by Amelie Chance on February 3, 2010
If I were to summarize in once concise statement all of the advice my parents had given me growing up, it would be this, “Just be happy.”
That’s great – they were obviously caring and loving parents, but my response was always, “No problem, just tell me how.”
“Um…well, you’re going to have to figure that out for yourself. It’s different for everybody.”
I set my sights on happiness from that day forward researching every text, self-help book, and practice on happiness. This site is about my quest for happiness and in that quest how I’ve discovered HOW we can all be happy. It turns out my parents were wrong, happiness has many common elements. If you want to be happy, discover how on this site.
by Amelie Chance on January 26, 2010
What are your goals? Think of one. Got it? Ok, now ask yourself why you have that goal. Ok, do you have the answer? Now, ask yourself why you want that? Where am I going with this? To the diagram below. I promise that if you drill down on the reason you have a particular goal by continually asking the question “why?”, you will find that the utlimate answer you want anything in your life is to find happiness.
Would you agree? I’m guessing you would, but here is the big issue - if we don’t reach our goals, we may not be so happy. Worse yet, if we do reach our goals, sometimes the happiness is temporary or not there at all. It seems that our overall methods to attain happiness can be extremely challenging with a pay off that is not guaranteed.
Now, what if I told you that you could short circuit all of the above and go directly to the happiness part? What I’m saying is that no matter what your life circumstance, no matter if you are married or single, rich or not-so-rich, brown or green or purple, you could be happier. Would you believe it? Well, it’s possible. Scientists have done what people for ages have been waiting for – they have found sure fire methods and exercises to shift our set point of happiness – permanently.
This study is called Positive Psychology. It’s easy to understand and practice and you can learn more here on this website.
The first step you can take is to assess your level of happiness. Take the survey here.