The introduction opens with an anecdote from Arthur C. Brooks that describes the last days of his elderly mother-in-law, Albina Quevedo. Brooks states that Albina had a tough childhood; she lived through the Spanish Civil War as a child, and her father was imprisoned. Her adult life was also difficult, for her husband abandoned her and their children without child support, leaving Albina to plunge into poverty. However, Brooks recalls that as an old woman on her death bed, Albina looked back on her life with fondness. She felt that she had gotten happier as she aged. At age 45, she turned her life around by going to school, starting a new career, and reuniting with her husband 14 years after he had deserted the family. From then on, her happiness grew.

Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey reveal how Albina became happier after altering the course of her life in her 40s. They claim that Albina learned to take charge of her life and to focus on what she could control: herself. She learned to manage her emotions and make decisions consciously. She also focused on four main pillars in her life: family, friendships, work, and faith.