The Happiness Trap 2nd Edition

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The Happiness Trap 2nd Edition

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : Hachette UK
ISBN 13 : 1472147189
Total Pages : 340 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (721 download)

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Book Synopsis The Happiness Trap 2nd Edition by : Russ Harris

Download or read book The Happiness Trap 2nd Edition written by Russ Harris and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2022-04-07 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLER Do you ever feel worried, miserable or unfulfilled - yet put on a happy face and pretend everything's fine? You are not alone. Stress, anxiety, depression and low self-esteem are all around. Research suggests that many of us get caught in a psychological trap, a vicious circle in which the more we strive for happiness, the more it eludes us. Fortunately, there is a way to escape from the 'Happiness Trap' in this updated and expanded second edition which unlocks the secrets to a truly fulfilling life. This empowering book presents the insights and techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), covering more topics and providing more practical tools than ever before. Learn how to clarify your values, develop self-compassion and find true satisfaction with this bigger and better guide to: · Reducing stress and worry · Handling painful thoughts and feelings more effectively · Breaking self-defeating habits · Overcoming insecurity and self-doubt · Building better relationships · Improving performance and finding fulfilment at work The Happiness Trap is for everyone. Whether you're lacking confidence, facing illness, coping with loss, working in a high-stress job, or suffering from anxiety or depression, this book will show you how to build authentic happiness, from the inside out.

The Happiness Trap

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : Exisle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1921966343
Total Pages : 282 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (219 download)

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Book Synopsis The Happiness Trap by : Russ Harris

Download or read book The Happiness Trap written by Russ Harris and published by Exisle Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to ACT: the revolutionary mindfulness-based program for reducing stress, overcoming fear, and finding fulfilment – now updated. International bestseller, 'The Happiness Trap', has been published in over thirty countries and twenty-two languages. NOW UPDATED. Popular ideas about happiness are misleading, inaccurate, and are directly contributing to our current epidemic of stress, anxiety and depression. And unfortunately, popular psychological approaches are making it even worse! In this easy-to-read, practical and empowering self-help book, Dr Russ Harries, reveals how millions of people are unwittingly caught in the 'The Happiness Trap', where the more they strive for happiness the more they suffer in the long term. He then provides an effective means to escape through the insights and techniques of ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), a groundbreaking new approach based on mindfulness skills. By clarifying your values and developing mindfulness (a technique for living fully in the present moment), ACT helps you escape the happiness trap and find true satisfaction in life. Mindfulness skills are easy to learn and will rapidly and effectively help you to reduce stress, enhance performance, manage emotions, improve health, increase vitality, and generally change your life for the better. The book provides scientifically proven techniques to: reduce stress and worry; rise above fear, doubt and insecurity; handle painful thoughts and feelings far more effectively; break self-defeating habits; improve performance and find fulfilment in your work; build more satisfying relationships; and, create a rich, full and meaningful life.

The Happiness Trap Pocketbook

Author : Dr Russ Harris
Publisher : Exisle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1921966181
Total Pages : 170 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (219 download)

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Book Synopsis The Happiness Trap Pocketbook by : Dr Russ Harris

Download or read book The Happiness Trap Pocketbook written by Dr Russ Harris and published by Exisle Publishing. This book was released on 2013 with total page 170 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A unique collaboration between cartoonist/author Bev Aisbett and Dr Russ Harris, this is an illustrated, simplified pocketbook version of Russ’s original, international bestseller 'The Happiness Trap'. It’s an easy-to-read introduction to all those powerful life-changing ideas or a great refresher course for those already familiar with the approach.Commonplace ideas about happiness are often misleading, inaccurate and likely to make you miserable in the long term. For example, positive thinking often does not work — and research shows it actually makes some people feel worse! So open 'The Happiness Trap Pocketbook' and learn how a new scientifically proven, mindfulness-based approach called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (better known as ACT) can help you find genuine wellbeing and fulfilment.Whether you’re lacking confidence, facing illness, stressed at work, struggling with low self-esteem, trying to lose weight or quit smoking, or just wanting to be happier, healthier, and more fulfilled — in this book you will learn effectivetechniques to:• reduce stress and worry• rise above fear, doubt and insecurity• handle painful thoughts and feelings more effectively• break self-defeating habits• develop self-acceptance and self-compassion• let go of inaccurate and misleading (but very popular)ideas about happiness, and• create a rich, full and meaningful life.

ACT with Love

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1648481655
Total Pages : 219 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (484 download)

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Book Synopsis ACT with Love by : Russ Harris

Download or read book ACT with Love written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2023-06-01 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Build more compassionate, accepting, and loving relationships with acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). Let’s face it: Picture-perfect storybook romances don’t exist in real life. Couples fight. Feelings of love wax and wane through the years. And the stress and tedium of everyday life and work can often drive a wedge between even the most devoted couples. So, how can you reignite passion and intimacy in your relationship, cultivate greater understanding and compassion between yourself and your partner, and bring the joy back to your love life? In this fully revised and updated edition of ACT with Love, therapist and world-renowned ACT expert Russ Harris shows how developing psychological flexibility—the ability to be in the present moment with openness, awareness, and focus, and to take effective action in line with one's values—can help you and your partner strengthen and deepen your relationship. Also included is new information on attachment theory, powerful mindfulness and self-compassion techniques, and assertiveness and boundary-setting skills. ACT with Love will show you how to: Let go of conflict, open up, and live fully in the present Use mindfulness to increase intimacy, connection, and understanding Resolve painful conflicts and reconcile long-standing differences Act on your values to build a rich and meaningful relationship If you’re looking to increase feelings of intimacy, love, and connection with your partner, this book has everything you need to get started—together.

ACT Made Simple

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1684033039
Total Pages : 517 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (84 download)

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Book Synopsis ACT Made Simple by : Russ Harris

Download or read book ACT Made Simple written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2019-05-01 with total page 517 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER: Due to the recent illegal counterfeiting of this book, we cannot guarantee book quality when purchased through third-party sellers. Now fully-revised and updated, this second edition of ACT Made Simple includes new information and chapters on self-compassion, flexible perspective taking, working with trauma, and more. Why is it so hard to be happy? Why is life so difficult? Why do humans suffer so much? And what can we realistically do about it? No matter how rewarding your job, as a mental health professional, you may sometimes feel helpless in the face of these questions. You are also well aware of the challenges and frustrations that can present during therapy. If you’re looking for ways to optimize your client sessions, consider joining the many thousands of therapists and life coaches worldwide who are learning acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). With a focus on mindfulness, client values, and a commitment to change, ACT is proven-effective in treating depression, anxiety, stress, addictions, eating disorders, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder (BPD), and myriad other psychological issues. It’s also a revolutionary new way to view the human condition—packed full of exciting new tools, techniques, and strategies for promoting profound behavioral change. A practical primer, ideal for ACT newcomers and experienced ACT professionals alike, ACT Made Simple offers clear explanations of the six ACT processes and a set of real-world tips and solutions for rapidly and effectively implementing them in your practice. This book gives you everything you need to start using ACT with your clients for impressive results. Inside, you’ll find: scripts, exercises, metaphors, and worksheets to use with your clients; a session-by-session guide to implementing ACT; transcripts from therapy sessions; guidance for creating your own therapeutic techniques and exercises; and practical tips to overcome “therapy roadblocks.” This book aims to take the complex theory and practice of ACT and make it accessible and enjoyable for therapists and clients.

When Life Hits Hard

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1684039037
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (84 download)

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Book Synopsis When Life Hits Hard by : Russ Harris

Download or read book When Life Hits Hard written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2021-08-01 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Practical skills grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you bounce back when life knocks you down. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one or a job, the end of a relationship, a pandemic, or a natural disaster—nothing really prepares us for those moments when life hits hard and turns our world upside down. The good news is that you can move forward. There are tools you can use to find your way back from despair and live a fulfilling life. In this candid self-help guide, psychotherapist Russ Harris offers powerful and doable skills grounded in evidence-based ACT to help you recover from grief, loss, and crisis; transcend your pain and suffering; and build a rich and meaningful life—even in the face of adversity. You’ll also find tools to help you deal with painful memories, create your own healing “grief rituals,” and transform difficult emotions into unexpected allies. Finally, you’ll learn how mindfulness and self-compassion can help keep you grounded, even when it seems like your world is in free fall. If you’re ready to start building the resilience needed to heal from loss or thrive in the face adversity, this guide will show you how to get there, one step at a time.

The Confidence Gap

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : Shambhala Publications
ISBN 13 : 0834827662
Total Pages : 274 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (348 download)

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Book Synopsis The Confidence Gap by : Russ Harris

Download or read book The Confidence Gap written by Russ Harris and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2011-09-13 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and mindfulness practices, this guide offers breakthrough insights and simple techniques for developing deep-seated, long-lasting confidence Too many of us miss out on opportunities in life because we lack self-confidence. Whether it’s public speaking, taking on a leadership role, or asking someone for a date, there are situations in which we just don't feel equipped to handle the challenges we face. Russ Harris offers a surprising solution to low self-confidence, shyness, and insecurity: Rather than trying to “get over” our fears, he says, the secret is to form a new and wiser relationship with them. Paradoxically, it’s only when we stop struggling against our fearfulness that we begin to find lasting freedom from it. Drawing on the techniques of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), a cutting-edge form of cognitive-behavioral therapy, The Confidence Gap explains how to: • Free yourself from common misconceptions about what confidence is and how to build it • Transform your relationship with fear and anxiety • Clarify your core values and use them as your inspiration and motivation • Use mindfulness to effectively handle negative thoughts and feelings. “This book could save you years of psychological struggle, yank you out of negative emotional patterns, and help propel you to a much happier, more productive life.” —Martha Beck, author and Oprah Winfrey’s life coach

The Reality Slap

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1608822826
Total Pages : 211 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (88 download)

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Book Synopsis The Reality Slap by : Russ Harris

Download or read book The Reality Slap written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2012-03-01 with total page 211 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The “reality slap” takes many different forms. Sometimes, it’s more like a punch: the death of a loved one, a serious illness, a divorce, the loss of a job, a freak accident, or a shocking betrayal. Sometimes it’s a little gentler. Envy, loneliness, resentment, failure, disappointment, and rejection can sting just as much. But whatever form your reality slap takes, one thing’s for sure—it hurts! And most of us don’t deal with the pain very well. The Reality Slap offers a four-part path for healing from crises based on acceptance and commitment therapy. In these pages, you will learn how to: • Find peace in the midst of your pain • Rediscover calm in the midst of chaos • Turn difficult emotions into wisdom and compassion • Find fulfillment, even when you can’t get what you want • Heal your wounds and emerge stronger than before Unlike some self-help books that claim you can have everything you ever wanted in life, if you only put your mind to it, this book claims that you can't have everything in life. The hard truth of this world is that we are all going to experience disappointment, frustration, failure, loss, rejection, illness, injury, aging, and death at some point. However, in spite of all this, you can still lead a rich and rewarding life. Let this book be your guide.

Reality Slap

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781775594765
Total Pages : pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (947 download)

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Book Synopsis Reality Slap by : Russ Harris

Download or read book Reality Slap written by Russ Harris and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Trauma-Focused ACT

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1684038235
Total Pages : 484 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (84 download)

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Book Synopsis Trauma-Focused ACT by : Russ Harris

Download or read book Trauma-Focused ACT written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2021-12-01 with total page 484 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Trauma-Focused ACT is going to go down as one of the great contributions to the field of trauma-informed care.” —Kirk Strosahl PhD, cofounder of ACT Trauma-Focused ACT (TFACT) provides a flexible, comprehensive model for treating the entire spectrum of trauma-related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, depression, anxiety disorders, moral injury, chronic pain, shame, suicidality, insomnia, complicated grief, attachment issues, sexual problems, and more. Written by internationally acclaimed ACT trainer, Russ Harris, this textbook is for practitioners at all levels of experience, and offers exclusive access to free downloadable resources—including scripts, videos, MP3s, handouts, and worksheets. Discover cutting-edge strategies for healing the past, living in the present, and building a new future. With this compassion-based, exposure-centered approach, you’ll learn how to help your clients: Find safety and security in their bodies Overcome hyperarousal and hypoarousal Break free from dissociation Shift from self-hatred to self-compassion Rapidly ground themselves and reengage in life Unhook from difficult cognitions and emotions Develop an integrated sense of self Resolve traumatic memories through flexible exposure Connect with and live by their values Experience post-traumatic growth

What Happy People Know

Author : Dan Baker, Ph.D.
Publisher : Macmillan
ISBN 13 : 0312321597
Total Pages : 273 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (123 download)

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Book Synopsis What Happy People Know by : Dan Baker, Ph.D.

Download or read book What Happy People Know written by Dan Baker, Ph.D. and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2004-01-19 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Profiles unhappiness as a chemical brain response that helped early humans survive, offering advice on how to achieve happiness by retraining brain activity, accepting a painful past, and designing a future.

Getting Unstuck in ACT

Author : Russ Harris
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1608828077
Total Pages : 223 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (88 download)

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Book Synopsis Getting Unstuck in ACT by : Russ Harris

Download or read book Getting Unstuck in ACT written by Russ Harris and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2013-07-01 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a powerful, evidence-based treatment for clients struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, eating disorders, and a host of other mental health conditions. It is based in the belief that the road to lasting happiness and well-being begins with accepting our thoughts, rather than trying to change them. However, ACT can present certain roadblocks during treatment. As a mental health professional, you may adopt basic principles of ACT easily, but it generally takes at least two or three years of hard work and ongoing study to become truly fluid in the model. During that time, you will probably find yourself "stuck" at some point, and so will your clients. In Getting Unstuck in ACT, psychotherapist and bestselling author of ACT Made Simple, Russ Harris, provides solutions for overcoming the most common roadblocks in ACT. In the book, you will learn how to deal with reluctant or unmotivated clients, as well as how to get past certain theoretical aspects of ACT that some clients may find confusing. This book will help clients deal with sticky dilemmas and unsolvable problems, and will help simplify key ACT concepts to help you break down psychological barriers. Other common problems with ACT that the book addresses are inconsistencies and sending mixed messages, talking and explaining ACT instead of doing it, being too eager to treat a client, being a "Mr. Nice Guy or Ms. Nice Girl," or putting too much focus on one process while neglecting others. The chapters of the book are based in real life scenarios that take place between therapist and client, and the author provides feedback by analyzing mistakes in what was said and where improvements could be made. As more and more mental health professionals incorporate ACT into their practice, it is increasingly necessary to have a guide that offers them effective solutions to common ACT roadblocks. For that reason, this book is a must-have for any ACT therapist.

ACTivate Your Life

Author : Joe Oliver
Publisher : Robinson
ISBN 13 : 1472113969
Total Pages : 331 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (721 download)

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Book Synopsis ACTivate Your Life by : Joe Oliver

Download or read book ACTivate Your Life written by Joe Oliver and published by Robinson. This book was released on 2015-03-26 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ACTivate Your Life focuses on helping people to be more open, connected and engaged with their lives, demonstrating how Acceptance Commitment Therapy can be used to tackle a range of problems such as low self-esteem, anxiety, anger and depression, as well as providing skills for life enhancement and self-development. Readers are encouraged to consider what matters to them and will learn techniques to set life directions based on meaningful values. Readers will also be introduced to mindfulness and learn how to use it in everyday life to connect with their actions, experiences and the people around them. The ACT approach also teaches that it's a normal part of being human to have thoughts and feelings that are unpleasant and the most important thing is to respond effectively when these kinds of experiences arise. The book is aimed at anyone wanting to enhance their life skills, and character stories are used to demonstrate the spectrum of how they might be employed.

Activating Happiness

Author : Rachel Hershenberg
Publisher : New Harbinger Publications
ISBN 13 : 1626259453
Total Pages : 176 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (262 download)

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Book Synopsis Activating Happiness by : Rachel Hershenberg

Download or read book Activating Happiness written by Rachel Hershenberg and published by New Harbinger Publications. This book was released on 2017-12-01 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It’s not just big choices that can radically change our lives—sometimes it’s the small ones. Activating Happiness offers powerful, evidence-based strategies to help you conquer low motivation, nix negative moods, and defeat depression by actively making positive choices in small, everyday moments. If you have depression or just suffer from low mood and lack of motivation, you know that your life isn’t going to change with one grand, sweeping gesture. But you can make important decisions every day—whether it’s getting off the couch and going for a walk, signing up for a course in pottery or screenwriting, or just setting aside some time to meet and chat with a good friend over coffee. These little things won’t change your life all at once. But over time, they will shape the way you live and see the world and keep you on a path to wellness. In Activating Happiness, you’ll find solid strategies based in behavioral activation and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) to help you break the cycle of avoidance, guilt, shame, and hopelessness that can take hold when you’re feeling your lowest. Using this guide, you’ll find little, doable ways to “show up” to your life, get the ball rolling, and start really feeling better, instead of just reassuring others. You’ll learn to set healthy goals for your body like eating and sleeping well, as well as healthy goals for your mind. Most importantly, you’ll discover how to view your life through the lens of your own deepest values, which will spark a commitment to real, lasting change. The best thing about change is that you can start anywhere. By building a life—moment by moment—of rewarding behaviors that correspond to your values, you have the recipe for getting and staying well at your fingertips. This book will guide your way.

The Five Things We Cannot Change

Author : David Richo
Publisher : Shambhala Publications
ISBN 13 : 9780834822269
Total Pages : 192 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (222 download)

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Book Synopsis The Five Things We Cannot Change by : David Richo

Download or read book The Five Things We Cannot Change written by David Richo and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2006-06-13 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why is it that despite our best efforts, many of us remain fundamentally unhappy and unfulfilled in our lives? In this provocative and inspiring book, David Richo distills thirty years of experience as a therapist to explain the underlying roots of unhappiness—and the surprising secret to finding freedom and fulfillment. There are certain facts of life that we cannot change—the unavoidable "givens" of human existence: (1) everything changes and ends, (2) things do not always go according to plan, (3) life is not always fair, (4) pain is a part of life, and (5) people are not loving and loyal all the time. Richo shows us that by dropping our deep-seated resistance to these givens, we can find liberation and discover the true richness that life has to offer. Blending Western psychology and Eastern spirituality, including practical exercises, Richo shows us how to open up to our lives—including to what is frightening, painful, or disappointing—and discover our greatest gifts.

The Chronic Pain Couple

Author : Karra Eloff
Publisher : Exisle Publishing
ISBN 13 : 1991001304
Total Pages : 235 pages
Book Rating : 4.9/5 (91 download)

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Book Synopsis The Chronic Pain Couple by : Karra Eloff

Download or read book The Chronic Pain Couple written by Karra Eloff and published by Exisle Publishing. This book was released on 2022-07-06 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The struggle to maintain joy & a fulfilling relationship while coping with chronic illness and pain is a serious problem for millions of people today. Australian entrepreneur and health professional Karra Eloff draws on academic research and her own pursuit of joy in spite of suffering to bring this trailblazing, compassionate, low-energy and practical path to a remarkable new normal, for you and your chosen human/partner. On average, one in five adults suffer from chronic pain. In older people, the number rises to three in five. Most of these people don’t realise they don’t have to settle for a survival-based coexistence with their partner or bury their hopes for success and joy under a mountain of heat packs or duvets. Chronic illness or pain, according to Karra, need not hold you back from experiencing personal joy and success. It is possible to forge a path to remarkable—to move the dial of a relationship challenged with chronic pain from embattled and exhausted to joyful and passion-filled. This is possible through small, practical changes that require little energy but make a big impact in the areas of: • Communication • Mental health • Intimacy • Personal Success If you experience chronic pain or love someone with a chronic illness this book is for you. If you are a health professional seeking practical advice for people with chronic pain, this book is for you.

The Nine Rooms of Happiness

Author : Lucy Danziger
Publisher : Hachette Books
ISBN 13 : 1401395023
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (13 download)

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Book Synopsis The Nine Rooms of Happiness by : Lucy Danziger

Download or read book The Nine Rooms of Happiness written by Lucy Danziger and published by Hachette Books. This book was released on 2010-03-02 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What Room Are You In? Ask any woman how she's feeling. Even when things look pretty darn great from the outside, chances are that at least one thing (and it may seem minor to others) is nagging at her, making her feel less than spectacular, bringing her down: I'm too fat. My husband doesn't help enough around the house. My friend is going to be mad if I don't call her back. Why don't my kids try harder at school? My job is less than inspiring. Whatever happened to that old boyfriend, the one who got away? Whether it's the size of our thighs or our bank accounts, there always seems to be something that isn't measuring up to our high standards--and we let the dissatisfaction spill over into other areas of our lives, distracting us from taking pleasure in everything that's going right. In The Nine Rooms of Happiness, Lucy Danziger, editor in chief of Self magazine, and women's-health psychiatrist Catherine Birndorf use the metaphor of a house to release us from this phenomenon. In this house, the living room is where we deal with friendships and our social life; the bedroom is where we explore intimacy, romance, relationships, and sex; the bathroom is for issues relating to health and body image; the kitchen is for nourishment and the division of chores; and so on. Our "inner house" can have eight beautifully designed, neat and tidy rooms, and one messy one, and still we focus on the mess. The Nine Rooms of Happiness pinpoints common self-destructive patterns of behavior and offers key processes that will help readers clean up their emotional architecture. After each room is "clean," Danziger and Birndorf show us how we can spend time on ourselves figuring out what is most meaningful to us--finding larger passion and purpose that makes returning to the rest of our house a pleasure, no matter what calamity or mess awaits. The result? After reading this book you'll think differently about the things that are bringing you down and be able to live a happier, more joy filled life, in every room of your emotional house. From the outside, you'd think I have it all: beautiful house, wonderful children, devoted husband. But am I happy? I think so. There's nothing that has gone terribly wrong. There's no reason for me not to be happy. But I don't feel happy so much as I feel I'm just going through the motions. Sometimes I have the feeling that there's more and I just haven't found it yet. But what . . . and how dare I want more? Isn't all that I have enough? --from The Nine Rooms of Happiness