Most people are unhappy. There are many possible reasons for this, but one of the most common is that there’s a conflict between their actions and what they truly value.
Category: Being Happy
Finding your purpose in life: could it be this simple?
I’ve long struggled with trying to find meaning and purpose in my life. Why am I here? What’s most important? What should I be striving for? During the religious times, add “what does God want me to do?”
The way to happiness: who’s right?
There’s a lot of conflicting advice out there about how to be happy. What should you think in order to be happy?
How unhappiness works–and how to beat it
Pop quiz: only one question and it’s multiple choice. What would make me happy? a) winning the lottery b) my loved ones truly appreciating me c) a lifetime supply of chocolate d) my neocortex Happiness, and unhappiness, are actually pretty simple, but they’re not caused by circumstances like most people […]
Cynicism and changing the world
Yesterday’s post generated some really great discussion about optimism. This is a subject with a lot of strong opinions! Most people wrote very thoughtful and interesting insights, but what struck me was the tone of scorn in a few of the pessimists’ comments, and the slight defensiveness in a few […]
How to become an optimist (and how to use pessimism to your advantage)
Apparently, at some point in my life, I “learned” that it’s safer to expect things to turn out badly. Then you’re always either right or pleasantly surprised, right? Well, yes, but that’s a bit limiting. The thing is, if you believe you can do something, you’re more likely to try […]
Quick guide to being blissfully unhappy
I talk a lot on this blog about how to be happy, but there are some people who really aren’t happy unless they have something to complain about. So, here’s one for them.
The #2 Shortcut to Enjoying Life
It’s deceptively simple: be nice to yourself.
The number one shortcut to enjoying life more
Mystics tell us to live in and savor every moment, but that’s a pretty tall order! For the rest of us, trying to jump directly to that stage seems unrealistic to me, although I like it as a goal. Meanwhile, savoring a few moments per day is a good start.
Can $75,000 buy happiness?
Have you ever heard anyone say, “There! I finally have enough money, and now I’m happy!” I sure haven’t.
An unexpected treat
Let’s all seek out stillness and unexpected beauty, and savor it when we find it.