Editorial Review:
Bursting with creative ideas and brimming with illuminating anecdotes, this concise, joyful, and practical book shows how to find -- and forge -- happiness in the large and small events of everyday life. Based on her more than thirty years as a noted thinker and speaker on personal contentment, Alexandra Stoddard shares what she has learned about the small but significant changes you can make in your mind, heart, and surroundings to be happier day by day. A gentle and fun first step is to quickly write down ten words that define who you are -- perhaps beaches, family, food, home -- and what else? To further expand your awareness, select one word and write down twenty-five words that come to mind. These and dozens of other inventive ideas will help you develop the self-knowledge to pursue happiness wisely and well. In challenging times, it is easy to question whether happiness is a choice. Alexandra Stoddard affirms not only that it is possible to choose happiness but that happiness is the best choice we can make. It is the "first principle" of life that unites humankind because it is what we all desire. Happiness lies in the passions we pursue and in the pressures we decline. It is in knowing how to work and when to play. It is in the treasured objects we keep nearby and in the ordinary moments we elevate into small celebrations. It is in the note we write to a friend and the kindness we show a stranger. It is in the colors we love and the music that transports us. It may be as simple as sunlight on your face; as sudden as a shared smile; as sensuous as a single flower on your desk, candles on your nightstand, or cookies hot from the oven. Happiness is what you make it, where you make it. Happiness is our best choice.
Cached date: AWS Called=true
You may also be interested in these products:
These categories may also be of interest to you:
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
A Great Way to Experience Joy and Peace Everyday 2008-03-03
Choosing Happiness is a delightful book with creative ideas on how Alexandra Stoddard personally chooses happiness in her daily life. Alexandra does not force her ideas on you but gives lovely examples and suggestions of the choices that she makes. This book truly expanded my ideas for finding joy and creativity in new areas that I had not thought about previously. While enjoying this book I was reminded of Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment which also gives simple and inspiring ways to choose daily happiness and live in peace and joy.
Bizarre. Haughty. Had to say something!  2007-04-05
Here's a key to a "choosing" happiness:
Go through life so vapidly that redecorating truly makes you happy. Here's the trick - get born rich. Born so rich that you can never conceive of happiness as being something other than a personal choice, as if unhappiness is caused by refusing to go on a shopping spree or jet to Paris.
This book consists largely of (pink) quotations, listing the inanities of her friends and relatives amongst wisdom from Sartre and Gandhi. The rest, unintentionally sad and unintentionally funny platitudes that reveal a woman who lists her profession as "noted thinker" but has all the depth of a full-length mirror.
What Makes Us Happy?  2006-02-25
I've treasured every Stoddard book that I've read. She has such a clear way of thinking and such a gentle, quality approach to everything from letter writing to decorating a home.
Here's the description that drew me to this book:
"Filled with practical, creative ideas for pursuing happiness in everything from the way we approach problems to the objects we enjoy in our homes. This succinct handbook offers instant uplift from a seasoned thinker and speaker on personal contentment."
just lovely 2005-11-24
Alexandra RADIATES joy. And of course, why wouldn't she? She has everything, and she can afford to buy all those things she mentions in the book. Expensive paintings. Bedding. Furniture. Fresh flowers. But having all those things don't guarantee happiness. There are plenty of wealthy people out there who have everything, but are still miserable and always wanting more. That's why I believe she's someone worth listening to. She genuinely radiates joy, and I feel that every time I read her book. Her words uplift me. Most of her advice can just be common sense, but she rewraps it in a fashion that motivates and enlivens everything that's common to us. Daily life can feel dead and routine, but she injects magic into her daily rituals. Eating, bathing, sleeping. We all do these three activities every day, and what better thing to do than make these activities SPECIAL? If you want practical advice, maybe her book's not right for you. But if you want a book that can lift your spirits anytime you pick up the book, or a book that can make the mundane magical, it will work beautifully. She has a unique writing style, and I love her for it. And the book works for me.
Happiness for the rich with nothing to do 2004-11-08
This book is pretty much a long rant about this egotistical woman and how she has lived her life.
Well, we aren't all rich, nor perfect, so if you have a life touched with reality this book isn't for you. A Martha that tries to be spiritual... not at all what I needed.
|
|
