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A researcher on how to live a happy life

ox.ac.uk

11–20 of 199 posts

Re: A researcher on how to live a happy life

#11
> 'If you look at what people actually do to be happier, it seems nearly everyone tries to change the external facts: we try to become richer, thinner, more successful, to find a better house in a nicer area, and so on. A few of us think about trying to spend less time working, and more time on hobbies or with friends and family. Almost no one thinks about actively retraining the way they think. In fact, I don’t think this last idea even crosses most of our minds.'

You might be new to this because you've just started your PhD, but that doesn't mean everyone else is too.

Re: A researcher on how to live a happy life

#13
post #5

Once was depressed in university so wrote this on happiness. Helps me to look back on. One 'good' thing about depression is it gives you a reference point of how bad it can get. Sadly what solved the depression for me was an external event (getting out of uni and getting a job). https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/life/happiness

Why is that sad? Situational depression is the best of many bad options as it’s the case where a badly needed change can actually have outsized impact.

Re: A researcher on how to live a happy life

#16

For me, I have become happier in the moment via insight meditation, which focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without action or reaction. Part of the wisdom of meditation lies in the following: There is baggage we all carry, the self, this belief we're the center of it all, the author of (and subservient to) our own thoughts. How do I stop doing what makes me unhappy, if that's "who I am"? But, in reality, I ca…

This. I have recently discovered after many years that I have fear thoughts and laziness antithoughts that convert into anxiety and fear and sometimes indignation. Its a mine field out there in a mind. Mental health is as much work as keeping up with fitness/gym routine.

Re: A researcher on how to live a happy life

#17
post #5

Once was depressed in university so wrote this on happiness. Helps me to look back on. One 'good' thing about depression is it gives you a reference point of how bad it can get. Sadly what solved the depression for me was an external event (getting out of uni and getting a job). https://wiki.nikitavoloboev.xyz/life/happiness

Why is that sad? Situational depression is the best of many bad options as it’s the case where a badly needed change can actually have outsized impact.

By sad I meant that the solution was mostly out of my control. Pure chance that it happened.

Re: A researcher on how to live a happy life

#18

I think these are bad tips to be honest. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - really? People in countries where psychotherapy is not as prevalent as in the US aren't necessarily unhappier I think. Some occupations have earned their bad reputation. My opinion. I am not happy with it, but generally quite happy I believe. I don't feel too happy about changing my prejudice towards this field. Appreciation of what you have is…

I’d encourage you to reconsider the article in context of the fact that CBT can be self-taught with no books or sessions - all of this advice is free, and each tip works independently of the others.

I do agree that open-ended talk therapy seems like a waste of time.

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