Book Study - Happiness

My latest reading is in a book titled "Happier" by Tal Ben-Shahar. My goal is to finish the book working through the exercises in the book. Unfortunately, I can slip into negativity very easily. I work at staying positive and I am envious of people who are "happy" all the time. Knowing there is no easy answer, I picked up this book to see if it could offer any insight.

The author states his "objective in writing this book is to raise awareness of the general principles underlying a happy and fulfilling life".

One of the interesting statements is: "Even in less severe situations - a disappointment, a difficult spell at work or within a relationship - it may be unhelpful to ask a person to focus on the pursuit of happiness. The best we may be able to do under some circumstances is to experience the negative emotions and allow them to take their natural course." I think that some people experience too fully the negative emotions and let them control their lives. I hope to NOT be one of those people.

Am I happy? That is a question that lends itself to a black/white situation. Either I am or I'm not. So, the author restates the question to "How can I become happier?"

The exercise at the end of this chapter is to write down five things that made or make you happy. So here goes.

Today, my kitty cats made me happy. They love me and I know it. I love to watch them play. Bandy was trying to help me change the sheets on the bed. Sassy used to do that. I miss her and Blue Cat, but my three current kitties make me happy.

Today, I spent time with my husband. Yes, we can get on each others nerves. (See how I automatically bring up something negative?) We spent time together. We had breakfast together, went shopping and he cooked dinner tonight. I am so very lucky to have a partner like him and he does make me happy.

Number 3 didn't happen today, but I think of it often and it makes me smile. I was traveling on the interstate the other day and was behind a school bus. A guy on a motorcycle passes by and waves to the kids. A few minutes later, another motorcycle passes and he waves and guns his bike and goes on with his day. Obviously, the kids were waving, but these two adults made those kids day. It makes me smile.

Number 4 happened one day after a CNFM show. Kevin and I were at Perimeter Mall and we were leaving out of the parking lot. There was a lady backing out of a spot, a lady coming towards us and the lady coming towards us flags us down. She tells us we can have that parking spot. Kevin explained we were leaving and she said she wanted to let us know if we wanted the spot, we could have it. Her and her friend were going to park on the other side of the mall. That makes me smile when I think about it.

Number 5 - When Lindsay and Brooke smile and laugh when they see me, it makes me happy.

Exercise done.