Happiness is Freedom

"According to the Buddha's teachings, the most basic condition for happiness is freedom. Here we do not mean political freedom, but freedom from the mental formations of anger, despair, jealousy and delusion."

~ Thich Naht Hanh

New Era for Positive Psychology - Martin EP Seligman, PhD

What is Well-Being?

"Well-being cannot exist just in your own head: Well-being is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishment.  The way we choose our course in life is to maximize all five of these elements."   ~  Martin E. P. Seligman, PhD

Happiness Is a Journey

Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness.

Happiness is the way.

So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one.

~ Souza

Happiness

Happiness
When one's spiritual needs are met
by an untroubled inner life.
Happiness comes when your work and words
are of benefit to yourself and others.

Happiness is Contagious

From the Deacon's Bench:

In a study published online today by the British Medical Journal, scientists from Harvard University and UC San Diego showed that happiness spreads readily through social networks of family members, friends and neighbors.

Knowing someone who is happy makes you 15.3% more likely to be happy yourself, the study found. A happy friend of a friend increases your odds of happiness by 9.8%, and even your neighbor's sister's friend can give you a 5.6% boost.

Read the whole article here.

Thanks for the post, Char!

10 Ways to Be Happier

1. Start simple – sleep enough and eat enough

2. Do let the sun go down on anger – things usually seem less dramatic in the morning

3. Fake it ‘til you feel it - pretend laughing (see laughter yoga)

4. Do new things - enjoy the fun of failure!

5. Don’t treat the blues with a “treat” – does that pint of ice cream really make you feel better?

6. Buy some Happiness – if you're going to spend money, spend money on experiences instead of things

7. Don’t insist on the best – Satisficers are happier than Maximizers

8. Exercise to Boost Energy

9. Stop Nagging

10. Take Action – make your life Happier

Read full article