What can faith teach us about happiness that science alone cannot? In this episode of Office Hours, I sit down with my friend, the actor and writer Rainn Wilson. Best known as Dwight Schrute on The Office, Rainn is also a writer and thinker who explores spirituality in his book Soul Boom and on his podcast of the same name. Together, we explore the Baháʼí faith and the lessons it offers for living a more meaningful life.

Rainn shares his journey from growing up in the faith to losing his way during the height of fame, to rediscovering purpose through recovery and spiritual practice. 

In this episode, we explore:

• A case for studying religions beyond your own 

• A brief history of the Baha’i faith and the core tenets that continue to guide millions of followers

• How worship in the Baha’i faith goes far beyond prayer, reaching into art, service, and more

• Why you should learn to surrender to something bigger than yourself

• How fame left Rainn emptier than ever

• Why trying to avoid suffering is a big mistake

• What is the wisest path to happiness

• And more!

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Where to find Rainn Wilson: 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rainnwilson/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainnwilson/

• Newsletter: https://newsletter.soulboom.com/

• Podcast: https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/soulboom

• Website: https://www.soulboom.com/

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Where to find Arthur Brooks: 

• Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://arthurbrooks.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠

• X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/arthurbrooks⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/arthurcbrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ArthurBrooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠

• YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGuyFRjJQFGCKzfHTBvWM6A⁠⁠⁠⁠

• LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/arthur-c-brooks/⁠⁠⁠⁠

• Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro: Why religion offers insights social science can’t

(08:50) Introducing Rainn Wilson and the Baháʼí faith

(12:05) What TV shows sparked Rainn’s spiritual imagination

(14:25) An overview of Rainn’s book, Soul Boom

(16:50) Why the character Dwight Schrute resonated with so many people

(18:35) What led Rainn’s father to the Baháʼí faith

(20:27) How Rainn’s childhood in the Baháʼí faith shaped him

(23:04) Rainn’s journey back to his faith

(23:46) A short history of the Baha’i faith and its core teachings

(28:27) Lesson #1: Surrender to the divine will

(34:05) How to practice “letting go” without a higher power

(36:38) Lesson #2: Embrace suffering as a path to growth

(42:51) Why Rainn is grateful for hardship

(47:11) What the four idols reveal about false sources of happiness

(58:12) Lesson #3: Anchor your life to ancient universals instead of trends

(1:02:46) Arthur’s four big takeaways

(1:04:20) Rainn’s new movie

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Referenced:

• Leadership and Happiness course: https://www.hbs.edu/coursecatalog/1885.html

• How to Build a Life: https://www.theatlantic.com/projects/how-build-life/

• The Happiness Files: Insights on Work and Life: https://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Files-Insights-Arthur-Brooks/dp/B0F4MFQ6VN

• Religion in Everyday Life: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2016/04/12/religion-in-everyday-life/

• Cultivating Leadership and Happiness | Arthur Brooks and His Holiness the Dalai Lama: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzAUgbfdecY

• Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution: https://www.amazon.com/Soul-Boom-Need-Spiritual-Revolution-ebook/dp/B0B8YXJYGF

• Kung Fu: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068093/

• Star Trek: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060028/

• What Rainn Wilson Knows About God: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/05/divine-rainn-wilson-faith-moral-values/673891/

...References continued at: ⁠https://www.arthurbrooks.com/office-hours⁠⁠⁠⁠

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