Being Happy: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life: You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Lead a Richer, Happier Life

by Tal Ben-Shahar

Overview

Bestselling author Tal Ben-Shahar has done it again. In Being Happy (originally published in hardcover as The Pursuit of Perfect, 978-0-07160882-4), he gives you not only you the theory but also the tools to help you learn how to accept life as it actually is instead of what you think it should be. By using the science of positive psychology along with acceptance, Ben-Shahar shows you how to escape the rat race and begin living a life of serenity, happiness, and fulfillment.

With the same technique that made Happier such a great success, Being Happy shows you how to let go of unrealistic expectations and truly accept your emotions for a more serene life.

Praise for Ben-Shahar:
"[Tal Ben-Shahar has] a rare brand of good sense that is embedded in scientific knowledge about how to increase happiness." — Martin E. P. Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness

"Ben-Shahar teaches that happiness isn’t as elusive as people think." — Publishers Weekly

"One of the most popular teachers in Harvard’s recent history." — Ellen J. Langer, author of Mindfulness and On Becoming an Artist

Tal Ben-Shahar is the New York Times bestselling author of Happier. He consults and lectures around the world to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations. For more information, visit www.talbenshahar.com

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780071746618
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	09/23/2010
Pages:	544
Sales rank:	1,138,328
Product dimensions:	5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Tal Ben-Shahar is the New York Times bestselling author of Happier. He consults and lectures around the world to executives in multinational corporations, the general public, and at-risk populations. For more information, visit www.talbenshahar.com

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction xv

Part 1 The Theory

1 Accepting Failure 3

2 Accepting Emotions 37

3 Accepting Success 69

4 Accepting Reality 91

Part 2 Applications

5 Optimal Education 113

6 Optimal Work 133

7 Optimal Love 151

Part 3 Meditations

8 First Meditation: Real Change 169

9 Second Meditation: Cognitive Therapy 173

10 Third Meditation: Imperfect Advice 181

11 Fourth Meditation: A Perfect New World 187

12 Fifth Meditation: The Role of Suffering 193

13 Sixth Meditation: The Platinum Rule 199

14 Seventh Meditation: Yes, but … 203

15 Eighth Meditation: The Pro-Aging Industry 209

16 Ninth Meditation: The Great Deception 215

17 Tenth Meditation: Knowing and Not Knowing 221

Conclusion 227

Notes 229

References 234

Index 241