Happiness :: PeaceBuilders Network

Happiness

Daily living choices

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Remember when we were carefree kids?

What happened to that happiness?

We grew up, and sometimes life feels tough.

But guess what? We can make things better if we’re ready to change.

Life can still be good, but first, we need to be willing to make a change.

Then, we need the right tools and support from others to help us.

PeaceBuilders is here to help make that happen!

Let’s start this journey today!

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Your Toolbox

Book: Happy Mind Happy Life - Dr Rangan Chatterjee 2022

I'd like you to take a few seconds to recall a moment from your childhood when you felt truly happy.

Imagine it fully: picture the colors, smell the smells, feel the weather on your cheeks and the ground beneath your feet.

Where were you? Outside perhaps? Barefoot on a sunny day, playing with a group of friends , lost in the sheer pleasure of a game.

You weren't anxious about the future. You weren't fretting about the past. You were entirely in the moment, filled to the brim with the simple joy of being alive.

So what happened? Why aren't you that person any longer? Where did all that happiness go?

I know that life can feel tough at times. Many of us feel overwhelmed and close to burnout, with too many things to do and not enough time to do them.

But whether you are struggling to keep your head above water or you simply want to feel a little bit happier than you currently are, you have come to the right place.

We will help you improve your health and your happiness. And the good news is it's easier than you think.

Podcast & Youtube Links

Hardwiring happiness: Dr. Rick Hanson at TEDxMarin 2013

PeaceBuilders Opinion 1

Happiness

If we all talked about what happiness means to us, we'd probably get different answers. But we’re all looking for it—whether at home, in school, or with our friends. It often feels like happiness is just out of reach.

Sometimes, we think, "If only I had this or did that…" or "Maybe winning the lottery would make me happy!"

But I’ve realized that happiness isn’t about stuff. It’s about how I choose to look at life and how I respond to things.

Happiness is a choice.

It doesn’t mean I’m always laughing or ignoring tough times. It means I try to find the good in people and situations, even when things are hard.

For me, happiness is about being content and giving to others. The more I give, the happier I feel.

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Author's Opinion 1

Book: Why has nobody told me this before? By Dr Julie Smith 2022 On Meaningful Life

Summary:

We are often sold the idea that happiness is the norm and anything outside of that could be a mental health problem.

Sometimes we are not happy because we are human and life is difficult.

Things that make life worthwhile bring us more than just happy feelings.

They bring us a mix of happiness, love, joy, fear, shame and hurt at times too.

Getting clarity on our personal values can guide us on setting goals that will bring meaning and purpose.

Keeping our values front and center also help us persevere through painful points in life knowing we’re on the right path.

Book: Please unsubscribe. Julio Vincent Gambuto

It is my strongest belief that happiness is our natural state before we bury ourselves in this never ending bullshit of the modern world. Happiness is not much of a pursuit. It is much simpler than American capitalism will admit.

Happiness comes from spending time with people we love. Happiness comes from running towards hard conversations, not away from them. Happiness comes from community and contribution and citizenship. Happiness comes from quality, not quantity, from going deeper, not wider.

Happiness comes from experiencing the joy and pain of life, day in and day out. Happiness comes from stopping the madness constantly swirling around us, not sustaining it.

Author's Opinion 2

Book: Happy Mind Happy Life - Dr Rangan Chatterjee 2022

Happiness isn't some impossible distant destination, or state of mind reserved for the privileged.

It’s trainable and accessible to everyone. And yes, it definitely means you.

If you practice happiness a little bit, you’ll become a little bit happier. If you practice a lot, you’ll become transformed.

You will find you have a brand-new relationship with yourself.

You will understand yourself in a way that is fresh and freeing and beautiful.

You will discover that much of your identity has been built for you and not by you; that you have been pushed into shape by our “consumption” culture, living in a cage that's been constructed for you.

PeaceBuilders , this Happy Mind Happy Life book by Dr Chatterjee and the many other books and links on our website, hopefully not only opens your eyes to this cage; it's given you the keys to the lock. It enables you to break out, a better, happier person than you ever thought possible.

Although we can give you the keys, we can't force you to put it in the lock. The only person that can do that is you. So what are you waiting for?

It's time to start.

Author's Opinion 3

Extract from book: Gentle Power - Elizabeth Lahti 2022

Sisu" is a concept and way of living that has been interwoven into Finnish culture for more than 500 years. It has no direct translation, but it is focused on determination and fortitude. It's about having the grit to push forward in the face of adversity and near-impossible odds.

1. Find a purpose outside of yourself.

According to research from psychologist Angela Duckworth, we can endure so much more when we work towards something that contributes to the world beyond ourselves.

When you take on a new challenge or need the strength to continue, find a greater purpose to connect with. It can be your family or friends, or someone who inspires you, or a cause that is close to your heart.

2. Increase resilience through training.

Leading up to the run, I trained nearly every day for two years. I laced up my running shoes even when I didn't want to. I always showed up, rain or shine.

Practice and preparation makes it easier to harness our inner sisu. Studies show that our bodies have hidden reserves that it naturally draws upon when we need them most.

So the more we challenge ourselves, the more we pick up on habits that bolster our resilience. Focusing on my breathing to calm my nervous system was the strategy that improved my running.

3. Be gentle with yourself and connect with nature.

I used to think that in order to be successful, I had to be hard on myself. But there's a limit to how far you can go if you don't balance toughness with compassion.

I got injured once during my training period. I had to ask myself whether to quit or push myself even more.

But I decided on a third option: I let my body heal. And since I was no longer trying to meet a breakneck pace, I got to spend more time appreciating the beauty of the landscape around me during my expedition.

It helps us find an inner calm and sense of happiness that serves us during hard times.

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Updated: November 2023