Comments on: If you weren’t born happy, swap medication for mindset http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/ Ideas & strategies for a happier life Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:58:51 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Michele Connolly http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-1631 Michele Connolly Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:07:27 +0000 http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/#comment-1631 Hi Anonymous Visitor, Thanks so much for your considered comment. I guess if someone is 'happy' being melancholic, then it's their choice and no one else's business. Some people, though, would like to be happier but think it's beyond their ability to change. Research is finding that it is possible to become happier - IF you want to. (There are many examples coming up in the 101 Happiness Strategies series.) For those people, I think it's good to let them know they can make changes and find greater happiness if they crave it. But I completely agree with you that it's an individual's choice. Pressuring someone to do or be something they don't choose for themselves sounds like a frustrating experience for both the pressurer and their target! Ciao for now, Michele Hi Anonymous Visitor,

Thanks so much for your considered comment.

I guess if someone is ‘happy’ being melancholic, then it’s their choice and no one else’s business.

Some people, though, would like to be happier but think it’s beyond their ability to change. Research is finding that it is possible to become happier – IF you want to. (There are many examples coming up in the 101 Happiness Strategies series.) For those people, I think it’s good to let them know they can make changes and find greater happiness if they crave it.

But I completely agree with you that it’s an individual’s choice. Pressuring someone to do or be something they don’t choose for themselves sounds like a frustrating experience for both the pressurer and their target!

Ciao for now,
Michele

]]> By: An Anonymous Visitor http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-1625 An Anonymous Visitor Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:59:09 +0000 http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/#comment-1625 I agree with Idetroce- this article is interesting, but I don't agree with you. You are right that some people were just born happy, and some weren't. However I think it is a mistake to try and convert the 'born-miserables' into happy people. Instead I think we should just acknowledge that there are natural human variations in mood, like in skin or hair colour, and accept the less cheerful in society too. Its foolish to pressure yourself to be happier unnecessarily- maybe you just weren't meant to be! Instead of focussing on how to help everyone to be happy, maybe we could look at the benefits of being more melancholic. I agree with Idetroce- this article is interesting, but I don’t agree with you. You are right that some people were just born happy, and some weren’t. However I think it is a mistake to try and convert the ‘born-miserables’ into happy people. Instead I think we should just acknowledge that there are natural human variations in mood, like in skin or hair colour, and accept the less cheerful in society too. Its foolish to pressure yourself to be happier unnecessarily- maybe you just weren’t meant to be! Instead of focussing on how to help everyone to be happy, maybe we could look at the benefits of being more melancholic.

]]> By: Bauduin http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Bauduin Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:24:30 +0000 http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/#comment-1011 Marvelous!!! sounds logical and very effective!!! I will practice your medication from now!!! thank you very much for your insight!!! Bauduin Marvelous!!!

sounds logical and very effective!!!
I will practice your medication from now!!!

thank you very much for your insight!!!

Bauduin

]]> By: Idetrorce http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-564 Idetrorce Sat, 15 Dec 2007 13:44:49 +0000 http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/#comment-564 very interesting, but I don't agree with you Idetrorce very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
Idetrorce

]]> By: Dog training http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/comment-page-1/#comment-314 Dog training Sun, 25 Nov 2007 11:25:27 +0000 http://www.happinessstrategies.com/blog/2007/10/31/if-you-werent-born-happy-swap-medication-for-mindset/#comment-314 Very interesting... as always! Cheers from -Switzerland-. Very interesting… as always! Cheers from -Switzerland-.

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