The Art of Happiness

AtomicIdeas from the Dalai Lama's book

What makes you happy? Buying that latest iPhone? That latest car? Getting 1000 Retweets? Happy relationships? Being at peace?

Well, each one of us have our own reasons to stay happy, but how about discovering the happiness algorithm? That is, a sure shot way to stay at peace even in the worst of the conditions.

Although you may not always be able to avoid difficult situations, you can modify the extent to which you can suffer by how you choose to respond to the situation.

This month’s theme is staying happy - something that humanity definitely needs to focus more on - expect a mix of high-level insights to practical, actionable tips.

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Presenting the first instalment in this series, The Art of Happiness written by a psychiatrist, Dr. Cutler, based on interviews conducted with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The book explores the science of emotion and how to cultivate happiness, even in the face of life’s challenges.

Sharing 5 AtomicIdeas from the book

Cultivate Kindness

Compassion is essential to leading a happy life. By cultivating kindness towards ourselves and others, we can build stronger relationships and create a more positive environment.

We should strive to be patient, understanding, and accepting of our own imperfections and those of others.

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion, If you want to be happy, practice compassion. -Dalai Lama XIV

What’s compassion? Compassion can be roughly defined in terms of a state of mind that is nonviolent, nonharming, and nonaggressive. It is a mental attitude based on the wish for others to be free of their suffering and is associated with a sense of commitment, responsibility, and respect towards others.

Find Meaning

Finding meaning in life is essential for cultivating happiness.We should ask ourselves what matters most to us and strive to live in alignment with our values.This means finding ways to contribute to society, serve others or simply enjoy the small things that make us happy each day.

A disciplined mind leads to happiness, and an undisciplined mind leads to suffering. -Dalai Lama XIV

Let Go

Letting go is an important part of living a happy life.We must accept that some things are beyond our control and be willing to let go of outcomes that don't work out as planned.

This allows us to be open to new possibilities instead of holding onto old patterns or expectations that no longer serve us.

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions. -Dalai Lama XIV

Have Faith

Having faith can help us stay grounded during difficult times.Whether it's a belief in a higher power or simply an optimistic outlook on life, having faith gives us something to hold onto when things feel overwhelming or out of control.It helps us stay strong in tough times and have hope for a brighter future.

Unlike physical progress, which is subject to natural restrictions, the qualities of the mind can be developed limitlessly. -Dalai Lama XIV

Connect with Nature

Reconnecting with nature is an important part of cultivating happiness.By spending time outdoors, we can escape the stresses of everyday life and connect with something greater than ourselves. Nature reminds us of our smallness in the grand scheme of things and helps us appreciate the beauty of life.

I think that in many cases people tend to expect the other person to respond to them in a positive way first, rather than taking the initiative themselves to create that possibility. I feel that's wrong, it leads to problems and can act as a barrier that just serves to promote a feeling of isolation from others.

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I hope this was useful. Stay happy!

-ashish