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)