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Quatre Maneres En què La Felicitat Et Pot Fer Mal

En els darrers anys, hem vist una explosió d'investigacions científiques que revela precisament com els sentiments positius com la felicitat són bons per a nosaltres. Sabem que ens motiven a perseguir objectius importants i a superar obstacles, ens protegeixen d'alguns efectes de l'estrès, ens connecten estretament amb altres persones i, fins i tot, eviten les malalties físiques i mentals.

Això ha fet que la felicitat estigui bastant de moda. La ciència de la felicitat va fer les portades de Time , Oprah i fins i tot The Economist , i ha generat una petita indústria de ponents motivacionals, psicoterapeutes i empreses de recerca. Aquest lloc web, Greater Good , inclou aproximadament 400 articles sobre la felicitat , i el seu bloc per a pares tracta específicament de criar nens feliços .

És evident que la felicitat és popular. Però la felicitat sempre és bona? Sentir-se massa bé pot ser mai dolent? Els investigadors tot just comencen a explorar seriosament aquestes preguntes, amb una bona raó: en reconèixer les possibles trampes de la felicitat, ens permeten entendre-la més profundament i aprenem a promoure millor vides més saludables i equilibrades.

Juntament amb les meves col·legues Iris Mauss i Maya Tamir, he revisat la investigació científica emergent sobre el costat fosc de la felicitat i hem realitzat la nostra pròpia investigació sobre el tema. Aquests estudis han revelat quatre maneres en què la felicitat pot ser dolenta per a nosaltres.

1. Massa felicitat pot fer-te menys creatiu i menys segur.

Resulta que la felicitat té un cost quan s'experimenta amb massa intensitat.

Per exemple, sovint se'ns diu que la felicitat pot obrir la nostra ment per fomentar un pensament més creatiu i ajudar-nos a resoldre problemes o trencaclosques. Aquest és el cas quan experimentem nivells moderats de felicitat. Però segons la metaanàlisi de Mark Alan Davis del 2008 sobre la relació entre l'estat d'ànim i la creativitat, quan les persones experimenten quantitats intenses i potser aclaparadores de felicitat, ja no experimenten el mateix impuls de creativitat. I en casos extrems com la mania, les persones perden la capacitat d'aprofitar i canalitzar els seus recursos creatius interiors. A més, la psicòloga Barbara Fredrickson ha descobert que massa emoció positiva, i massa poca emoció negativa, fa que les persones siguin inflexibles davant els nous reptes.

De vegades, l'excés de felicitat no només elimina els seus beneficis per a nosaltres, sinó que en realitat pot provocar danys psicològics. Per què? La resposta pot estar en el propòsit i la funció de la felicitat. Quan experimentem la felicitat, la nostra atenció es dirigeix ​​cap a coses emocionants i positives de les nostres vides per ajudar a mantenir el bon sentiment. Quan ens sentim feliços, també tendim a sentir-nos menys inhibits i més propensos a explorar noves possibilitats i assumir riscos.

Porta aquesta funció de felicitat a l'extrem. Imagineu algú que té un impuls aclaparador per atendre només les coses positives que l'envolten i assumir riscos de proporcions enormes. Poden tendir a passar per alt o descuidar els senyals d'advertència del seu entorn, o fer salts audaços i passos arriscats, fins i tot quan els signes exteriors suggereixen que els guanys són poc probables.

Les persones en aquest mode d'excés de felicitat tenen comportaments més arriscats i tendeixen a ignorar les amenaces, com ara el consum excessiu d'alcohol, l'afartament, la promiscuïtat sexual i el consum de drogues. En un estudi de 1993, el psicòleg Howard S. Friedman i els seus col·legues van trobar que els nens en edat escolar qualificats com a "molt alegres" per pares i professors tenien un major risc de mortalitat quan els van seguir fins a l'edat adulta, potser perquè tenien comportaments més arriscats.

Tots aquests resultats apunten a una conclusió: la felicitat pot ser millor quan s'experimenta amb moderació, no massa poca, però tampoc massa.

2. La felicitat no s'adapta a totes les situacions.

Les nostres emocions ens ajuden a adaptar-nos a noves circumstàncies, reptes i oportunitats. La ira ens mobilitza per superar els obstacles; la por ens alerta de les amenaces i implica el nostre sistema de preparació de lluita o fugida; la tristesa indica pèrdua. Aquestes emocions ens permeten satisfer necessitats particulars en contextos específics.

El mateix passa amb la felicitat: ens ajuda a perseguir i assolir objectius importants, i ens anima a cooperar amb els altres. Però de la mateixa manera que no voldríem sentir-nos enfadats o tristos en tots els contextos, no hauríem de voler experimentar la felicitat en tots els contextos.

Com ha argumentat el psicòleg Charles Carver, les emocions positives com la felicitat ens indiquen que els nostres objectius s'estan complint, la qual cosa ens permet frenar, retrocedir i anar mentalment. És per això que la felicitat ens pot fer mal a la competició. Els estudis il·luminats realitzats per Maya Tamir van trobar que les persones amb un estat d'ànim feliç tenien un rendiment pitjor que les persones amb un estat d'ànim enfadat quan jugaven a un joc d'ordinador competitiu.

Al meu propi laboratori, hem descobert que les persones que experimenten la felicitat en contextos inadequats, com ara veure una pel·lícula d'un nen petit plorant o l'escena de Trainspotting quan Ewan McGregor excava a través d'un repugnant vàter cobert de femtes, tenien un risc més gran de desenvolupar el trastorn emocional de la mania.

Josh Gosfield/Corbis

La felicitat té un temps i un lloc, no s'adapta a totes les situacions!

3. No tots els tipus de felicitat són bones per a tu.

"Felicitat" és un únic terme, però fa referència a un arc de Sant Martí de diferents sabors d'emoció: Alguns ens fan més enèrgics, altres ens frenen; alguns ens fan sentir més a prop d'altres persones, altres ens fan més generosos.

Però tots els tipus de felicitat promouen aquests beneficis? Sembla que no. De fet, una anàlisi més matisada dels diferents tipus de felicitat suggereix que algunes formes poden ser realment una font de disfunció.

Un exemple és l'orgull, un sentiment agradable associat amb l'èxit i un rang o estatus social elevat. Com a tal, sovint es veu com un tipus d'emoció positiva que ens fa centrar-nos més en nosaltres mateixos. L'orgull pot ser bo en determinats contextos i formes, com ara guanyar un premi difícil o rebre una promoció laboral.

Tanmateix, la meva investigació amb Sheri Johnson i Dacher Keltner descobreix que quan experimentem massa orgull o orgull sense mèrits genuïns, pot provocar resultats socials negatius, com ara agressivitat cap als altres, comportament antisocial i fins i tot un major risc de trastorns de l'estat d'ànim com la mania. El treball en curs al meu laboratori, dirigit per l'estudiant de postgrau Hillary Devlin, dóna suport a la tentadora noció que les emocions positives centrades en si mateixes com l'orgull poden dificultar la nostra capacitat d'empatitzar o prendre la perspectiva d'una altra persona durant els moments emocionals difícils.

Conclusió: certs tipus de felicitat poden dificultar de vegades la nostra capacitat de connectar amb els que ens envolten.

4. Perseguir la felicitat pot fer-te infeliç.

No en va, la majoria de la gent vol ser feliç. Sembla que estem preparats per buscar la felicitat, i això és especialment cert per als nord-americans, fins i tot està arrelat a la nostra Declaració d'Independència.

Però, perseguir la felicitat és saludable? El treball innovador d'Iris Mauss ha recolzat recentment la idea contraintuïtiva que esforçar-se per la felicitat pot causar més mal que bé. De fet, de vegades, com més persones persegueixen la felicitat, menys sembla que poden aconseguir-la. Mauss mostra que com més persones s'esforcen per la felicitat, més probabilitats tindran d'establir un estàndard alt per a la felicitat; llavors es sentiran decebuts quan no es compleixin aquest estàndard. Això és especialment cert quan la gent es trobava en contextos positius, com ara escoltar una cançó optimista o veure un clip de pel·lícula positiu. És com si com més difícil s'intenta experimentar la felicitat, més difícil és sentir-se realment feliç, fins i tot en situacions agradables.

Els meus col·legues i jo estem construint sobre aquesta investigació, que suggereix que la recerca de la felicitat també està associada a problemes greus de salut mental, com ara la depressió i el trastorn bipolar. Pot ser que lluitar per la felicitat ens estigui tornant bojos a alguns.

Com trobar la felicitat saludable?

Però, com podem aconseguir exactament una bona dosi de felicitat? Aquesta és la pregunta del milió de dòlars.

En primer lloc, és important experimentar la felicitat en la quantitat adequada. Massa poca felicitat és tan problemàtica com massa. En segon lloc, la felicitat té un temps i un lloc, i cal tenir en compte el context o la situació en què s'experimenta la felicitat. En tercer lloc, és important aconseguir un equilibri emocional. No es pot experimentar la felicitat a costa o a costa d'emocions negatives, com ara la tristesa, la ira o la culpa. Tots aquests formen part d'una recepta complexa per a la salut emocional i ens ajuden a aconseguir una perspectiva més fonamentada. L'equilibri emocional és fonamental.

Finalment, és important perseguir i experimentar la felicitat per les raons correctes. Massa centrar-se en l'esforç per la felicitat com a fi en si mateix pot ser contraproduent. En lloc d'intentar trobar la felicitat amb zel, hauríem de treballar per construir l'acceptació del nostre estat emocional actual, sigui quin sigui. La veritable felicitat, sembla, prové de fomentar la bondat cap als altres, i cap a tu mateix.

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27 PAST RESPONSES

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me123 Jun 13, 2012

This is an interesting and controversial article. I love stuff like this. First of all I do believe that too much happiness can be unhealthy, in a sence that too much water is unhealthy. you can die from too much water but it has to be gallons at one time. I think that just like a relationship if you don't argue every once in a while then how are you going to know you truly love the person and care for them.  As human beings we need different emotions, happy, sad, frustrated, infuriating; Without these emotions we can not love because we dont know what is good and what is bad. With the persuite of happeness i think the article pined the nail on the donkey with that one, as for everything else, i think they did not word it properly.  

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MegGuest Jun 5, 2012
As I read comments that criticize the article, I generally agree: problems with definition of happiness, over-emphasis on mania, surprising and I think challengable link to excessive risk choices because "happiness" might block mindful self-care.  At least one comment mentions a general feeling of "contentment" as a description of what might be meant by "happiness", and this resonates with me.   Others might add "feeling in harmony with oneself and relationship to larger world".  Still others might add "feeling a general personal confidence about oneself in relationship to larger world."One negative aspect of "happiness" I was surprised to *not* find is mentioned, but not developed. This is a link between an individual "happiness" and reduced ability to empathize.  The possibility of such a link is worthy of thought.  The culture has been through a few decades of individuals pursuing personal development, with emphasis on "individual" and "personal" .   In general, to my obse... [View Full Comment]
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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

mr Stanford of today's daily was annoyed. ms Tippett, doesn't know even smallest provocation that made Standford behave such uncontrolled behavior. you know, I didn't do anything bad. So why frightening again. The saddest thing is that Ms can't guess why you write that but she can understand you are annoyed. Review the causes please instead using force or strangling an innocent miss. She doesn't know car accidents or anything bad happened to you but she understands that you felt pain which she didn't cause. if it is that small statements "woman spoke up"which she apologized, accept apologies.  If you would like Ms completely truss in you, you have to talk where you believe she doesn't. It is simple and if you continue spinal things, you are forcing a Ms to become Mr. Ms really feels that you have some type of pain but she didn't cause-trust her.

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Noor a.f May 29, 2012

@Jeanine, am listening please. thank you

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Happiness 1st May 29, 2012

Pursuing happiness is not "BEing happy".

You are doing a disservice to people by this article.

Emotions are a sense, like taste, touch, smell, hearing and seeing.

Emotions come in response to thoughts.

They also provide guidance from your "Higher Self".

Your Higher Self sends you a message that says "that is the right direction" when you think a thought that feels better than the last thought you thought.

When your new thought feels worse the message is "You're going the wrong way now.  Turn around."

It is as simple as this and not listening to the guidance is never the right choice.

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Noor a.f May 28, 2012

@travelmmn:disqus pursuing happiness doesn't cause the two. I posit there can be relations like my case where happiness is pursued in dread. What do you think, they need to pursue? Some are said need marriage, some doctors, some divine. What do you think, Travelmmn?  

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travelernnn May 28, 2012

The assertion that research suggests that pursuit of happiness is associated with serious mental health problems, such as depression and bipolar disorder implies that pursuing happiness causes these disorders, but I would hope researchers would look into causality. I would posit that people with depression or bipolar disorder are more likely to pursue happiness, as they feel this is what they lack, which would lead to this association, not the other way around.  

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Noor a.f May 27, 2012

@3f80abfeff1e02b26cdef8954007e98c:disqus it was not wasted time. It was to knowledge and others might benefited it.
Thank you  

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Sundisilver May 27, 2012

As I was reading this, all I could think about was how wasteful is to spend so much time THINKING about why happiness is not good instead of just going out and living your life and stumbling onto little happy moments betwixt and between the others.   And then remembering to appreciate them instead of stopping to ask yourself if this is a happy moment or is this a moment that's not really good for me.   I think too much thinking about it sorta ruins the whole experience. 

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Noor a.f May 26, 2012

today's dailygood got me right. I remember operating a store of scientific research age 17. Mine wasn't nuclear but animals esp insects. My big problem was how I could keep people away from the store of the study. I was exactly like Taylor because the word "can't" I don't believe. Hazmat team and arrest isn't known and  never liked. It is always good to make understandable because one might cleaned family's contaminated for may be another family.what is the other please?catastrophic result? that is scaring and is not known. well, Taylor is with you and feels sorry for your time. Well, Washington can't say 'get this very small to die or to live with it for being honesty and stupid awesome."
 The story interested me I had forehead and eyes pain I thought Computer caused but didn't feel while I was reading today's daily.
Thank you

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Noor a.f May 25, 2012
@Kayee, well, I give my definition to the website of last night. Didn't it publish? I wrote a lot of explanations. And happy people connect people around them. but if happy people are busy on things they don't. it is a meaningful question. @be276523f26ecbd80bf429fabaafa852:disqus  , I followed the link but mbs ended anyway it was interesting how the guy talked. I will update unlimited internet. West striving materials, they are right because I one time tried a woman near her car. she was standing and I was practicing accent I just copied from a movie. So I wanted to greet her yet she saw me before. She just looked very innocent and changed the direction. I was really embarrassed because my intention wasn't to cause inconvenience. I then thought of how such issue could be addressed. I started a work. The work then threatened my well-being and sucked my savings. I then asked myself, do I deserve? I then continued not knowing realities because money lost in good is good. This story is no... [View Full Comment]
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Pat Armitstead May 25, 2012

My belief is that joy is all of it ...the very fact that we can experience all the emotions and can be at choice as to how we respond is joyful empowerment.  I like the whole notion of leading a happy, engaged and meaningful life...irrespective of current circumstances.  My radio program presents a holistic and integrated approach to wellbing, tapping into the sugnature strengths, multiple intelligences and using the art of improv ( acting) to be in the moment.  www.planetaudio.org.nz/radi...

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Rickaung May 25, 2012

The article completely misses the point about happiness. Happiness is never achieved by pursuing it. Achieving goals and material wealth gives a temporary feeling of well being but true happiness comes from within. The West seems obsessed with material gains and success believing when they have been achieved one will be happy but when one reaches the goal we change The goal Suggest listen to TED talk by Shawn Achor VERY FUNNY AND INFORMATIVE Check out this amazing TED Talk:

Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work
http://www.ted.com/talks/sh...

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Kayce May 24, 2012

I have never met a person who is constantly in a happiness mode.  Most people that I had ever, met seem to have a range of emotions.  This sounds like an article one had to write to get their name on something just to say they have something in print.  What is the writer's definition of happiness?  I would think contentment would be a very nice goal in life and would create a balanced life as well.  This could also be described as happiness.  Can a happy person really be hindered to connect with those around them, Really? 

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Noor a.f May 24, 2012

@facebook-100002669703787:disqus  we always do many things but we have to balance them. No one can be 100% good. but what I know is that the more we try to be good the more we are.

I posted a comment to http://smartliving365.com/?...
about happiness am not sure if it waits published.

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Alex Mart May 24, 2012
This article caught my eye because it follows the kind of "too much good is bad" scare tactic of a lot of healthy living articles.I really relate with the part about the pursuit of happiness. I've always been the ambitious type, people-pleaser, cheerful host. Almost my whole life, I've poured my energy into APPEARING happy to make other people around me feel good, to make other people around me feel like I had everything under control and the world on my side.Especially once I began Health Coaching as a career, I wanted people to see that I'd figured it all out and was living the dream life. Behind closed doors, though, I was super stressed, I was binge eating sweets at night, I was feeling like a failure and a fraud, and was deeply UNhappy.It took a lot of work and opening to see how I needed to take time and energy to nourish myself, relax and feed my own soul. I was giving and working way too much - trying to be a happy success - and starving myself of the stuff a happy life is made... [View Full Comment]
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Favik May 24, 2012

what else can i say. it is all a bulk of good writig and composite combination of intellectual make-up. just really likes it.

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fhet May 24, 2012

I believe it is better to BE happy than to PURSUIT happiness. Being happy means for me, being content with my life, appreciating what is around me and experience life every second as a great gift and chance. This also includes changing things that make me angry. Enjoy your lifes, everyone! It is the only one we've got.

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Kathy @ SMART LIving 365.com May 24, 2012

I agree that the blind pursuit of happiness can be problematic--that's because we often have opposing definitions of what it really means.  That's why I wrote a blog post that defines happiness in a way that makes it more sense of well-being than just a giddy emotion...if interested, here is a link to the article....  http://smartliving365.com/?...  

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Noor a.f May 24, 2012
great science. I was one of the people who were know excited all the times. I was and I like to be happy always. Well, I agree to be more happy can make one loose creativity and loose the idea of making development. As I said I overdrive happiness but if am to employ a worker I would prefer one who doesn't overdrive happiness. I understood mine 2005 I then decided to remain middle at schools and workplaces and when free or a lone I like to look what interests me or pleases me. I had 5 face books where I followed events different names. Most of my friends I meet personally and some of them I follow facebook and they don't know am following them. Because they comment and expect me to socialize with them and I can't. So I understood I might open facebook once in a month , they would think am not respecting them. I try what I want to do and if I fail I feel like I need to be nowhere. That is why I decided to live earth as a famous person or a rich. Without the two I I can't say life is wo... [View Full Comment]
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Doreen Platt (Stumblinn) May 24, 2012
This is the first time I have ever seen an absolutely ridiculous article on one of my favorite sites (Daily Good).   Just one of the many things in it that made no sense was "People in this heightened ‘happiness overdrive’ mode engage in riskier behaviors and tend to disregard threats, including excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."People who are happy do not engage in " excessive alcohol consumption, binge eating, sexual promiscuity, and drug use."   That type of behavior is what people who are seeking a way to hide from their unhappiness engage in. I drink no alcoholic beverages, eat a healthy vegetarian diet of 1200 - 1400 calories a day (I'm 4'8"), am celibate and use no recreational drugs.  When I have a day that I am feeling down, I simply examine what I am feeling and what is going on in my life and use a variety of spiritual practices to rebalance myself,  supplemented with a healthy dose of laughter yoga as needed.   No, I ... [View Full Comment]
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Rev Nagi Mato May 24, 2012

I found this article confusing and focusing more on 'mania' then anything else. Happiness is a personal thing and most times cannot be 'measured'. I find studies like this (in my personal opinion) to be a waste of time. Any study can be made to say whatever you wish it to say, depending on the outcome you are looking for.
I do agree that to feel 'too much' happiness takes one out of balance. I am more interested in balance, not just 'happiness'.

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wbblinn May 24, 2012

This is interesting...there is a Russian writer named Vadim Zeland who wrote the "Reality Transurfing" books in which he describes the downside of creating what he calls "excessive potentials"  The book is eaoteric in every way, but so much of what he says makes sense and reading this article made me think of his books.  At Manifesting Greatness we are always walking that fine line of wanting something but always from a place of knowing it is already there (otherwise we are putting out the vibration of lack, which then is matched by the outer factual world).  It is so fascinating how this external outer world is constantly reflecting back to us our inner state of being, the question is are you working to manipulate the outer world by seeking happiness outside yourself, or is the quest one that starts from, and unfolds from, within.  The only way "happiness" could possibly be bad for us is because we've forgotten its ultimate source

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Rosie May 24, 2012

Thanks for the article, I found it really encouraging! It is good to be reminded that the acceptance of the whole of life is where we find balance.  Also, I am reminded of a church seminar I attended a few years ago which was titled 'The Pursuit of Happiness?'  The main lesson I got from that seminar was that happiness is not so much a goal, but more a side effect of a balanced and holistically healthy life, of which conciously treating other people as you would like to be treated (aka kindness!), is an integral part.  I remember thinking as a child that if everybody looked out for everybody else then everybody would be looked after - I find it hard to argue with my ten year old logic, now I just have to remember to keep my end up in the grown up world, where not everyone plays by that rule!

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deborah j barnes May 24, 2012
instead "of pursuing happinessitself"..i find that acknowledging that i am part of the greater whole oflife and at once and the same a unique being (i am) gives  me the courage to believe in my self and myreason to be “here.” This opens the path of seeking  the "genie" the gift we are all bornwith that we are wired to share with the world. This whole vision thinkingcreates a happy that thrives on the risks taken in “true direction” and opensour minds to new possibilities as we grow into our “beingness”   As this resonates with "knowing" - a thoughtemotion convergence zone nestled physically in the core - you know it when youfeel it!! Getting past our cultural boundaries is the hardest part; the oldbeliefs are always ready to pull one under. Acknowledge and look for solutions that are beyond the "down" As you bring your gift forward, your strength and happiness expand, it is so worth it!  Then be grateful…thank the universe for the dance!Just experiment, see what un... [View Full Comment]
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Sharon May 24, 2012

Maybe I'm not seeing what the definition of happiness is in this article?  I consider myself happy, most of the time.  And I equate that with being content with my life.  I trust people until I am proven wrong, I try to see good in everyone, and sometimes that is difficult.  I also try not to judge and criticize, and sometimes that's pretty difficult too!  But all in all, I like my life, and I think I'm pretty happy with it.

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Michael West May 24, 2012

This article is poorly thought out and a real disappointment. If there are different kinds of happiness, why save that for point 3? It would make more sense to identify them at the outset and discuss how they may differ and create different challenges. Really, this reads like an off-the-cuff meandering across the topic, not something to be taken seriously.