Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Happy People



While perusing Maui Vision Magazine, I ran across a short article regarding the book, How We Choose To Be Happy, by Mark Sheehan, a real estate broker and environmental activist living on Maui. It caught my attention and I've downloaded the book to read at a later date, but what really struck me was the study it was based on - unusually happy people! It was written by two psychologists, Rick Foster and Greg Hicks.

Here then are the choices that unusually happy people tend to make:
  1. Intention: Having an active desire to be happy and committing to living that way.
  2. Accountability: Choosing to create the life you want to live, taking full responsibility, refusing to blame others.
  3. Identification: Continually looking into yourself to see what makes you uniquely happy.
  4. Centrality: Making sure that what makes you happy is central in your life.
  5. Recasting: Converting problems into opportunities, transforming trauma into something meaningful.
  6. Options: Approaching life with multiple scenarios, being open to new possibilities, a flexible life script.
  7. Appreciation: The choice to stay in the present, making each experience precious, appreciating deeply.
  8. Giving: Sharing yourself with friends and community.
  9. Truthfulness: The choice to be honest with yourself and others in an accountable manner by not allowing societal, corporate or family demands to violate your internal contract.
I think these need to go on my Intention Board. I especially liked #6/Options - being flexible seems to be very important in this day and age. Realizing we can change our 'story' at any time, no matter what is going on in our lives -  in fact the one thing we do have control over is our own story. 
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15 comments:

  1. harmonyMay 11, 2011 at 7:12 AM

    Thank you for sharing. I agree, this needs to be on my intention board too.
    Truly, this is too fitting, for me, right now.
    Much gratitude--
    Harmony

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  2. My Inspired RealityMay 11, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    Nancy, I love this post and it has inspired me to create a collage with all of these choices:):) Thank you!

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  3. NancyMay 11, 2011 at 7:21 AM

    Harmony - Glad it works for you right now :-)

    Kala - I'm going to do the same thing!

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  4. ellen abbottMay 11, 2011 at 7:31 AM

    I try not to have expectations, just be open to the experience. You can't be disappointed that way.

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  5. Brian MillerMay 11, 2011 at 7:42 AM

    oh this is a great list..i try most of these but this gives me a few things to work on...

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  6. AnonymousMay 11, 2011 at 8:40 AM

    This post is very timely for me. I am in the process of re-inventing myself. Thank you for this concise list.

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  7. Stella JonesMay 11, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    That's a great list. It is a blessing to be happy. It really is.

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  8. NancyMay 11, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Ellen - A good way to live in the moment.

    Brian - Same for me.

    Here - Reinventing oneself should be something we all do at one time or another.

    Star - It is a blessing, and I think it is doable.

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  9. lukskyMay 11, 2011 at 4:30 PM

    "Changing our story at any time"...I like that.

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  10. GYPSYWOMANMay 11, 2011 at 7:21 PM

    and it's true, you know, we can - change our story ANY time - yes, we can! neat post, nancy!

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  11. CloudiaMay 11, 2011 at 9:59 PM

    thanks for the excellent pointers!



    Warm Aloha from Honolulu

    Comfort Spiral

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  12. NancyMay 11, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    luksky - So do I.

    Gypsy - It is something that is in our complete control.

    Cloudia - :-)

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  13. SimonbucMay 12, 2011 at 12:23 AM

    What a great list, Nancy. Thanks for sharing it. Some of them are seriously challenging too! (I guess that's why most people aren't all that happy.)

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  14. Bubbles...oooMay 13, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    I loved this. Thank you for sharing. Greetings from Malaysia. :o)

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  15. GYPSYWOMANMay 13, 2011 at 7:24 PM

    i left a comment here there other day but i see blogger swallowed it up along with several of my own posts and numerous comments! ;)

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