How to Be Happy Part 2: Why American Self-Help Backfires

Therapy in a Nutshell

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Researchers studied the question “Does trying to be happy actually work? If you decided to consciously work on being happier, would you actually be happier down the road? They asked this question in 4 different countries. The results were fascinating. They found that if you tried to be happier in the United States, you actually felt worse, in Germany it had a mixed effect. But in Russia, Taiwan, and Japan, trying to be happier actually worked. So why would that be? The researchers believe it’s due to the cultural difference between the east and the west. https://doi.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10... You really can learn to be happier, you can learn the skills to feel happy again, but you have to be willing to look past the overly simplistic self-help that promotes individualism, selfishness and isolation. If you want to learn the habits of happy people, perhaps look to eastern culture where the group is more important than the whole. When you reach out, connect, and try to do good in the world, you really can learn how to be happy.

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/c...

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