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Number 8 April 15, 2003

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THE SIX HAPPINESS TOOLS
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Martin Seligman is leading the Positive Psychology movement
in which he encourages us to find and build on our signature 
strengths as one of the steps to being authentically happy.
The research is showing that it is possible to learn to be
happy but people often look for happiness in the wrong places.

Dan Baker has authored a book entitled, "What Happy People Know".
In it, he tells us that fear is "hardwired into our being" but
that we, as humans, can overcome this genetic predisposition and
live happy, healthy lives. He lists the six happiness tools that 
one can use to become truly happy.

They are:

1. Appreciation

Appreciation is the purest, stronges form of love. When a 
person offers their appreciation to another, it is like giving
a gift of yourself. Baker states that the research shows that
appreciation and fear cannot occur at the same time. So if 
one is appreciative, they cannot be fearful. Fear, based in the
older, reptilian brain is strong but appreciation and love, a
product of the human part of the brain, the neocortex, is
stronger.

2. Choice

Choice is the father of freedom. When an individual has no choices
or options, they feel locked up, helpless and anxious. This 
condition leads to learned helplessness. Sometimes we lose sight 
of the choices that we have when we let fear take over. We thus 
become self limiting. Exercising our choice helps us feel free, 
bringing greater happiness.

3. Personal Power

Personal power is the force that give you power over your feelings
and your fate. The two components of personal power are taking
responsibility and taking action. You realize that your life belongs 
to you and that you can do something about it. It keeps you from 
being a victim.

4. Leading with your Strengths

We all have signature strengths, talents and abilities that help 
to define who we are. When we give in to our fears, we focus
on our weaknesses and we only become more fearful. By focusing
on our stregths, we feel better, more confident and secure, like 
we can begin to solve the problems set before us.

5. The Power of Language and Stories

Our language has the power to alter our perception. When we
continually tell ourselves negative things, we feel weaker and
more fearful. When we use the language of our strengths we feel
freer and more secure. When we tell ourselves we can, we do.
Sories work the same ways. We can interpret events in our lives
as horror stories or heroic stories. We have the choice.

6. Multidimensional living

Baker identifies the three components of life: relationships, health
and purpose (usually work). When we put too much energy in only
one area, our life becomes unbalanced and we limit our lives.
By maintaining a balance in our lives, we have more than enough 
positive energy to live the happiness of a full life.

CONTACT INFORMATION
_____________________________

Alan R. Graham, Ph.D.
Bill Benninger, Ph.D.
ADDvisor.com, Ltd.
1-866-ADDvisor
Email: Alan@ADDvisor.com
Bill@ADDvisor.com
Web: www.ADDvisor.com

(c) Copyright 2003 ADDvisor.com, Ltd. 
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