Happiness is everywhere you look right now, isn’t it? And I don’t mean REAL happiness – but as a topic of discussion. It’s the primary focus of the zeitgeist – popping up everywhere in books, films and songs. Just look at Oscar nominee for Best Original song, Pharrell Williams with his catchy ditty, Happy.
“Because I’m happy… Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I’m happy… Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.”
The International Day of Happiness was established by the United Nations General Assembly in June, 2012 and celebrated for the first time last year, with the premise that ‘Happiness should be provided to every person in the world, no matter what.’
It’s a pretty tall order. How is it even remotely possible for happiness to be provided for EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD???? Dig a bit deeper and you’ll find the United Nations is really hoping every country will get behind the initiative by providing seminars and awareness days that will encourage and generate general happiness.
You see, happiness is no longer just a state of mind. It’s now a bona fide science and moneymaking industry. In the US, there’s a Happiness 1st Institute, an International Society of Happiness Professionals and even a Harvard University Psychology course titled, ‘Happiness 101’.
Unwittingly, I’ve drawn a minor study of the notion of happiness this year by taking on some reading material that focuses on happiness and success. So I thought I’d do my bit for the United Nations by sharing with you a quick summary of three books you might like to take a closer look at.
I’m not one of these New Age types who have a fetish for self-help books, but have found these three books to have practical tips and advice that really can make a difference.
(1) The first book I took on this year, which I’ve discussed briefly in an earlier blog, is WILLPOWER by Roy F. Baumeister and John Tierney. I was drawn to this title in an airport bookstore while wondering how to conquer my brilliant talent for procrastination. It seemed timely that this popped in to view, so I decided to buy a copy.
This book draws on a vast range of psychology studies and research to illustrate valid points about willpower and how better planning strategies and time management help bring about a less stressful life.
MAIN POINT: Get rid of temptation to achieve success
(2) The second book I tackled is called Life In Half A Second by Matthew Michalewicz. This was sent to me by Michalewicz himself and arrived out of the blue. Again, as a talented procrastinator, I was drawn to the sub-title ‘How to achieve success before it’s too late.’ I was skeptical, but thought I’d scan through it to see if it had any merit. As you can see from the coloured markers, there are plenty of pages I want to return to because of the advice offered.
The best part about this book is that Michalewicz instructs the reader to complete specific tasks at the end of each chapter to ensure you are on the right path.
He defines ‘Five Doors to Success’ that aim, firstly, to put you in a positive state of mind. Goal-setting and defining targets along the way are also paramount. Here’s an excerpt:
‘By knowing exactly what you want, wanting it badly and believing you can get it, you have primed your mind for success. You have given yourself the absolute best possible chance of achieving your goals. Clarity, desire and belief are working together on your behalf, night and day in your subconscious. You have presented your mind with a tangible, concrete problem: How can I get what I want? How can I achieve my goals?
Your mind is not drifting, wandering: it’s working on this problem non-stop, trying to solve it, trying to make it happen. Every meeting you have, every human interaction, every piece of information you put inside your head is now viewed against the contextual backdrop of your goals. You’re on your way!’
(3) The third book was recommended to me by a girlfriend (thanks, Sal!) and is called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen. I love this book because it doesn’t make any wild proclamations about delivering AMAAAZING results in weeks. In fact, it spouts a message that’s completely the opposite. This book is all about taking lots of small steps every day to achieve your goals and to find happiness.
Like the book Willpower, it also draws on wide-ranging psychological studies and research to prove its point. Of all the books, this one is the most concerned with finding happiness. The philosophy it draws on is, of course, called ‘The Slight Edge’.
MAIN POINT: It really is better that you read the book yourself to discover what this entails, but in a very simplistic outline, I can tell you it involves doing five simple things every day. They are:
1. To write down 3 things you are grateful for every day.
2. Journal for 2 minutes a day about a positive experience you’ve had in the last 24 hours.
3. Meditate daily.
4. Do a random act of kindness every day.
5. Exercise for 15 minutes a day.
Olsen claims that if you do these five ‘Happy Habits’ every day for 21 days, they will become a habit. You will re-wire your brain and as a result, be much happier. Try it and let me know if it works for you. The only one I struggle with is meditation… One day I’m sure I’ll understand it, but not yet…
On a final note – a tip from me. Looking at happy photos will always give you a happiness boost. My favourite is this one of myself and my daughter, Veronica, when she was having a swimming lesson, aged 9 months. Her face says it all. Pure joy.
Okay, okay, I know it’s a bit late for Happy New Year greetings etc… but I’ve only just landed back in Australia and it feels like I’m starting my New Year for real, today.
So HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope you’ve started off the year with a huge bang and have a brilliant twelve months ahead.
Last year I made a big fuss about New Year’s resolutions but this year, I’m going to be a bit more low key. And a bit more ‘general’. By this, I mean I’m going to focus on HOW to achieve my resolutions, rather than talking about what they actually are. I reckon if I get that bit RIGHT, the rest will follow.
You see, I’m easily distracted. Always chasing the next best thing to keep my mind occupied and the spirit motivated. As I passed through Bangkok airport looking for some plane reading material, one title jumped out at me – WILLPOWER. Now that’s something I definitely need more of.
I’d like to discuss this in more detail, but one crucial piece of advice in the book is about creating a less stressful life, which means better planning strategies and time management. So I need to get ready for a function right now and rather than run late and stress about not being ready on time because I spent too much time blogging, I’m going to head to the shower RIGHT NOW. Because I have new-found will-power!
You should read this book. It really makes you look at your life and long-term goals and has some very valid theories backed up by far-reaching research about WHY certain methods will help you get where you want to be.
As a writer, I am no longer going to procrastinate and wait for inspiration. I am going to plan regular daily writing sessions – and treat this like a REAL job – so I can finally achieve my goals. Well, that’s just one of my resolutions.
But more on that later. Right now I have a shower deadline.
Happy New Year!
By this, I mean I’ve made a few resolutions but keeping them seems to be the tricky bit, so it’s the ‘how to keep them’ bit that I’m going to focus on.
