You’re tense, your shoulders are tight, and you feel as though you just might “lose it.” We all know that feeling. Having worked on self-compassion for several years, the voice I now hear in my head is exceptionally kind. I realize my competitiveness came from a place of not feeling enough in who I was, which in turn came from ideas I had formed in childhood. That belief served me when I was small. It helped me get the validation I was seeking from the world around me. But as an adult and a father, it was harming me by pushing me to do more than I could bear. These days, I love the person I see in the mirror, and I always feel good about myself, whether I win or lose. And this has had a huge impact on my life. Yes, I feel happier and more content, but I also find it much easier to stay engaged and be consistent with any lifestyle changes I am trying to make. I would recommend this book to anyone who is ready to become happier and they are tired of being burden down by stress. I immensely loved the different exercises to work on our journey to happiness. I thought they were very helpful and powerful to guide us. I loved the topic of learning to treat ourselves with respect and I think this will be very beneficial to readers. This book has the potential to help us to manage and control our stress. I loved the breathing techniques and how we can take the time to slow down and reflect. I enjoyed how he contained numerous studies and explored the science of happiness. In short, we are biologically wired to be unhappy. The good news is that we can deliberately train our “new brain” to override the old instincts. Lesson 2: Happiness requires intentional effort. Genuine happiness is a ‘now-and-here’ skill.’‘You don’t have to be happy for the rest of your life, only now. Be.’

I’ve said for years, 80 percent is lifestyle-related; the way we’re living our lives. But I’ve been then trying to figure out over the last few years, well, is lifestyle the root cause or can you go further upstream? Is there something that’s even more important? Mental health professionals are trained to help people improve coping skills. Plus, there’s no obligation to continue once you start. We smile because we’re happy, and smiling causes the brain to release dopamine, which makes us happier. Curry OS, et al. (2018). Happy to help? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of performing acts of kindness on the well-being of the actor.With a little practice, you may even become more aware of all the positive things around you. 6. Give a compliment The value of this book is not so much in discovering brand new lands of knowledge about happiness. Kevin Horsley and Louis Fourie constantly point towards the fact that we all have what it takes to be happy inside of us. In The Happy Mind, they assemble the characteristics that happy people have in common. They build their signposts towards happiness on these traits. Sure, some people seem to be more predisposed to happiness than others. It may be due to their genes or the excellent parenting they received as children. But if you were not fortunate enough to have those gifts, that doesn’t mean you cannot work on your own happiness. The final chapter was a bit unconventional and an unexpected surprise. In addition to a nice recap of the previous chapters, the chapter is filled with really nice quotes and passages that are contagious with smile producing thought provoking wisdom. Can you even imagine what “spirit cancer” is? How do you resist “brain pain”?

If you haven’t unplugged in a while, you might be surprised at the difference it makes. Let your mind wander free for a change. Read. Meditate. Take a walk and pay attention to your surroundings. Be sociable. Or be alone. Just be. Rangan Chatterjee's views on life really resonate with me, and this latest book, Happy Mind, Happy Life, is no exception. Although certain tenets run through all of his books, they build on one another from one to the next yet are never repetitive. From the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Unlimited Memory comes a new book on finding happiness in life using the power of your mind. Happiness is more than just a feeling—it’s a learned skill. When you master the habits of happiness, your life will be filled with more peace, purpose, and passion. The search for happiness is fundamental for all humans, and the answers lie within the depths of your mind. In The Happy Mind , you’ll discover valuable insights for lasting happiness instead of being driven by short-term pleasure seeking. You’ll find the answers to your most important These questions have led to many philosophical debates over thousands of years. The philosophers of Greece were famous for their quest to define the pillars of "the good life." Faith-based movements have painstakingly crafted dogmas and prescribed behaviors in pursuit of ultimate peace and joy. Academic studies have been concentrated on finding the answer to "the optimal life experience." When you look at all the scientific research, religious teachings, and philosophical insights, you find one inescapable you can learn to live a truly happy life, but you must come to understand one thing… Self help and wellness books are not generally my bag, especially if they’re written by celebrities, but I’ve been listening to Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s podcast for the last year and have been impressed, so when this book appeared on my weekly Kindle reads list I decided to give it a go as most of the chapters are based on the original podcasts.As you build habits to improve your happiness, it’s important to follow up with routine appointments to help take care your body, such as: The experience of joy, contentment, or positive well-being, combined with a sense that one’s life is good, meaningful, and worthwhile – according to professor Sonja Lyubomirsky. He tells us to seek out friction – the more you risk friction by telling your truth, the more aligned you become.” Just in case you still want to hold on to illusions about joy, Horsley and Fourie open a can of worms to make sure you are clear of what you got with Chapter 3 The Origin of Unhappiness. These points will hit home for those still dwelling in low vibrations.