Happiness - This page presents a variety of resources dedicated to understanding and cultivating happiness through books, articles, and streaming videos.
Explore a carefully selected collection of print books that provides in-depth insights and comprehensive information on mental health topics. Find more books using the Catalog tab on the library homepage.
A Fool's Guide to Actual Happiness by
Happiness lies within us--but we could all use a little help finding it. In a refreshing new voice, The Fool's Guide to Actual Happiness shows us how to feel and be better--without having to be perfect. Let's face it: we all have a motivating drive to become "better." What we have and who we are never seem to be good enough. This feeling that something is wrong or needs to be fixed causes us to continuously run around, chasing after what we feel will finally fulfill us. But what if these very conditions that we are constantly trying to escape from could be used as a way to awaken ourselves--to connect with the peace already within us? A Fool's Guide to Actual Happiness offers a realistic roadmap for working towards inner peace without needing to be someone you're not. With humor and refreshing simplicity, Van Buren shows how everything life throws at you, good or bad, can be used as a means to cultivate compassion, wisdom, and loving-kindness. This book allows you to explore who you are--warts and all--and gives you tools to love and accept what you find.
Happiness: The Science Behind Your Smile by
Print book and eBook availability - Everybody wants it. But what exactly is happiness?The pursuit of happiness has been recognized by everyone from poets to politicians as what makes the world go round. The world's largest and fastest-growing industries - alcohol, pharmaceuticals, mind altering drugs, self-help books, counselling, travel and tourism - all profit heavily from ourintent to become completely happy with our lives.In the first comprehensive book to address this most basic of human desires, Daniel Nettle explores why we want to be happy, how we assess our levels of happiness, and the different ways that happiness is interpreted in different cultures. Using statistical information from the National ChildDevelopment Study, a project that has collected social and emotional data from thousands of people since 1958, Nettle shows the ways in which definitions and sources of happiness have changed over time.
The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by
Jonathan Haidt skillfully combines two genres-philosophical wisdom and scientific research-delighting the reader with surprising insights. He explains, for example, why we have such difficulty controlling ourselves and sticking to our plans; why no achievement brings lasting happiness, yet a few changes in your life can have profound effects, and why even confirmed atheists experience spiritual elevation. In a stunning final chapter, Haidt addresses the grand question "How can I live a meaningful life?," offering an original answer that draws on the rich inspiration of both philosophy and science. "The Happiness Hypothesis is a wonderful and nuanced book that provides deep insight into the some of the most important questions in life--Why are we here? What kind of life should we lead? What paths lead to happiness? From the ancient philosophers to cutting edge scientists, Haidt weaves a tapestry of the best and the brightest. His highly original work on elevation and awe--two long-neglected emotions--adds a new weave to that tapestry. A truly inspiring book." -David M. Buss, author of The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating "In this beautifully written book, Jonathan Haidt shows us the deep connection that exists between cutting-edge psychological research and the wisdom of the ancients. It is inspiring to see how much modern psychology informs life's most central and persistent questions -Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less "In our quest for happiness, we must find a balance between modern science and ancient wisdom, between East and West, and between 'left brain' and 'right brain.' Jon Haidt has struck that balance perfectly, and in doing so has given us the most brilliant and lucid analysis of virtue and well-being in the entire literature of positive psychology. For the reader who seeks to understand happiness, my advice is: Begin with Haidt." -Martin E.P. Seligman, Director, Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania and author of Authentic Happiness "Haidt is a fine guide on this journey between past and present, discussing the current complexities of psychological theory with clarity and humor. . . Haidt's is an open-minded, robust look at philosophy, psychological fact and spiritual mystery, of scientific rationalism and the unknowable ephemeral - an honest inquiry that concludes that the best life is, perhaps, one lived in the balance of opposites." -Bookpage
Happiness in America: A Cultural History by
Much interest currently revolves around happiness in America, so much so that one could reasonably argue that there is a "happiness movement" afoot. The wide range of arenas in which happiness intersects reflects the subject's centrality in everyday life in America these past one hundred years. Happiness in America charts the course of happiness within American culture over the past century, and concludes that most Americans have not had success becoming appreciably happier people despite considerable efforts to do so. Rather than follow a linear path, happiness has bobbed and weaved over the decades, its arc or trajectory a twisting and unpredictable one. Happiness has also both shaped and reflected our core values, with its expression at any given time a key indicator of who we are as a people. The book thus adds a missing and valuable piece to our understanding of American culture. Beyond serving as the definitive guide to happiness in this country, Happiness in America offers readers a provocative argument that challenges standard thinking. Despite popular belief, Americans have never been a particularly happy people. Our perpetual (and futile) search for happiness indicates widespread dissatisfaction and discontent with life in general, something that will come as a surprise to many. The image of Americans as a happy-go-lucky people is thus more mythology than reality, an important finding rooted in the inherent flaws of consumer capitalism. Our competitive and comparative American Way of Life has not proven to be an especially good formula for happiness, Samuel argues, with external signs of success unlikely to produce appreciably happier people. Given these findings, he suggests readers consider abandoning their pursuit of happiness and instead seek out greater joy in life.
Heart to Heart: A Conversation on Love and Hope for Our Precious Planet by
From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt's cartoonist and award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and each other. At the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, India, an unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and small . . . With a galvanizing message about the future of our planet--text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell's masterful illustrations--Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution, reminding us that "we are indeed all members of a single family, sharing one little house." Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth, this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a message of joy, hope and change. "There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is called Tomorrow."
The Other Side of Happiness: Embracing a More Fearless Approach to Living by
In the modern world, we have become addicted to positivity. We try to eradicate pain through medication and by insulating ourselves from risk and offence, even though we are the safest and most comfortable generation that ever lived. Yet social psychologist Brock Bastian shows that hardship and sadness are neither antithetical to pleasure nor incidental- they are necessaryfor happiness. In The Other Side of Happiness, he draws on psychology, neuroscience and internationally acclaimed research from his own laboratory to demonstrate how difficult experiences are ultimately proven to make us stronger, happier and more connected to those around us. As Bastian shows us, the most thrilling moments of our lives are usually balanced on a knife edge between pleasure and pain, and carry the potential of loss, whether it is finding your true love, holding your newborn for the first time, scaling a mountain or even taking a dip in an icy sea. Rather than attempting to protect ourselves from risk or viewing difficulty as failure, The Other Side of Happinessencourages us to take a more fearless approach to living that recognises the meaning of pain in our lives.
Access a variety of electronic books available for instant reading or download at the chapter level, offering valuable resources on mental health and wellness. Find more eBooks using OneSearch on the library homepage. On the result page, limit to eBooks under Source Types in the left column.
Finding Happiness: It All Depends on Your Focus by
We all want to be happy. But sometimes the harder we search for happiness, the more elusive it becomes. To increase our happiness, experts advise us to do things such as improve our self-esteem or get out of our comfort zones, etc., but making such major and amorphous changes can be daunting. In this book, you will not be advised to alter the way you are in any major or basic sense. Rather, you will learn that by choosing to make subtle recalibrations in your focus and in what you bring to your attention, you can powerfully impact how you view yourself and your life. Just learning that you, in a sense, create your own experience, can be incredibly liberating. The author discusses how to increase contentment and satisfaction when thinking of the past, how to find increased joy in the present, and learning to think about the future with increased optimism and hope. The tone of the book is accessible and inviting and concepts are brought to life by giving many real-life examples. Also included in each chapter are carefully tested exercises that nudge you into new ways of experiencing and thoughtful questions that encourage you to think deeply about the concepts presented.
Happiness by
'All philosophy is a metaphysics of happiness...or it's not worth an hour of trouble' claims Alain Badiou in this lively intervention into one of the most persistent themes in philosophy: what is happiness? And what do I need to do to be happy? The desire to be happy is one of our most universal goals and yet there doesn't seem to be any easy answers or formulas for achieving happiness. And the concept has become so commodified and corrupted to be almost unrecognizable as something worth pursuing. In light of this, should we just give up the aspiration to be happy altogether? Alain Badiou thinks not. While eschewing futile procedures for magically becoming 'happy', Badiou does passionately maintain that in order to be truly happy we need philosophy. And, bolder still, that a life lived philosophically is the happiest life of all!
Happiness: Personhood, Community, Purpose by
This book is about happiness and about how the supremely happy life - the life blessed with what Aristotle refers to as eudaimonia - is the life of an ethical individual living in a healthy community. Much ethical literature has drawn inspiration from Aristotle's outlook, but relatively little attention has been paid to the central concept of Aristotle's ethical system - the concept of eudaimonia. This book fills this important gap, focusing on Aristotle's central ethical concept and, among other things, using Davidson's account of mind and rationality to explain central Aristotelian claims relating to the structure of the psychological domain and to our radical interconnectedness. Starting with Aristotle, Tabensky shows how the ethical domain can best be understood in relation to our fundamental desire to live happy lives. Recapturing the Greek spirit, this book is an invitation to rethink the manner in which we understand our lives and the manner in which we conduct ourselves, and it is an invitation to do so in relation to an understanding of the sorts of creatures we are - creatures living for the sake of happiness.
Yoga and the Pursuit of Happiness: A Guide to Finding Joy in Unexpected Places by
Enlightenment isn't a strange, mystical, or faraway place. It's a fundamental human experience available to us all in different ways and in different moments.Learn how the ancient philosophy of yoga, modern neuroscience, and positive psychology can help you discover your life's meaning and purpose, rewire your brain, and uncover lasting happiness and joy. Everyone is looking for happiness, but very few really know where to find it. Maybe it's that house you've been dreaming of buying, or a new car, or the perfect relationship? Or maybe it's a grand, epic revelation about the meaning of life? But when will that revelation come to you, and how long should you wait? And what if happiness isn't something you achieve or obtain, but how you respond to the conditions of your life? After all, yogis can find peace and joy even when life is painful and unpleasant. In Yoga and the Pursuit of Happiness, you'll discover that lasting happiness is already at your fingertips--in the small, everyday moments inherently infused with purpose and meaning. The philosophy of yoga--rather than the poses and postures--boils down to one fundamental process: overcoming suffering by coming to know ourselves and aligning our actions with our own intrinsic sense of spiritual purpose. And yoga gives us the tools to address two basic existential questions: Who am I? What should I do? Meanwhile, positive psychology and neuroscience show us how our actions are constantly rewiring our brain in helpful ways--which points to happiness as something we must practice and carry out each day. Happiness is, simply put, something we do. In this unique, lighthearted guide, celebrated yoga instructor Sam Chase blends ancient wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras with his own personal journey of enlightenment to show you how to deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you, end the cycle of materialism and greed that can get in the way of cultivating stillness of mind, and achieve lasting well-being.
Discover a range of articles from reputable sources that cover current research and practical advice on mental health issues. Find more articles using OneSearch on the library homepage. On the result page, limit to magazine and academic journal articles under Source Types in the left column.
Access these high-quality resources purchased by the library for academic use. For additional streaming videos, explore our library's collection of databases, which provide access to a wide range of educational and entertainment content across various subjects.
Explore these openly available video resources selected to enrich your understanding and support your mental health journey.
What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness | Robert Waldinger
Helping others makes us happier -- but it matters how we do it | Elizabeth Dunn
The BIG JOY Project was designed to guide you through a series of activities — micro-actions, really — over the course of 7 days (plus a bonus day the day you sign up).
Each day you will be given an opportunity to report on how you're feeling in the morning, and then given a micro-act of JOY exercise. Each micro-act of JOY takes only a few minutes — you might make a list, watch a video, or do a small activity in the real world. Afterward, you'll be asked to reflect on the thoughts and feelings you had while doing the micro-act of JOY. After you do your daily micro-act of JOY, you'll be invited to do another check-in right away, and a final check-in in the evening.
