In his
book, "Secrets of a Satisfying Life," Dr. David
D. Ireland looks closely at statistical evidence that reveals
the lifestyle choices of those individuals who consider themselves
very happy. Bottom line: the happiest people are those who
help others. In the wake of "happy" people, researchers
have discovered similar characteristics shared by those who
demonstrate consistent satisfaction with their lives. Included
is the essential quality of developing a realistic perspective
on life. The way in which life is seen and interpreted makes
all the difference, so one must continually reevaluate personal
perspective to ensure accuracy. While good/bad experiences/events
happen to everyone, it is those who learn mastery in achieving
a healthy perspective who live most "happily."
Ireland
recommends asking the following questions when difficulties
arise. 1. Am I responding impulsively? 2. Is this the worst
thing that can happen to me? 3. What do I want my future to
look like? 4. How can I establish a strategy for happiness
as part of the overall solution? The author suggests this
rule in response to any difficulty, warning that, "bad
news cannot be responded to impulsively...and a levelheaded
response will help maintain a positive state of mind."
Further, Ireland notes that individuals must not make the
mistake of equating positive thinking with happiness. Rather,
"habits of happy people are deliberate responses that
have successfully proven to meet their personal emotional
needs."
The author
makes the telling statement that when one looks for the happy
man; one will find him not in search of happiness. Instead,
the happy man will be found building, writing, educating,
growing...in other words, he will be making conscious choices
on a moment-by-moment basis to enrich his life and the lives
of those around him. Further, Ireland says, "Happiness
can and is to be found in the measure of satisfaction one
can find in the normal activities of life." Rather than
searching for the perfect job, mate, house, vacation, happy
people see (and focus upon) the good amidst the flaws and
the shortcomings (which flavor part of every aspect of life).
Happy
Habits
- Recognize and establish a reasonable "threshold of
satisfaction" so that more experiences are deemed positive.
- Embrace a hopeful outlook, "hopelessness is a coma
of the soul."
- Develop a true portrait of who you are and who you are
not, then work to achieve those dreams and goals within
this informed framework.
- Balance activity with regular periods of restoration.
- Allow sincerity, vulnerability, and forgiveness their
proper place in all relationships.
- Don't allow pain or past mistakes to paralyze, realize
the future is a friend.
About
the Author:
Michele
Howe is a book reviewer for Publishers Weekly, FaithfulReader.com,
Aspiring Retail and has published over 900 articles/reviews.
She works as a manuscript critique editor for the Christian
Communicator and writes on women's health issues for the Toledo
Free Press, Monroe Journal, CBN.com, SingleMom.com, ParentSuperSite.com,
CatholicMom.com, and Radiant among other publications. Howe
has also published eight books for women including: Going
It Alone: Meeting the Challenges of Being a Single Mom
,
Prayers
for Homeschool Moms,
Prayers
for New and Expecting Moms,
Prayers
of Comfort and Strength,
Prayers
to Nourish a Woman's Heart,
Successful
Single Moms,
and Pilgrim
Prayers for Single Mothers.
