Harvard Happiness Class (Positive Psychology) Book Excerpts & Notes
Author: Taylor Ben-Shahar
2. Interpretation of the four life models
1. Hedonistic type— -Pay attention to the happiness in the moment, and ignore the current behavior which may bring negative consequences in the future.
2. Busy and running type-in order to achieve future goals, endure the painful process of the present. Believe that the painful process is necessary for success.
3. Nihilism type-neither enjoy the present life, nor look forward to the future. The numb life is in emptiness.
4. Perceive happiness type-experience happiness in the current work and life, and at the same time improve the future through current behavior.
Originated from: Popular American painter Jenny Yu
Busy and running type:
The most common pattern around us: only by being taught by teachers and parents in the future. Good grades and high salary are the only criteria for success in life.
Although competition is exhausting, we still believe that competition is the only way to survive. 996,007 is a necessary sacrifice to obtain a "happy life".
However, the joy of reaching a goal is not always present, it is quickly replaced by the anxiety of achieving a new goal. A new round of fatigue and sacrifice strikes again.
In fact, the happiness after reaching the goal is not happiness, but the relaxation of temporary relief, a kind of "happiness illusion", just like a chronically ill person temporarily recovering physical strength for a few days. (For non-workaholics, most people who can’t get happiness from overtime)
Originated from the popular American artist Jenny Yu
_strong _strong span _span2 _strong hedonism
Such people are always looking for happiness and avoiding pain.Satisfy desires blindly, but never seriously consider the consequences.
Hedonists are constantly looking for the next more exciting fun, but as the threshold of stimulation gets higher and higher, the feeling of happiness becomes less and less, and the senses become numb.
They regard hard work as pain and material pleasure as happiness. But after all, humans are animals that need to "determine the meaning of their lives." The pleasure of emptiness cannot sustain life for a long time.
Life that lacks challenges and "meaning", but also lacks the pleasure of showing one's strength and the sense of accomplishment to achieve goals. (not to mention indulging yourself in the pleasure of sensuality, alcoholism, etc., not only will you feel the inner emptiness, but the body will also be hollowed out Orz)
From: American popular painter J strong Yu
_p3strongenny Nihilism:
These people give up pursuing the meaning of life and the current life, and indulge in the shadows of the past.
They just pondered over the misfortunes of the past, and extended explanations of the past damage to the present. They deny the fact that "you can get happiness".
Originated from: American popular painter Jenny Yu
Feeling happiness type:
We often think about what age we need to worry about in the future and what goals we can achieve. ?
The answer is: no! The emptiness after reaching the goal and the anxiety when not reaching the goal will always exist.
What we need is not a standard of eternal happiness, but a mentality that learns to find happiness in daily behaviors and then motivates oneself to achieve goals.
In the happy life model, there is a part of enjoyment, but enjoyment will not become a hindrance to hard growth, but a short-term relaxation and recharge. There are busy parts, but hard work will not completely sacrifice the happiness of current life.
A happy person is like a climber who remembers to climb to the top of the mountain while enjoying the scenery along the road. The process of climbing and reaching the top are both happy.
Originated from: American popular painter Jenny Yu
Develop the habit of "becoming happier":
Recording life for 15 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days:
I was busy in the last 3 days /Choose a topic in the nihility section to record your own experience,
record your life experience in the section of feeling happiness in the last day.
Busy running section: Write down your busy running experience. Reflect on whether you have benefited from it? What is the price paid?
Hedonism section: What do you get in the moment of enjoyment? What is the loss?
Nihilism section: record the moments that make people feel desperate and helpless, and describe the most profound feelings and thoughts about it then and now.
Feeling happiness: describe and relive a particularly happy period or experience in your life.
Mindfulness meditation: Find a quiet place + your own comfortable posture, take a deep breath, and calmly feel every part of your body. Recall the feelings of happy moments in the past, and try to bring the emotions of the time to the present and relax the body.
ID: GhostStandsAlone
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