Harvard Course on Happiness

英文原文來自網路

People love psychology. Let me clarify that. People love Positive Psychology sometimes called the psychology of happiness. And the study of happiness seemed to be pretty popular with Harvard students. That year, Tal Ben-Shahar’s class there on “How to get happy” (his words) packed them in at an estimated 900 students.

And what’s the professor’s advice on happiness?
Well, he has six tips about discovering happiness in your life:

1. Give yourself permission to be human
When we accept emotions — such as fear, sadness, or anxiety — as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.

2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning
Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.

3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind
Not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?

4. Simplify!
We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.

5. Remember the mind-body connection
What we do — or don’t do — with our bodies influences our minds. Regular exercise, adequate sleep,
and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.

6. Express gratitude whenever possible
We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile.