When I wrote yesterday’s post, asking, “Are you happy?” I didn’t expect to get the answers that I did.
Image: Jordan Pérez Ordenez via Flickr, CC 2.0
I’m touched that the post struck a chord with so many people.
I was happy yesterday.
It was my brother’s birthday, and he celebrated it with us for the first time in our adult lives.
So I cooked a big Indian meal – and I mean BIG.
It was a lot of work.
But I was happy, as you can see from this photograph that Jill Foster took, even though I gave myself a burn “the size of Michigan,” as Jill put it.
I’ve been thinking more and more – spurred on, not the least, by the amazing comments on my post – about happiness.
So here are seven read- and watch-worthy posts on happiness for you to peruse at your leisure.
Be happy.
1. Ten tips for being happier, from the Happiness Project.
Why: who couldn’t do with 10 tips for being happier?
2. Twenty simple ways to get happy, from Reader’s Digest.
Why: ten tips are great, but who am I to argue with 20?
3. How to be happy: accept the negative, from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Why: IMHO, if we can switch our focus from what we “should” have, instead of accepting what we don’t, we’ll all be happier.
4. How to be happy in business, from What Consumes Me.
Why: Sometimes we need a diagram to help us think straight.
5. Gross National Happiness, from PBS.
Why: how many countries measure their success in terms of happiness? Well, Bhutan, for one.
6. Four unintentionally depressing self-help books on happiness, from Cracked.com.
Why: there’s always two sides to a story.
7. Happy dog, big tongue, from mcira on YouTube.
If this doesn’t make you happy…
It’s like you’ve created a Happypedia with this post!
Thx for the sources with this one from your first cited post staying on the mind:
“Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperament: You’re born an Eeyore or a Tigger, and that’s that. Although it’s true that genetics play a big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control.”
“Happypedia.” Love it!
Forty percent gives us a lot of leeway to decide whether we’ll be happy or not, doesn’t it, Jill? Thank you for pointing that out.
Hello,
May I add the following to your list?!
http://www.neweconomics.org/projects/five-ways-well-being
These well researched tips help you move through your days in a positive way. They are simple, mostly free and effective. I found out about them while doing some work with the health and wellbeing team (the NHS, UK).
The best one for me is ‘Take Notice’. I love to use this on the way to the gym, while standing at the bus stop or on my way to work.
I hope they help others out there find a little happiness, too.
Thanks for bringing the other links to our attention :)
Cheers,
Alex
This is great, thanks so much, Alex!