three tests for goal setting 00:36:12 Four profiles for career trajectory 00:44:31 Success addiction: when love feels conditional 00:48:33 Arrival fallacy: when the goal doesn't satisfy 00:51:34 Posture of submission to find your calling

Links:

Arthur Brooks: The Science of Happiness, Work & Life, personal website

The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness by Arthur Brooks, pre-order for March 2026

"How to Follow the Right Star" by Arthur Brooks, The Atlantic

Also on the Forum:

Choosing a College—Or Not featuring Alvaro de Vicente

Rethinking College: Why go? How? When? featuring Arthur Brooks

Featured Opportunities:

The Art of Teaching Boys Conference at The Heights School (May 6-8, 2026)