Some say that happiness can be found in the pursuit of goals. That is, happiness is achieved by wanting of things and not in actually having the wanted ‘thing.’
An interesting book that I recently read is “Stumbling on Happiness” by Dan Gilbert. The book is about how what we think makes us happy and what really does make us happy are often two completely different things. Gilbert describes many studies on happiness and memory bias to present his theory on happiness.
Note: Audible.com Is a great place to find audio books. I find I can read more by listening to books on my iPod–thus, increasing my ‘happiness.’
Slate.com has a piece on the economics of happiness comparing how much happiness a new PlayStation will buy compared to getting married.
Discover magazine has an article on Martin Seligman’s latest work on happiness training.
Livescience.com also has a summary of other findings on happiness.
Is Vanuatu or Denmark the happiest place on earth? It all depends on how you measure happiest.
From “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown”
HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.
PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE
TELLING THE TIME.
HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.
TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.
AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.
HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.
KNOWING A SECRET.
CLIMBING A TREE.
HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.
CATCHING A FIREFLY.
SETTING HIM FREE.
HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.
AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT’S LOVED BY YOU.
HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.
SHARING A SANDWICH.
GETTING ALONG.
HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,
AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.
HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT’S LOVED BY YOU.