In Being Happy Part 2, we shall take a look at the work of Martin Seligman, a foremost proponent of the positive psychology movement and a leading source of advice on being happy.
As the name suggests, positive psychology focuses on what is good, what is working in a person’s life. Its aim is to find ways build on people’s strengths, help them to find happiness and to achieve their full potential. This is in contrast to traditional psychology that focussed on what is wrong with a person.
After a broad ranging review of the various prescriptions for happiness, from such diverse sources as the Buddha to Tony Robbins, Seligman identifies three distinct ways to find happiness; the Pleasant Life, the Engaged Life and the Meaningful Life.
In the fullest sense, the happiest of lives are those where all three are cultivated and practiced.
Seligman found, somewhat to his surprise, that Pleasure alone contributes little to a lasting sense of happiness and fulfilment. He compares it to “the whipped cream and the cherry” that tops off a life spent in the simultaneous pursuit of meaning and engagement.
Then we take a detailed look at other happiness inducing factors that Seligman has identified in the course of a long and distinguished career in positive psychology.
Contents
INTRODUCTION
THREE KINDS OF HAPPY LIFE
QUALITY RELATIONSHIPS
SELFLESS CARING
HEALTHY MIND IN A HEALTHY BODY
SPIRITUAL MEANING
OPTIMISM – LEARNED OR INHERENT
MINDFULNESS
FLOW
BUILDING ON YOUR STRENGTHS & VIRTUES
STRATEGIC NON-ACTION – WU WEI
NOT TAKING OFFENCE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Try a little happiness David Tuffley has some good advice for being a happier person and living in the moment rather than in the past or always being conscious of the future. His method of doing this is called Self Actualization. There are several steps to self actualization, but they are all rather simple ones, such as listening to your own taste, letting your true sense emerge and choosing between the safety of the known path and taking a risk.This is a short essay-type publication, but one that can be read over a few times in order to absorb all of its messages. Some of the steps in the process of self actualization could be explained in more detail, but most are simple in concept. The author begins by saying that we get fleeting happiness from goods and services but it doesn’t last. It is a result of our global consumer society. Creating the right conditions for ourselves leads to inner happiness and that kind lasts. Accepting people for exactly who they are is also another step along the way.I enjoyed reading this and plan to read it again. It isn’t anything purely outstanding, but it is written simply and from the heart of the author. He sounds sincere in wanting other people to find what he has found through self actualization.
Baby Steps to Something Bigger I think I was expecting facile tips like something out of a consumer magazine. Instead, author and professor David Toffley’s brief book BEING HAPPY is about achieving self-actualization. The idea is that if you live in the present and by your own code, you will be more than happy. The book is divided into 12 main sections:– Introduction– Experience things fully, vividly, selflessly: be mindful (present) and accepting of your circumstances; awaken your inner observer, and forget about time– On-going choice between safety and risk : risk offers growth, be mindful of your choices– Let your true self emerge: be honest with yourself, follow your intuition– Listen to your own tastes: don’t rely on other’s approval or disapproval to regulate your behavior– Use your intelligence: do what you do well, whether it’s big or small– Make peak experiencing more likely: by being more honest with yourself, you can be more internally consistent, and therefore actualized– Know Thyself– Summary of characteristics: a paragraph-long recap– SA people are like this: what being self-actualized looks like in practice; basically, being independent, thoughtful, capable, stalwart, and appreciative– An example: a peak experience brought on by taking time to notice moss.I had heard about self-actualization before, and was intrigued by the book, but it left me wanting more. How do you achieve each particular step? What do they look like in action? The example at the end really moved me and made me wish there were more examples scatted throughout.If you are not familiar with the quest for self-actualization/enlightment/satori, this book is a decent primer that may whet your appetite for more. If you are familiar with these concepts, then I doubt this book will tell you anything new. In short, if the concept intrigues you, then get the book – you have nothing to lose and potentially much to gain.