The How of Happiness 2: Optimism

Positive psychology guru Sonja Lyubormirky’s new book The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want reveals the University of California professor’s research-based tactics for taking control of the 40 percent of happiness and joy within our control. Here, we'll share her advice in an ongoing series:

THE HOW OF HAPPINESS
Step 2 - Cultivate Optimism

By Sonja Lyubomirsky

All optimism exercises involve changing the way we see the world. It takes hard work but if you persist at these strategies they will become a habit.

—Try to identify your pessimistic thoughts and replace them with more favourable viewpoints. Ask yourself, "What can I learn?"

—Think about what you expect your life to be in one, five or ten years from now. Visualize a future where everything has turned out the way you wanted.

—The more you rehearse optimistic thoughts, the more natural they will become. With time, they will be a part of you and you will have made yourself into a different person.



The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want
By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Penguin Press HC
Hardcover
Dec. 27, 2007
ISBN-10: 159420148X
ISBN-13: 978-1594201486
available from booksellers everywhere and Amazon.com