I’ve just released a little eBook called How to be Wise & Happy Happiness strategies inspired by history’s wisest philosophers How to be Wise & Happy looks at the happiness philosophies of 5 great philosophers and uses that wisdom to suggest modern-day strategies for happiness. Plus there’s a bonus section containing happiness insights from… Continue reading NEW eBook – How to be Wise and Happy
Author: Michele Connolly
Choose to be happier – and you will be.
Happiness Life Strategy: Self-reflection each day keeps the flu bugs away
A new study, reported last month in the media and about to appear in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, looked at the way our bodies produce antibodies in response to infection. (Flu vaccines were used as a proxy for pathogens because the body’s response is similar for the purposes of the study.) Not everybody… Continue reading Happiness Life Strategy: Self-reflection each day keeps the flu bugs away
Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #3. For everyone
When ‘they’ won’t change – what should you do? You can’t change someone else. And pressuring them to change tends to make them dig their heels in further. We all have a bit of that rebellious child still in us. But there’s one person you can change – you. And because relationships are mini systems,… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #3. For everyone
Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #2. For couples
When you’ve forgotten what you ever saw in them – what should you do? The things we find attractive or endearing at first – Cuthbert’s slight arrogance, Mavis’s raucous laugh – can come to annoy the bejesus out of us over time. They haven’t necessarily changed, we’ve zeroed in on minor irritations – sometimes at… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #2. For couples
Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #1. For singles
As Thursday is Valentine’s Day, this week we turn to some relationship-themed happiness strategies. Today – a happiness strategy for singles looking for love: When you’re waiting for Prince/Princess Charming to come along and make you happy – what should you do? Tomorrow - a happiness strategy for couples: When you’ve forgotten what… Continue reading Valentine’s Day Happiness Strategies – #1. For singles
How to be happy – 14. Concentrate on intentional factors
Lesson: A happiness model Although positive psychology and well-being research have flourished, there’s no agreed-upon theory of happiness. But a model has been suggested, quite recently in fact, and it’s based on 3 factors (1). 1. Circumstances and demographics – like health, finances and marital status 2. Personality and genes – the ‘innate’ aspects of… Continue reading How to be happy – 14. Concentrate on intentional factors
Happiness, New York style
In the New York magazine article Happiness: A User’s Manual, Ben Mathis-Lilley takes a bunch of happiness research findings and translates them into 20 useful tips for New Yorkers. The result is fun, and a cute reminder of those findings about happiness – some of which may be familiar to Happiness Strategies readers via 101… Continue reading Happiness, New York style
Happiness and childhood: do we need happier classrooms?
In last Monday’s Yorkshire Post Maggie Stratton asked the question: In a society obsessed by material gain, should schools be teaching our children the true meaning of happiness? Her answer draws on the advice of two education experts who believe it’s time to get very serious about happiness at school. Alas, say Smith and Jones,… Continue reading Happiness and childhood: do we need happier classrooms?
How to be happy – 13. Act like you’re an extravert – even if you aren’t
Lesson: We can learn from happy extraverts and happy introverts We saw in Strategy 12 that introverted people tend to be less happy than their extraverted counterparts. But before you anti-social butterflies throw up your wings in despair and head for the nearest net, let me share some nuggets of evidence that the extraversion-happiness link… Continue reading How to be happy – 13. Act like you’re an extravert – even if you aren’t
The joy of text: Choosing prose over Prozac for happiness therapy
Last week I mentioned a study pointing to the psychological benefits of creative pursuits. Now, for the readers among us, there’s more good news. This month The Guardian reported the use of experimental reading groups as a form of therapy. ‘Bibliotherapy’ is being tried across a range of problems – including anxiety and depressive disorders,… Continue reading The joy of text: Choosing prose over Prozac for happiness therapy