Comments on: How To Be Happy http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/ Mormon women blogging about the peculiar and the treasured Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:52:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Heidi http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129973 Heidi Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:14:32 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129973 Thank you, Heather! I'm glad I read this (finally) because it's just reconfirmed to me that it's totally ok and RIGHT for me to be happy, despite circumstances some would call unhappy. Thank you. :) Thank you, Heather! I’m glad I read this (finally) because it’s just reconfirmed to me that it’s totally ok and RIGHT for me to be happy, despite circumstances some would call unhappy.

Thank you. :)

]]> By: Leslie http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129640 Leslie Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:42:48 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129640 I thought this piece was excellent and timely- an oft overlooked part of the churches provident living program is actually emotional health, coping, &resiliency. As someone who did my grad research on stress and coping I can appreciate how much framing your experience and a chosen perspective influences your ability to find happiness. I thought this piece was excellent and timely- an oft overlooked part of the churches provident living program is actually emotional health, coping, &resiliency. As someone who did my grad research on stress and coping I can appreciate how much framing your experience and a chosen perspective influences your ability to find happiness.

]]> By: C. L. Hanson http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129603 C. L. Hanson Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:45:02 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129603 <i>Re: I don’t think it required courage per se, just a sense of adventure and willingness to be flexible.</i> Exactly. That's my attitude towards city living. There are a lot of people who don't like it, but many others who <i>think</i> they'll hate it, and discover otherwise. I say: try it, and see what happens! :D Re: I don’t think it required courage per se, just a sense of adventure and willingness to be flexible.

Exactly.

That’s my attitude towards city living. There are a lot of people who don’t like it, but many others who think they’ll hate it, and discover otherwise. I say: try it, and see what happens! :D

]]> By: Claudia http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129578 Claudia Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:14:00 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129578 What a great article. I'm so glad I read it. What a great article. I’m so glad I read it.

]]> By: Heather H. http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129521 Heather H. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 03:40:38 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129521 I had such a crazy day and wasn't able to get back on here to read all your reactions and talk until now. But a few things: Some of you have remarked at how you really are happier with some of your "things" and "chocolate". I think you're right Jane, knowing ourselves and what we enjoy are definitely contributing factors. However, as many of the rest of you have said, it's nice to know, liberating even to realize that we get to choose happiness in the face of any circumstance. Also, "m&m" the shoulds are killers for me and for many women I think. We've had enough blog discussions and prose essays written about guilt and the feelings of inadequacy women experience to know we're not going out on a limb with that assumption. I like how Ulrich adresses that. Thanks Martha. I'm in awe of you and all your babies ;) Tiffany W. & Chanson there are some conveniences to urban living for sure. And it simplifies life in many ways. But being inconvenienced often because there is a lot out of your control is a good catalyst for choosing either gratitude or crankiness. So glad I could share this article with ya'll and thanks for reading and thinking and sharing with me. I had such a crazy day and wasn’t able to get back on here to read all your reactions and talk until now. But a few things:

Some of you have remarked at how you really are happier with some of your “things” and “chocolate”. I think you’re right Jane, knowing ourselves and what we enjoy are definitely contributing factors. However, as many of the rest of you have said, it’s nice to know, liberating even to realize that we get to choose happiness in the face of any circumstance.

Also, “m&m” the shoulds are killers for me and for many women I think. We’ve had enough blog discussions and prose essays written about guilt and the feelings of inadequacy women experience to know we’re not going out on a limb with that assumption. I like how Ulrich adresses that.

Thanks Martha. I’m in awe of you and all your babies ;)

Tiffany W. & Chanson there are some conveniences to urban living for sure. And it simplifies life in many ways. But being inconvenienced often because there is a lot out of your control is a good catalyst for choosing either gratitude or crankiness.

So glad I could share this article with ya’ll and thanks for reading and thinking and sharing with me.

]]> By: jendoop http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129517 jendoop Tue, 24 Feb 2009 02:39:36 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129517 Often I find happiness in the simple things of life- When FHE actually goes well, the sun shining when I go for a walk, a happy child. Those things make me happy on a daily basis, the big things of life can overwhelm me and distract me to the point that I don't enjoy those good things the way I should. Often I find happiness in the simple things of life- When FHE actually goes well, the sun shining when I go for a walk, a happy child. Those things make me happy on a daily basis, the big things of life can overwhelm me and distract me to the point that I don’t enjoy those good things the way I should.

]]> By: Heather O. http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129511 Heather O. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:34:45 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129511 Oh, and we did city living for 3 years, and it was tons of fun. My in laws were appalled. In a lot of ways, it's simpler. For example, we had 4 parks within walking distance of my house. It's nice to have things within walking distance--we don't get that where we are now. Of course, I love our backyard, our cul-de-sac, and our washer and dryer. There are trade-offs to everything, I guess :) Oh, and we did city living for 3 years, and it was tons of fun. My in laws were appalled. In a lot of ways, it’s simpler. For example, we had 4 parks within walking distance of my house. It’s nice to have things within walking distance–we don’t get that where we are now. Of course, I love our backyard, our cul-de-sac, and our washer and dryer. There are trade-offs to everything, I guess :)

]]> By: Heather O. http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129510 Heather O. Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:32:17 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129510 I love this. Thanks. The idea that happiness is something to actively pursue is simple, yet profound. I also love Seligman's stuff, and was glad to see it quoted. He has a great book about raising optimistic children which is well worth every parent's time. But I'm going to try this active pursuit of happiness that is not tied to material or temporal things. Thanks. I love this. Thanks. The idea that happiness is something to actively pursue is simple, yet profound. I also love Seligman’s stuff, and was glad to see it quoted. He has a great book about raising optimistic children which is well worth every parent’s time.

But I’m going to try this active pursuit of happiness that is not tied to material or temporal things. Thanks.

]]> By: FoxyJ http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129508 FoxyJ Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:28:27 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129508 One thing I've discovered over the last few years is that my physical well-being really affects my ability to "choose happiness". Like she mentions in the article, my family history has a strong strain of depression/mental-illness prone genes running through it. I can often feel how that affects me and my outlook; but genes are not everything and I've been working hard to over come some of the negative thinking patterns I've picked up. Plus I've learned that if I get a good night's sleep and wake up and exercise in the morning, it really resets my body and changes my outlook. My hubby and I have never been very active people, but we recently moved to a town with a lot of bike paths and we're learning that it's lots of fun to get out and exercise together as a family. And Jane, after eight years of apartment living I think I really will be happier when we live in a house with a yard. I'd love some private space to enjoy the outdoors and let my kids run around. Hopefully my expectations will live up to the reality. One thing I’ve discovered over the last few years is that my physical well-being really affects my ability to “choose happiness”. Like she mentions in the article, my family history has a strong strain of depression/mental-illness prone genes running through it. I can often feel how that affects me and my outlook; but genes are not everything and I’ve been working hard to over come some of the negative thinking patterns I’ve picked up. Plus I’ve learned that if I get a good night’s sleep and wake up and exercise in the morning, it really resets my body and changes my outlook. My hubby and I have never been very active people, but we recently moved to a town with a lot of bike paths and we’re learning that it’s lots of fun to get out and exercise together as a family.

And Jane, after eight years of apartment living I think I really will be happier when we live in a house with a yard. I’d love some private space to enjoy the outdoors and let my kids run around. Hopefully my expectations will live up to the reality.

]]> By: Justine http://segullah.org/segullah-article-discussions/how-to-be-happy/#comment-129492 Justine Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:19:27 +0000 http://segullah.org/?p=2212#comment-129492 Roxie, chocolate goes without saying... Roxie, chocolate goes without saying…

]]>