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One of my great finds this year was The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. It's a brilliant work based on psychological research that teaches how to actually, practically become happier.
One of the integral parts of this program is to actively practice the art of being grateful. As Gary Ryan Blair said:
Finding something good in each and every day harnesses the power of gratitude.
With all the opportunities, conditions, and relative luxuries we enjoy, it's baffling to see how stressed and unhappy we generally are. In fact, it's downright shameful. And it seems the more things our culture offers, the more unhappy we become.
It's possible to attain great wealth, the best education, and an exceptional quality of life and still be unhappy.
Frankly, that should be a “duh” moment to all of us. Examples abound. But we still tend to follow those living miserable lives of wealth and see them as “success stories.”
Why are we so stupid? Perhaps because we focus on the wrong things a great deal of the time.
It's time to refocus. Get out a notebook and write down three things you are thankful for. Do the same thing tomorrow and the next day. Do it for 21 days. No repeats. That simple act can do more to boost your mood than a bottle of pills. Seriously.
An attitude of gratitude provides immunity from anger, envy, resentment, and depression.
Take your dose of gratefulness today!
Join me in the 100 Day Challenge!
Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.
Did it work? Happiness doesn’t come from a book. You can’t teach someone how to be “Happy” Happiness is intrinsically ingrained in your DNA. It’s a human emotion. That fine line between laughter and crying. Shopping may make you happy until you get home and find what you bought doesn’t match the curtains, then you’re unhappy. You live in a small 2 bed room apartment, and you go to an 18 room mansion on the beach in Bora Bora, you are happy there. Happiness comes from with in. Trying to find it in books, you may as well set your money on fire.
david neesley, the post doesn’t remotely say that happiness comes from a book. It says that the book describes scientifically proven ways to increase happiness. Argue with the science, if you want. 🙂
Research shows you actually can teach others (and yourself) to be happy. And I’m truly sad to think that you — and perhaps others — believe it’s all in the genes and there is nothing to be done. What an…unhappy…thought!
If you read the post (and/or the book), you’ll note that it agrees with your conclusion. Happiness does come from within. But there are proven ways to help you find them when you find it difficult.
As for “did it work”? Yes. I’ve been doing it for 18 days now. It takes about five minutes per day to do the recommended journaling (part of which is included above) and the difference has been remarkable.
David just sounds bitter. I mean wouldn’t you think that looking for things that bless you would help you feel better? It’s kind of like “stop and smell the roses.” Unless we look for good things we usually miss them because we are so busy and stressed.
Allison, I found your blog while looking for things about this book. What a find! I love this book and love that others testify how it can help. I can’t even tell you how much it has helped.
I hope you’ll write about the whole book, it’s amazing!