A recommended reading is “Happiness, Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth” by Dr. Ed Diener and his son Robert Biswas-Diener.
Scientific evidence of the value of genuine happiness is cited, emphasizing that happiness is a process that when filled with positive emotions for right purposes, creates life satisfaction.
“Psychological wealth is your true total net worth, and includes your attitudes toward life, social support, spiritual development, material resources, health and the activities in which you engage.”
The book offers many words of wisdom to live by, such as “Be happy for the right reasons” and pay attention to the good in others, and the beautiful things that are going right. Thinking that most people are doing their best and people with serious problems deserve compassion is a healthy attitude.
The model for a happy approach to life is AIM, Attention, Interpretation and Memory. This means: paying attention to the beauty and goodness around you, while aware of negatives, interpreting events as inspirational and preserving their self-esteem, and active appreciation of the past such as savoring memories.
The authors include some tests to measure your own satisfaction with life, emotional well-being and psychological flourishing.
This book helps the reader use the practical and scientific studies of psychological value for leading a life of genuine happiness.
