Six Lessons for A Happier Life
By Dr. Judith Gerhart
The cover article of the March 2008 issue of Ode is “The Art of Happiness,” an interview with French psychiatrist Christophe Andre. Andre has made a name for himself through his books, two of which are “How to Lead a Happy Life” and “The Art of Happiness.” Ode asked Andre for a spontaneous list of six key lessons for being happy. I thought you might be interested in his response:
Accept that there will be unpleasant things in life. All the time, every day you’ll face hindrances: You’ll be too late or make a mistake or say something stupid. It’s the rent you pay to live in the house of life. It’s part of life. There’s no point in being disappointed when things don’t go your way.
Open your eyes and look around. There are more opportunities for happiness than you think, certainly for a Westerner in 2008. Embrace the moments. Try to remember them. Enjoy them.
Take time out. The ability to pause, mentally as well as in your actions, is important. Taking breaks is a prerequisite for experiencing happiness.
Pay attention to your family and friends. Social ties are important for happiness. Don’t let a day go by without thinking of, or seeing, someone you love.
Try to get in touch with nature every day. Take a walk in the park and spend a few minutes looking at nature.
Express your gratitude and respect for the good things you experience. Being thankful makes you happy and increases the chance of social connection.
Author site: Dr. Judith Gerhart | View all articles by Dr. Judith Gerhart
Topics: Divorce My Way |
May 24th, 2010 at 3:50 am
Happiness is a state of mind that really depends how we see the situations in our lives each day. you can have all the riches in the world but still see it as a lonely place.-;;
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