The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World

I love the library.

And I have Camry to thank for that.

She is always begging to go, and I am always thinking of 200 reasons why we need to be somewhere else (mainly because once you get into the library, you could truly stay for half a day).

At any rate, yesterday I checked out a new book co-authored by the Dalai Lama and Howard Cutler, MD. It's the sequel to their Bestseller, "The Art of Happiness." This book is called "The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World."

I have only read a few pages, but I love it so much. I think I will have to read it slowly because there's a lot to consider as you read.

Here's what interested me so far:

The happiness "debate" in psychology centers around a somewhat new field referred to as positive psychology. Rather than focus on defining and treating mental illnesses/conditions, positive psychology focuses on human happiness (what causes it, how to sustain it, conditions, etc.).

And within this sub-field--the positive psychology sub-field--there's debate as to weather happiness can best be achieved by focusing on the individual OR focusing on society.

It boils down to a "ME vs WE" question. (And granted, it doesn't have to be either obviously, but the point is, are we better able to achieve happiness when we focus on ourselves OR when we focus on society?)

That seriously just hit me like a ton of bricks.

It's everything I'm interested in. I feel like Charlie Brown having an AHA! moment: "That's IT!"

I'm going to have to go back to school, I think--it's so fascinating to me. (Or, live vicariously through one of the kids and make encourage them to study positive psychology.)

Anyway, I'm not far enough to really understand this topic/issue, but I'm so so so interested.

We love the library.

Thanks for getting me there Camry.