new book: Happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life

[siuyuin]

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1010/arts_sciences/happy-is-healthy.shtml?msource=MAG10

excerpt from article:

Part of being content, he writes in his 2010 book Happy: Simple Steps
to Get the Most Out of Life (St. Martin’s Press), is dedicating time
to what he wants to do, whether it’s spending time with his wife and
two young sons...or reading a good book. ...“I made decisions based on
what felt right for me: what engaged me, what felt meaningful, and
what brought me joy,” he says. “And those are, I think, the three
principles of happiness.”

-siu yuin

[Ansel Pembroke]

just to be a complete wet blanket, it is not that people do not know
how to be happy, but they enjoy misery. And by enjoyment of misery,
they are happy.

and many people who profess to be happy (as in Singapore/American/this
is what is expected of me because of my job if not people will think i
am a loser) just need to be different.

Happiness is a by product of a committed life-committed to anything,
even anti-social pursuits.

Happiness is part of the myth that if you are not happy, then you can
buy my 10 step plan etc.

I think Zeno, Socrates etc were happy.

Its just so market driven.




On Nov 2, 10:46 pm, siuyuin <sypa...@e.ntu.edu.sg> wrote:
> http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1010/arts_sciences/happy-is-healthy.shtm...

[siuyuin]

(Ansel, I had conceded enjoyment of misery point in another posting,
so want to try and stay happy and focused on the tips from the
book. :) )

Tips from the book:

http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1010/arts_sciences/open-book.shtml

In his 2010 book Happy, medical journalist and physician Ian Smith,
MD’97, offers some tips on how to be and stay content. In the chapter
titled “Simplicity is Bliss,” Smith offers five ways to simplify your
life:

1. Digital Declutter
Take a “digital holiday,” where you turn off the BlackBerry and
stop checking e-mail for a few hours or a few weeks.

2. The Importance List
Make a list of five items that can “serve as a guide to setting
your priorities and will help you get the most out of each day.”
Smith’s list includes “spending quality time with the children” and
“reading at least four articles in a national newspaper.”

3. Slow Down and Take It In
Focus on the task at hand and stop multitasking, to get the most
out of life and to achieve “the highest levels of happiness.” Slowing
down allows you appreciate the beauty of the world around you.

4. Release the Golden Handcuffs
Having expensive things won’t make you content; in fact, it
might create more anxiety if it makes you live beyond your means. “Any
happiness we derive” from materialism “is short-lived at best.”

5. Increase Your Me Time
Take an hour out of each day to “be selfish and not worry about
what others think.” Don’t worry about the kids, work, friends—read a
good book or listen to your favorite music.


One can have all the money in the world and yet still worry about
stupid things like "stock market" (which is erratic, un-forecastable,
externally-driven). So, it's always good to take a step back in life
and slow down. Unfortunately, I decided to slow down by going back to
school. Unfortunate. But it's a different direction and hopefully it
will take me on a different journey.

-siu yuin

On Nov 3, 10:46 am, siuyuin <sypa...@e.ntu.edu.sg> wrote:
> http://magazine.uchicago.edu/1010/arts_sciences/happy-is-healthy.shtm...
>

[Kevin Lai]

Think the article missed out the critical 6th - Grab a beer (sadly prices would go up soon due to poor crop yield reported today haha) 

It Extends Your Life—Kind Of

Raise a glass and yak abit 

well take it with a pinch of salt http://lifehacker.com/5684996/what-alcohol-actually-does-to-your-brain-and-body