One persistent counterargument to positive thinking is that it generates synthetic happiness, as opposed to real happiness. Synthetic happiness occurs when we use special techniques to elicit happiness. Real happiness occurs when we naturally feel happiness, and it generally occurs only after we appreciate what we already have or it occurs after we get what [...]

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  The beliefs that you hold about yourself and the world are key to achieving happiness. Your beliefs are powerful. Your brain is like an old-fashioned record player, and your beliefs are like records that can be played on the record player. What records are in your inventory? What beliefs do you hold to be [...]

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It is impossible for people or events to create negative thinking. So where do negative thoughts come from? Ourselves. I created a metaphor that explains people’s responsiblity for their own happiness. Imagine that you are a movie director. As a movie director you have responsibility for creating a film.   You create your negative thoughts. Beliefs that you hold [...]

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Happiness can be distilled into one basic idea: liking. Being happy is just the same as liking yourself and the world around you. Happiness gurus tend to get wrapped up in their philosophy of happiness or complex distinctions, but really happiness is just about appreciation. What things do you like? Happiness asks that you focus [...]

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People or events do not cause unhappiness. This idea may seem counterintuitive at first because all our lives we have heard the opposite. However, upon further reflection it is clear that it is impossible for these things to cause unhappiness. It is rather our thoughts about persons and events that cause unhappiness, and we have [...]

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