Happiness Trap: How to Stop Struggling, Start Living

All of us want to be happy.

But what does being happy really mean? Ask different people and you are guaranteed to get a mixture of responses. Even if you are fortunate enough to know what happiness means to you personally, is it possible to always be happy? If you go to the self-help or personal development section of any bookstore or library, you'll find plenty of books that promise to change your life for the better. And whether or not one of those books has been written to help you to lose weight, or to become wealthier, or to find a new career, or whatever, the underlying message is that, by reading that particular book, you will be happier than ever before. But is it really as simple as that? For most people, it's not. That's because life is complex, and lots of challenges are placed in front of all of us that prevent us from always being happy. So what's the solution? If you are currently disillusioned with life in general, or maybe some aspect of it, I would urge you to read a new book titled 'The Happiness Trap'. In the briefest of descriptions, the 'Happiness Trap' involves frantic attempts to run away from negative emotions and desperately strive for positive ones ¿ resulting, of course, in a vicious cycle in which we are trapped with little or no chance of ever being successful long term. This book is refreshingly unlike any other self help book that I have ever read, and I believe that one of its major strengths lies in the fact that it challenges its readers to redefine what it means to be truly happy. The book then presents a number of practical strategies that can be used to live a fulfilling life, despite the ups and downs that all of us encounter sooner or later. Another great strength of 'The Happiness Trap' is that it is both easy and enjoyable to read. And because the content of the book has been organized into short, focused chapters, you can pick up the book and simply read one, two or more chapters at a time and never feel overwhelmed. The book has been written by Dr Russ Harris, a former GP, who now works as a therapist and coach in the field of 'Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' (ACT). ACT, an innovative and creative mindfulness-based behavioural therapy, is the foundation on which 'The Happiness Trap' book solidly sits. Harris explains that 'Acceptance and Commitment Therapy' is 'based upon six core principles which work together to help you achieve two main goals: a) to effectively handle painful thoughts and feelings, and b) to create a rich, full and meaningful life'. Summing up ¿ read 'The Happiness Trap' book to learn how to create a life for yourself that is indeed worth living.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

best book i have bought

I highly recommed this book. I have panic attack with agoraphobia and this is by far the best book I have ever bought. this book really helps you understand yourself better and allows you to learn how to deal with difficult life situations through acceptance, rather than avoidance, (which is what most "self help" books do these days). If you are looking for a way to improve yourself and alternative ways to deal with difficult life situations, no matter what they meay be, this is definately the way to go. One thing I have to say though is that you MUST do the exercises that are recommended. The author gives you step by step instructions on how to handle a situation through acceptance, and sometimes asks you to write down answers to questions on a paper, these exercises are crucial. If your not willing to do the work, then it will still help, but MUCH less then if you actually did it.

Great concept

Very interesting concept, and wonderful if you can make it work for you. However, it would take a long time to retrain your mind to think in this way and learn to turn off the negative thoughts. Several books have tried to accomplish this, so it is not new concept. It does , however, give some new insights and new ways to address this possibility to turn negative into positive. Overall, it is worth reading.

A reviewer

This is a great book that even people who dont like self help books can enjoy (as well as those who do). The Happiness Trap is based on the latest scientific research. It can be used by anyone to help improve their life - whether they are facing everyday problems, or more complex issues such as anxiety and depression. It offers a sensible and practical approach to dealing with the stressors of modern life. In summary this is an easy to read book, that can be easily applied by anyone who is interested in improving their life. I highly recommend it.

A must read book on ACT

A beautifully written, clear, and concise ACT book. 'The Happiness Trap' is not only useful as a self-help book, but it is also a fantastic book for clinicians who want an easy to read, complete summary of ACT. Russ manages to captivate his audience so that you really must keep reading until the end!

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