Articles about Happiness
What are Sonja Lyubomirky’s top tips for Happiness?
From Sonja Lyubomirky’s book “The How of Happiness” Why are we so poor at attaining happiness? "If permanently boosting our happiness is so attainable, so within reach, why, you might ask, are we so poor at it? Why do we try so often and fail? The prime reason, I...
The things you think will make you happier, won’t.
From Sonja Lyubomirky’s book “The How of Happiness” The things you think will make you happier, won't. Being Wealthy Won't Make You Much Happier. "Very wealthy people have a great deal more than the average person, but the research shows that they are not much...
I’ll be Happy When…I Find the Right Job.
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" I'll be Happy When...I find the Right Job. "The heart of this chapter is about the happiness myth that stokes this crisis point—namely, that whatever happiness may have eluded you thus far will materialize after you...
I’ll be Happy When…I’m Married to the Right Person
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" I'll be Happy When...I'm Married to the Right Person "As I describe below, even the happiest marriages cannot maintain their initial satisfaction level, and only with a great deal of energy and commitment can you...
Naval’s advice how to become Happy
From Naval Ravikant's "Almanack of Naval Ravikant" Naval Ravikant's advice how to become Happy: "The three big ones in life are wealth, health, and happiness. We pursue them in that order, but their importance is reverse." (p. 126) "Don't take yourself so seriously, ....
What activities will actually make you happier?
From Sonja Lyubomirky’s book “The How of Happiness” What activities will actually make you happier? Nurture Social Relationships. "One of the strongest findings in the literature on happiness is that happy people have better relationships than do their less happy...
What is Jonathan Haidt’s Happiness Hypothesis?
From Jonathan Haidt's "Happiness Hypothesis." What is Jonathan Haidt's Happiness Hypothesis? "people today devote themselves to the pursuit of goals that won’t make them happier, in the process neglecting the sort of inner growth and spiritual development that could...
What are Tal Ben Shahar’s key points for a Happier life?
From Tal Ben Shahar's "Happier" What are Tal Ben Shahar's Key Points For a Happier Life? Don't Prioritize Wealth! "Those for whom making money is the primary objective are less likely to actualize themselves and reach their full potential. They generally experience...
Are Materialistic people happier?
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" Are Materialistic People Happier? "materialists report less satisfaction and meaning in their lives, have emptier social relationships, are more insecure, and are less liked by others than people who are not...
Buy Experiences over Material Things
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happy Money" Most people tend do buy material things such as homes, cars, tv's, gadgets, shoes, bags, and jewelry, over experiences. Is this a good idea? Studies Show Buying Experiences Yield More Overall Happiness Than Buying Material Things....
Buying Time will make you Happier.
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happier Spending" Buying Time will make you Happier. Research shows that Time Affluence is a bigger predictor of Happiness than Material Affluence. "Many of us wish we had more free time to do more of what we love—for Liz, it’s working out; for...
Spend money on others.
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happier Spending" Spending Money on Others Will Make You More Happy Than Spending Money on Yourself "Rather than think about the different ways you can spend your money on yourself to maximize your own happiness, consider investing it in others....
To maximize gratitude and overcome adaptation, make things scarce.
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happier Spending" Humans Adapt to Almost Everything. To Maximize Gratitude and Overcome Adaptation, Make Things Scarce. "Abundance, it turns out, is the enemy of appreciation. Many of us are lucky enough to live in a society where chocolate is...
If you prepay for something, you will be happier!
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happier Spending" "you’ll get more happiness for your money by following a different principle: pay now, and consume later." (p. 80) Prepaying will make you happier because you will get great pleasure from the anticipation and fantasy of the...
I’ll be happy when I find the right job. Is this a Myth?
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" I'll Be Happy When I Find the Right Job. Is This a Myth? "at the root of this happiness myth is the misconception that, although we’re not happy now, we’ll surely be happy when we make partner at our firm, when we’re...
How to spend money in ways that will actually make you happier.
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" People often spend money in ways that they think will make them really happy, but in reality it didn't really affect their overall happiness. What Are the Best Ways to Spend Money to Maximize Happiness? Spend Your...
Are materialistic people happier?
From Sonja Lyubomirsky "The Myths of Happiness" 1, "A mountain of research has shown that materialism depletes happiness, threatens satisfaction with our relationships, harms the environment, renders us less friendly, likable, and empathetic, and makes us less likely...
Beware of Social Comparisons, they are toxic!
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" People often can't help but compare themselves to their peers or other people. When this happens beware because it will make you unhappy. Social Comparisons Are Toxic! "Much of the time, it’s impossible not to compare...
How do I pick my goal or job?
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" Many people pick jobs or goals that don't make them happy. How do you pick the right job or goals? Goals and Jobs should be Intrinsic, Not Extrinsic. "It makes us unhappy—and less likely to succeed—when we are pursuing...
Spend Money on Others.
From Elizabeth Dunn's "Happy Money" Spending Money On Others is Better Than Spending it On Yourself. "Rather than think about the different ways you can spend your money on yourself to maximize your own happiness, consider investing it in others. Spending money on...
Will a higher income make you happier?
From Sonja Lubomirsky's book "Myths of Happiness" Will a Higher Income Make you Happier? Or is This a Myth? Once your income is enough to meet your basic needs (such as food, shelter, and health care), having a higher income will not have much effect on your overall...
Principle 1- The Happiness Advantage
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 1- The Happiness Advantage "thanks to breakthroughs in the burgeoning field of positive psychology, we are learning that the opposite is true. When we are happy—when our mindset and mood are positive—we are smarter,...
Who is Happier, Bob or Mary?
From Jonathan Haidt's "Happiness Hypothesis." Who is Happier, Bob or Mary? "Try to imagine yourself changing places with either Bob or Mary." "Bob is thirty-five years old, single, white, attractive, and athletic. He earns $100,000 a year and lives in sunny Southern...
Is there a correlation between Wealth and Happiness?
From Tal Ben Shahar's "Happier" Is There a Correlation Between Wealth and Happiness? "Studies have shown that the relationship between wealth and happiness is very different from what most of us would expect. In extensive cross-cultural and longitudinal studies of...
Which goals/job should I pick to be happiest?
From Tal Ben Shahar's "Happier" Which Goals and Jobs Should I pick to be the Happiest? You Should Pick Goals That are Intrinsic. "I believe that goals are indispensable to a happy life—to be happy, we need to identify and pursue goals that are both pleasurable and...
You must help other people for a happier life.
From Tal Ben Shahar's "Happier" You Must Help Other People for a Happier Life. "Helping oneself and helping others are inextricably intertwined: the more we help others, the happier we become, and the happier we become, the more inclined we are to help others." (p....
Principle 1- Love Maps
From "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" from John Gottman Principle 1- Love Maps "To this day, I’m struck by the story of this couple. Here was an intellectually gifted man who didn’t even know the name of the family dog or how to find the back door! Of...
Here are the signs that can predict Divorce
From "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" from John Gottman Here are the signs that can predict Divorce. First sign- The Harsh Start Up "Dara immediately becomes negative and accusatory. When Oliver broaches the subject of housework, she’s ready to be...
Intro to Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.
From "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" from John Gottman Intro to 7 Principles of Making Marriage Work. "in their day-to-day lives, they have hit upon a dynamic that keeps their negative thoughts and feelings about each other (which all couples have)...
Principle 5- Solve Your Solvable Problems
From "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" from John Gottman Principle 5- Solve Your Solvable Problems "The popular approach to conflict resolution, advocated by many marital therapists, is to attempt to put yourself in your partner’s shoes while listening...
Principle 4- Let Your Partner Influence You
From "The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work" from John Gottman Principle 4- Let Your Partner Influence You "Jeremy has made his wife a partner in his decision making. He respects and honors his wife and her opinions and feelings. He understands that for his...
Favorite Quotes From 80/80 Marriage
From "The 80-80 Marriage" by Nate Klemp. "Kaley swung around in her office chair. “I told you, it drives me nuts when you don’t put your shoes away. And it’s not my job to put away your crap.” One week in and the fight for fairness—the fight over who’s...
Principle 4- Falling Up.
"The Happiness Advantage" from Shawn Achor Principle 4- Falling Up. "Study after study shows that if we are able to conceive of a failure as an opportunity for growth, we are all the more likely to experience that growth. Conversely, if we conceive of a fall as the...
Principle 5- The Zorro Circle.
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 5- The Zorro Circle. "Feeling that we are in control, that we are masters of our own fate at work and at home, is one of the strongest drivers of both well-being and performance. Among students, greater feelings of...
Principle 2- The Fulcrum and the lever
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 2- The Fulcrum and the lever "Because our brain’s resources are limited, we are left with a choice: to use those finite resources to see only pain, negativity, stress, and uncertainty, or to use those resources to...
Principle 3- The Tetris Effect
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 3-The Tetris Effect "When these kids played Tetris for an extended period, they similarly became stuck with something clouding their vision—in this case, a cognitive pattern that caused them to involuntarily see...
Principle 6- The 20 Second Rule
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 6- The 20 Second Rule "Without action, knowledge is often meaningless. As Aristotle put it, to be excellent we cannot simply think or feel excellent, we must act excellently. Yet the action required to follow through...
Principle 7- Social Investment
"The Happiness Advantage" by Shawn Achor Principle 7- Social Investment "At the time, I remember thinking that this was a particularly cruel trick. But years later, I’m impressed at how memorably the Fire Maze training instilled in me the lesson that is at the heart...