Welcome to Module 3! We are now ready to discuss Sonja Lyubomirsky’s book, The How of Happiness. We will discuss it in three parts. This book was created in three parts, so we have a natural division. Keep in mind, Part 2 is much larger than Part 1 or 3, so please be sure to have read ahead so you don’t get behind during that part. This book is written by a leading happiness scientist, but for a self-help audience. Remember, this is not a self-help class. So when discussing, we’ll discuss the scientific evidence she lays out more than how it applies to ourselves. Using ourselves as an example is always perfectly fine however.
Let’s discuss Part 1: How to attain real and sustaining happiness. There are 3 chapters involved…
1. Is it Possible to become Happier?
2. How Happy Are You and Why?
3. How to find happiness activities that fit your interests, your values, and your needs
What intrigued you from this first part of the book? Dr. Lyubomirsky lays out the evidence that shows that happiness is largely predetermined. We are, for the most part, born to be either happy or unhappy. But we do have 40% to work with. How does this evidence sit with you given everything you know of the human mind? Have you known people who are clearly born happy or clearly born unhappy? Do you think their happiness set-point could be moved? Is it possible to defy our genetics and build a more meaningful life?
