Key Messages
How To Find Sustained And Meaningful Happiness Beyond Money, Fame And Success
Having money and success doesn’t always equal happiness.
The Happy Mind Book by Kevin Horsley and Louis Fourie provides practical strategies to learn how to achieve true, sustained happiness without relying on those things.
The book outlines the dos and don’ts of living a happier life, drawing inspiration from a variety of sources – such as the Stone Age – to explain why our relationship to money may be unfulfilling in isolation, or why being a news junkie might hinder your wellbeing.
It explains how pleasure and happiness are two different things, and provides tips on how we may develop lasting joy through introspection and connection with the world around us.
By immersing yourself in this book, you’ll discover the steps you need to take for personal growth, enabling you to cultivate true contentment and an overall sense of wellbeing.
The True Nature Of Happiness: It Comes From Within, Not From External Sources
Many people mistakenly believe that they can buy their way to happiness with the money they have.
However, the truth is that external factors such as material goods, events or triumphs in life can only provide fleeting moments of pleasure and joy.
In addition, when you link your happiness to these type of external sources, you’re giving up control over your own happiness in the present moment.
Studies have shown us time and time again that even wealthy individuals are just as dissatisfied and unhappy with their lives as any other person is.
It’s a common misconception that if one merely has the money for luxury items such as big houses, fancy cars, massive TVs and stereos then they would be guaranteed a lifetime of happiness—but this isn’t so!
Many people find themselves in debt from all the toys they’ve gathered to satisfy what they believe will make them happy.
Not only does this fail to bring lasting satisfaction but this also leads to increased anxiety and depression when things don’t turn out like what was expected.
External factors aren’t reliable sources for finding true happiness; one must take control of their own feelings instead.
Happiness isn’t something that can be bought or traded away; it has to come from within through actions and attitudes towards life instead.
Finding Happiness In The Present And Within Yourself, Not From Others
The Happy Mind Book says it all – happiness doesn’t come from dwelling on the past or fantasizing about the future, and it won’t be delivered by other people.
Instead, true and lasting contentment lies within us.
It’s easy to think that, if only something in life were different, then joy would naturally follow.
Maybe you don’t have the perfect job yet, or haven’t found “the one,” or couldn’t keep your student loans in check without a lottery win – so if those pieces fell into place, surely happiness would follow?
Unfortunately, this isn’t how it works!
Many of us make the mistake of seeking solace in daydreaming, expecting others to bring harmony with them when they enter our lives.
But, in reality, no matter how strongly we believe someone else is the answer to contentment, they are not capable of providing us with sustained and lasting happiness.
Happiness is only found in the present.
That’s why The Happy Mind Book encourages us to go inward and find our own inner joy – because that kind of peace of mind and confidence will never come from external sources.
Find Lasting Happiness With Mindful Awareness: The Key To Contentment And Gratitude
The Happy Mind Book Summary sheds light on the idea that happiness is not the same as pleasure.
While pleasurable moments in life can be enjoyable, they also tend to be fleeting and don’t last for very long.
It’s important to remember this so we don’t equate them with true happiness.
True and sustaining happiness often comes from within; underneath any pleasant sensations lies a foundation of stability.
The key to forming and maintaining it is embracing one’s emotions while staying aware of our emotional states.
This means even if there are feelings of pain or discomfort, it is possible to remain happy with life as it is at the moment.
Furthermore, the authors have identified some common traits amongst those who have been able to sustain their happiness over time.
These people tend to be creative thinkers, find fulfillment in their professions, prioritize their physical health, admire nature, and cultivate relationships with positive people rather than bad company.
By maintaining these behaviors, one may be able to increase and sustain lasting happiness instead of relying solely on moments of hedonistic pleasure.
The Fear Of Survival: How Primitive Instincts Can Lead To Unhappiness
Our modern-day survival instincts can often be the source of great unhappiness and lead to harmful behaviors.
This is because our brains are wired with primitive connections that developed during times when survival rates were significantly lower and we were more susceptible to threats.
These days, triggers such as an unfriendly colleague or a jump in phone bills can cause us to experiencing panic due to the potential threat to our social standing or financial resources.
As these issues arise, they accumulate and lead to a general sense of unease and unhappiness – which can then reach a tipping point whereby we engage in compulsive behavior in order to try and soothe our anxiety, such as binge eating.
In addition, fears about being connected even if it means staying with a partner who is unhealthy for us are related directly to instinctive fear of being left vulnerable without any protection.
The lesson here is that understanding where our feelings of unhappiness come from is key – sometimes we have deep rooted anxieties triggered by perceived threats, but fortunately, many of these threats no longer exist or are less severe than they once were.
For example, while losing access to resources may have been life-threatening centuries ago – today it might just mean needing a taste of budgeting!
We Cannot Let Our Traumatic Past Dictate Our Future: The Power Of The Neocortex In Overcoming Childhood Trauma
Childhood trauma can be incredibly harmful and create long-term, chronic unhappiness.
Those who experienced adverse childhoods can struggle to find joy in life and can feel as if they’re doomed to stay this way.
This is due to their instinctive fears formed during those formative years, impacting how they react to common stressful situations throughout the lifetime.
The conditions of their upbringing in that early period will influence how someone sees the world and themselves later in life; if parents were abusive, absent or emotionally distant the person might constantly question their self worth and lack safety in their own skin.
However, hope is not lost: it’s possible to develop new positive perspectives on life utilizing the neocortex at our disposal – a part of our brain responsible for conscious decision-making, emotional intelligence, and cognitive thought processes.
This means that even with a history of trauma from an unhappy childhood, people may be able to make more conscious decisions when faced with difficult situations rather than succumbing to fear or worry!
Through actively engaging with the neocortex, we are able reach a healthier mindset – potentially through the help of a mental health professional.
Therefore, although childhood trauma can increase likelihood of long-term unhappiness it is possible to treat it through utilizing our brains natural capacities in order find positivity and joy again.
Take Responsibility And Create A Solid Plan For Your Happiness
At the end of the day, it’s completely up to you if you’re going to be happy.
Sure, you can’t control everything that happens in life, like the stock market, but how you respond to those ups and downs is completely within your power.
You have to take responsibility for your own happiness and not wait for external sources to give it to you.
In order to get more out of life and increase your happiness, create a life plan for yourself.
Set aside 30 minutes of your day every day where you can make calm and clear-headed decisions about all aspects of your life – personal, professional as well as leisure time.
Make sure that role stress plays in each area is well balanced so that you’re giving yourself enough free time too.
Also check that there is an equal focus on making money as well because a healthy income can also contribute to one’s overall satisfaction with their life.
Having a properly calculated plan in place gives a certain level of comfort that helps keep goals achievable while propelling all areas of growth needed.
Being aware of where you are and what needs be done creates an additional layer of clarity under which we can operate on a daily basis.
This way, being happier isn’t something unrealistically expected from external sources – it’s something we choose for ourselves and work toward achieving every day.:
We Should Practise Gratitude Every Day To Bring More Happiness Into Our Lives
If you want to be truly happy, then daily gratitude and keeping things fresh and new is key.
Gratitude is a powerful emotion that can increase your levels of happiness when practiced often.
Make a habit of recognizing the good things in life, no matter how small they are, like finding a perfect avocado at the store or serving someone who held the door open for you.
These moments should not just be appreciated but also celebrated so start writing them down in your journal for daily reflection.
This will help you stay grateful for all the great things in your life – even if it’s something as simple as being healthy!
Making an effort to shake up your routine will also help by introducing some excitement into your days.
Try switching up routes when walking to work or exploring different areas nearby for weekend activities.
You’ll find that by doing this, you can open up yourself to discovering more about the world around you which always helps keep things fresh and interesting!
The Benefits Of Letting Go Of Clutter And Unwanted Thought Processes
The happiest people are the ones who learn to let go of the material things that don’t bring them joy and learn to focus on what matters most.
The same can be said for managing our expectations – if we set goals that are too ambitious, it’s easy for us to get discouraged when we don’t meet them.
Natures Nutrition’s book “The Happy Mind” encourages readers to shed material things and unrealistic goals on their path to happiness.
It starts with talking a look at your home and getting rid of all the clutter – clothes you don’t wear, knick-knacks, gadgets, furniture – whatever it may be that isn’t bringing you joy.
Keeping only the things you truly need and appreciate will give your home an orderly aesthetic and cultivate your appreciation for these prized items.
The same principles apply beyond the physical world: decluttering can also mean letting go of unwanted feelings like jealousy or resentment.
Acknowledge these thoughts when they come up and make a conscious choice to move on from them.
If necessary even seek out therapeutic help for more effective processing of unwanted feelings.
Lastly, manage your expectations in order to avoid disappointment: find what you are passionate about but ensure that your goals aren’t overambitious or overly difficult to reach.
This way you make progress without sabotaging your enjoyment along the way.
As The Happy Mind reminds us, sometimes discarding needless things or avoiding unrealistic goals is all it takes to find true happiness!
How To Protect Ourselves From Being Manipulated By Negativity Bias In The Media
A key factor to maintaining your overall wellbeing is avoiding overexposure to negative news outlets.
Many news media take advantage of our natural negativity bias, manipulating it in order to draw more attention and drive clicks.
This can result in us having a disproportionate view of what’s really going on in the world, with more worrisome events taking precedence over positive ones and sometimes even being over-emphasized.
To prevent the media from influencing your state of mind and limiting your capacity for happiness, be aware that there is often an intentional imbalance in their content and be mindful when choosing which sources you allow into your life.
It also helps to be aware of personal tendencies towards dramatic thinking and exaggeration which can cause unnecessary conflict or tension within relationships.
Whenever a miscommunication or annoying behavior arises, focus on the loving actiions that have been done recently instead of allowing negative thoughts to control your perspective.
With these mindful practices, we can stay informed without sacrificing our well-being for sensational headlines.
Wrap Up
The Happy Mind Book shares one essential truth: in order to experience true and lasting happiness, we need to look within ourselves.
External sources like material wealth, relationships and gadgets cannot bring sustainable joy.
Instead, we should stay grounded in the present, with a positive outlook on the world and a deep sense of gratitude.
To help ensure that our daily lives reflect this inner journey towards personal fulfillment and well-being, it is recommended that everyone keep a bullet journal.
This means listing down realistic goals and objectives for each day that will promote happiness for both your personal and professional life.
Through this practice, you will also be able to better visualize your progress and successes over time—and feel satisfied as you continue to work towards peace and joy!
