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;void(0)) No, this is not a typographical error. Let us consider this emotion. Is it possible to have a Happy New Year? Indeed, what is happiness? Happiness is the name we give to the internal and external states arising when conditions change for the better. It is important that we keep in mind that not all of us are capable of internal happiness. (There is a condition known as Anhedonia, a state of mind in which a person is incapable of experiencing the pleasurable emotions.) Internally there is a flow of hormones and adrenaline. Externally there may be a raise in pay or even the joy in winning a jackpot of money playing the lottery. After a while, however, we no longer feel the good mood in a physiological sense. However, even if our circumstances remain better than before, we can never have the same experience we had when first told of our good fortune. When asked if we are happy we usually respond: “Yes, I’m happy”. Lasting happiness cannot be attained by focusing on the initial change, which is temporary. Lasting happiness is only meaningful when it refers to the particular state of external affairs. That is only meaningful when contrasted with some other, less preferable, state of external affairs. So, is it possible to have a Happy New Year? I think so. Here is some advice: - Take responsibility for making yourself happy; - Give yourself permission to make yourself happy; - Sacrifice short-term pleasures to achieve long-term gains; - Accept others’ fallibility and your own; - See uncertainty as a challenge – do not be afraid of it. Some hindrances to happiness: Inertia: the tendency to keep doing the same things instead of trying something new; Drugs and alcohol: temporary relief but long-term pain and suffering for many people; Low frustration tolerance: Inability to deal with long-term work and problem solving; Shame: the dire need for approval; Other hindrances are Perfectionism; and being overly Self-Critical – major recipes for disaster in setting resolutions for happiness. So, can we have a Happy New Year? I think so. However, keep in mind that it is an ongoing process, and is a very subjective goal. Go for it! Oh yeah, don't forget your autographed copy of “The Ackee Chronicles”. Tony VanSluytman - the Author  Newsletter Directory The Aton Project - Home Page Tony VanSluytman info Tony VanSluytman - the Author | Return Home | The BOOK DOCTOR | The BANYON NETWORK | The Banyon Buzz Newsletters | The Aton Project Newsletters | Contact Us | |
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