Category: Happiness media

House hold

Remember that episode of House where the foetus reaches out during surgery and holds House’s finger? Apparently it was inspired by this photo of a procedure performed on a 21-week-old foetus in utero. Check out Michael Clancy’s story of the images and a slide-show. Pretty amazing, huh?

10 ways to avoid cancer

In yesterday’s post we looked at nurturing the good in your life rather than just focusing on the problems. If you’re after ideas for nurturing good health, then look no further than this week’s New Scientist magazine. It reports on the very latest findings from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for… Continue reading 10 ways to avoid cancer

If you weren’t born happy, swap medication for mindset

In yesterday’s Guardian, Rebecca Hardy looked at a topic very close to this happiness strategist’s heart: although people are ‘popping happy pills like Smarties’, the accumulating mass of scientific research suggests that ‘happiness is, quite literally, a state of mind’. Hardy extensively quotes Sonja Lyubomirsky, a favorite researcher of mine and a co-author of the meta-analysis… Continue reading If you weren’t born happy, swap medication for mindset

Plugging the voters’ happiness gap

David Brooks’ column in today’s New York Times talks about the gap facing American voters. It’s not between right and left, not between rich and poor, but between voters’ ‘private optimism and their public gloom’. It seems American voters are upbeat about their own lives, with the majority satisfied about their jobs, income, and future… Continue reading Plugging the voters’ happiness gap

If you want to be happy, think outside the self

In this 12-minute TED talk, Buddhist scholar Bob Thurman shares simple yet profound insights about happiness. If you don’t want to watch the video (don’t worry – you won’t miss any how-to-be-happy demonstrations), then here’s a summary: Self-obsession is boring Thinking of ourselves as alone in the world puts us into a delusion. The more… Continue reading If you want to be happy, think outside the self

Happiness: Lessons from a new science [Book review]

Layard is described on the dust jacket as ‘one of Britain’s best-known economists and a world expert on unemployment and inequality’. As you’d expect, his background profoundly informs his take on happiness. The first part of the book surveys the ‘problem’ – the now-well-known statistic that although (US) incomes have doubled over the past 15… Continue reading Happiness: Lessons from a new science [Book review]

Positive psychology – Coming to a theatre near you?

The current issue of PsycCRITIQUES* reviews the film The Pursuit of Happyness from a positive psychology perspective. According to reviewer Ryan Niemiec, it stacks up pretty well. If you haven’t seen the movie, and want a reminder of the value of persevering through hurdles while using your strengths for resourcefulness, then it might be worth… Continue reading Positive psychology – Coming to a theatre near you?

Compass Program on Happiness & Its Causes 2007 – Sunday 19 August

This program is to be broadcast in Australia on Sunday night. I understand it will include highlights of a panel discussion during the conference I attended in Sydney in June. The Dalai Lama’s characteristic wisdom, humour and humility shone trough (how many people are so willing to say ‘I don’t know’?). In terms of the other… Continue reading Compass Program on Happiness & Its Causes 2007 – Sunday 19 August