Making Happy People

This text explores the relationship between happiness and success, and the ways in which early experience, parents and education influence each individual's capacity for happiness, the most sought after and most elusive human property. It breaks new ground in the literature of happiness in two ways: by offering a scientific perspective on a subject that has hitherto been the preserve of philosophers, artists, psychoanalysts and self-help gurus; and by looking at the origins of happiness within the individual during the lifelong process of development from birth to death.

How to live a happy life--made so simple and doable that you believe it's actually achievable. Dr. Dan Baker, director of the Life Enhancement Program at Canyon Ranch, has devoted his life to teaching people how to be happy. And apparently, most of us could use a little tutoring. Research has shown that the root of unhappiness--fear--lies in the oldest, reptilian part of our brains, and negative reactions are often dictated by primal instincts. We're literally "hardwired for hard times." In What Happy People Know, Dr. Baker uses evidence from the new science of happiness to show us how we can overcome this genetic predisposition toward negative reactions and lead a truly rich, happy, and healthy life. In this book, Dr. Baker shares the program that has revolutionized the lives of countless unhappy people, VIP's and regular Joes and Janes alike. First, you'll learn the only two issues that ever cause unhappiness and devise your plan to overcome both of them. Then, Dr. Baker teaches you how to spot the happiness traps, the five doomed ways we try to make ourselves happy, only to dig ourselves further into misery. Finally, he shares his happiness tools, the six simple skills that, when practiced consistently, will inevitably lead to greater optimism, courage, good humor, and fulfillment--in short, to happiness.

Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating what makes people happy. But hidden in obscure scholarly journals and reports, their research is all too often inaccessible to ordinary people. Now the bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series distills the scientific findings of over a thousand of the most important studies on happiness into easy-to-digest nuggets of advice. Each of the hundred practices is illustrated with a clear example and illuminated by a straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life. Believe in yourself: Across all ages, and all groups, a solid belief in one's own abilities increases life satisfaction by about 40 percent, and makes us happier both in our home lives and in our work lives. Turn off your TV: Watching too much TV can triple our hunger for more possessions, while reducing our personal contentment by about 5 percent for every hour a day we watch.

Now featuring new research and the most current information on the science of happiness, this book presents an outline of the nine choices happy people consistently make. Also included are tools for self-assessment to allow readers to measure happiness-and to find out what might be holding them back from having more of it. Insightful, intimate, and inspiring, How We Choose to Be Happy lets readers learn by example, and take substantial steps toward joining the ranks of the extremely happy.

A wonderfully candid memoir from one of the most recognizable faces of a generation, actor, writer, Youtuber, and television superstar, Josh Peck. In his warm and inspiring book, Josh reflects on the many stumbles and silver linings of his life and traces a zigzagging path to redemption. Written with such impressive detail and aching honesty, Happy People are Annoying is full of surprising life lessons for anyone seeking to accept their past and make peace with the complicated face in the mirror. Josh Peck rose to near-instant fame when he starred for four seasons as the comedic center of Nickelodeon’s hit show Drake & Josh. However, while he tried to maintain his role as the funniest, happiest kid in every room, Josh struggled alone with the kind of rising anger and plummeting confidence that quietly took over his life. For the first time, Josh reflects on his late teens and early twenties. Raised by a single mother, and coming of age under a spotlight that could be both invigorating and cruel, Josh filled the cratering hole in his self-worth with copious amounts of food, television, drugs, and all of the other trappings of young stardom. Until he realized the only person standing in his way...was himself. Today, with a string of lead roles on hit television shows and movies, and one of the most enviable and dedicated fanbases on the internet, Josh Peck is more than happy, he’s finally, enthusiastically content. Happy People are Annoying is the culmination of years of learning, growing, and finding bright spots in the scary parts of life. Written with the kind of humor, strength of character, and unwavering self-awareness only someone who has mastered their ego can muster, this memoir reminds us of the life-changing freedom on the other side of acceptance.

What do happy people know that the rest of us don't? Do they have a secret recipe for success? Is there a special alchemy to make it work? The Secrets of Happy People reveals the 50 things you need to know to feel more fulfilled, experience more joy and spend more time doing things that make you happy. Some will surprise you, and all will inspire you. Put these 50 simple strategies together and you have a great recipe for a better life, a formula that will unlock the secrets and uncover your potential.

Are you overwhelmed by others' unrealistic expectations of you? Do you feel torn in dozens of directions as you try to make everyone around you happy? If you're ready to end the cycle of approval seeking, New York Times bestselling author and recovering people pleaser Karen Ehman is here to help! When Making Others Happy Is Making You Miserable shares the refreshing, heartfelt lessons that Karen learned firsthand during her own journey of breaking free from people pleasing in order to live out her God-given purpose. Let Karen be your new go-to guide as you learn to successfully break the destructive pattern of people pleasing and start fully embracing the life God has called you to lead. With equal parts humor and vulnerability, Karen explores why it's so easy to fall into people-pleasing behaviors and reminds us that we can't fulfill our divine purpose if we're too busy living everyone else's. She offers her timely advice for living with less overwhelm and with more peace and purpose, sharing words of wisdom that will help you: Prioritize what God says above what other people think Live your life without worrying about the opinions and expectations of others Cultivate a strategy for knowing when to say yes and how to say no Create and maintain healthy boundaries with the pushers, pouters, guilt bombers and others who try to call the shots in your life Learn to navigate the tension between pleasing God and loving your community Join Karen as she encourages you to walk closely--and confidently--with our loving Creator, despite the opinions and expectations of others. It's time to end the people-pleasing game and finally enjoy the peaceful and purposeful life that you deserve.

Provides a close-up look at five traps that can compromise happiness and hinder a woman's quest for a better life, drawing on the latest research to furnish a set of helpful tools, techniques, and strategies designed to help women accept the past and move toward a happier future of their own choice. Reprint. 75,000 first printing.