The Happiness Accident

Then again, there are no accidents ♥
I picked up an Ode magazine last night; one of the headlines reads: The Art of Happiness -- Everyone can master it. I took the hint and have been hanging out with Christophe Andre, a French psychiatrist (who sounds, of course, like Nicolas in my head ♥), author of books Vivre Heureux (How to lead a happy life) and L'Art du Bonheur (The art of happiness), all afternoon. He's cute and French and oh, so Wise! The article is one nugget of Truth for Diana after another:

• In my own experience, happiness does take effort; you need to do your best to see happiness, experience it, absorb it.
• "People's lives are hard, sometimes tragic, and as time goes by you always suffer harm. Without happiness, how could we brave melancholy and despair?"
• Happiness is not a luxury, but a necessity. We don't live to be happy, but thanks to our capacity to be happy, we're able to live.
  
• "To crave for happiness in this world is simply to be possessed by a spirit of revolt." ~Henrik Ibsen
  
• Perfect happiness comes at such moments of grace. Be quiet and say nothing. Look, listen and breathe. Admire. Absorb the budding happiness consciously and attentively, wherever it is.

Six Lessons for a Happier Life:

1. Accept that there will be unpleasant things in life. All the time, every day, you'll face hindrances. You'll be too late or make a mistake or say something stupid. It's the rent you pay to live in the house of life. It's part of life. There's no point in being disappointed when things don't go your way.
   
2. Open your eyes and look around. There are more opportunities for happiness than you think, certainly for a Westerner in 2008. Embrace the moments. Remember them. Enjoy them.
   
3. Take time out. The ability to pause, mentally as well as your actions, is important. Taking breaks is a prerequisite for experiencing happiness.
   
4. Pay attention to your family and friends. Social ties are important for happiness. don't let a day go by without thinking of, or seeing, someone you love.
   
5. Try to get in touch with nature every day. Take a walk in the park and spend a few minutes looking at nature.
   
6. Express your gratitude and respect for the good things you experience. Being thankful makes you happy and increases the chance of social connection.

I can't wait to see what Byron Katie: Suffering is Optional has in store for me! Just as soon as I finish reading Zen and the Art of Happiness ♥