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What does it mean to be truly happy? In Philosophies of Happiness, Diana Lobel provides a rich spectrum of arguments for a theory of happiness as flourishing or well-being, offering a global, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary perspective on how to create a vital, fulfilling, and significant life. Drawing upon perspectives from a broad range of philosophical traditions—Eastern and Western, ancient and contemporary—the book suggests that just as physical health is the well-being of the body, happiness is the healthy and flourishing condition of the whole human being, and we experience the most complete happiness when we realize our potential through creative engagement.Lobel shows that while thick descriptions of happiness differ widely in texture and detail, certain themes resonate across texts from different traditions and historical contexts, suggesting core features of a happy life: attentive awareness; effortless action; relationship and connection to a larger, interconnected community; love or devotion; and creative engagement. Each feature adds meaning, significance, and value, so that we can craft lives of worth and purpose. These themes emerge from careful study of philosophical and religious texts and traditions: the Greek philosophers Aristotle and Epicurus; the Chinese traditions of Confucius, Laozi, and Zhuangzi; the Hindu Bhagavad Gītā; the Japanese Buddhist tradition of Soto Zen master Dōgen and his modern expositor Shunryu Suzuki; the Western religious traditions of Augustine and Maimonides; the Persian Sufi tale Conference of the Birds; and contemporary research on mindfulness and creativity. Written in a clear, accessible style, Philosophies of Happiness invites readers of all backgrounds to explore and engage with religious and philosophical conceptions of what makes life meaningful.Visit https://cup.columbia.edu/extras/supplement/philosophies-of-happiness for additional appendixes and supplemental notes.

During our lives, many of us realise we are not as happy as we could be. The hectic pace of life today can leave us unfulfilled and listless. Help is at hand, however! This easy-to-digest book gives you ten simple steps to increase your feeling of happiness and contentment, and is suitable for both men and women, young and old, from all walks of life. Each step explains why it will have a positive effect on you, and gives you a simple exercise to try. If you have ever felt that you are not enjoying life to its full potential, this is the perfect guide for you!

Everyone longs to be happy, yet many wrongly believe that happiness comes from having enough money, fame, personal comfort, worldly success, or even dumb luck. Happiness all too often seems to be an elusive, arbitrary thing -- something that is always just out of reach.Joan Chittister sees happiness differently -- as a personal quality to be learned, mastered, and fearlessly wielded. In Happiness she embarks on a'great happiness dig'through sociology, biology, neurology, psychology, philosophy, history, and world religions to develop'an archaeology of happiness.'Sifting through the wisdom of the ages, Chittister offers inspiring insights that will help seekers everywhere cultivate true and lasting happiness within.

After years of teaching metaphysical principles all over the world through her seminars, books, church, and international television ministry, Terry Cole-Whittaker realized that there was something extremely important missing from her teachings. Divine discontent led her on an amazing spiritual journey that eventually yielded all that had been missing plus the sacred wisdom whereby everyone can enjoy the benefits of ever-increasing bliss, prosperity, and love. Terry shares this most empowering knowledge, the knowledge of who we really are — perfect souls possessing godlike powers and qualities.