The Aspen Institute 3d ago

The myth persists that if we simply make the right choices, we’ll be happy, healthy, and successful. But that’s not how things always go along life’s rocky journey. In her new book, "Joyful, Anyway," historian Kate Bowler explains the difference between joy and happiness and how joy can coexist with pain, assuring us that we can cultivate meaning, connection, and delight even in the face of hardship. Her own diagnosis with stage 4 cancer at age 35 gives Bowler a unique lens on navigating unpredictability and the power of seeking out joy, rather than certainty, at every turn. Aspen Ideas: Health takes place on the Aspen Institute’s wondrous 40-acre campus in the Rocky Mountains from June 22-25, 2026. The three-day event, which has opened the renowned Aspen Ideas Festival since 2014, is where health’s biggest challenges meet its biggest thinkers. #AspenIdeasHealth #AspenIdeas For more information about Aspen Ideas: Health, visit https://www.aspenideas.org/health.