I recently ordered a bunch of "bargain" books from Barnes and Nobel. (thanks to a generous B-day gift from Miste and Dennis) One of the books is "100 Behaviors of Happy People" (that is not the exact title, but something like that. Anyway, it is a very interesting little book listing the scientific study that each of behaviors is based on. (Jaron, you might be interested in that)
A continuing theme throughout is of course how you choose to view the world. (Much like Jenette and her choice to post positive things)
For instance if you compare yourself to people who have more than you, you will feel less content, if you instead compare yourself to people who have less you will feel happier.
I'm not intending a big preaching blog here. Just enjoying the little book.
My happy comparison for the day is my bathroom in contrast to this plush outhouse. While I'm sure it was the height of luxury for it's location, I feel completely happy with my flushing toilet that tends to run. I am lucky!
For anyone interested, this deluxe WC is located in the River of No Return Wilderness area. I believe it is no longer in use.
5 comments:
I love that they couldn't find a single piece of matching wood for the seat of that outhouse. That's a great picture. And I know what you mean about comparing yourself to others. When I was younger, if I ever started to feel down about having a huge birthmark on my arm, all I had to do to feel better was think "at least I have an arm." I don't have a right to feel bad about having red blotches on my arm when there are plenty of people out there who don't even have an arm. That's my positive thinking.
I think I have that same book! I used it quite a bit when I had to give "messages" for Enrichment night. And now that you reminded me of it I just spent 25 fruitless minutes looking for it. I'm sure it's someplace "special".
It really all is about perspective though isn't it?
So, I'm hoping Chuck won't see the outhouse and decide to use it as an energy efficient model for the new one we will be building at the cabin....
Sounds like a great book. It's strange how much of our happiness is affected by social comparison. Don't we have brains....can't we just decide we are happy? You know what I mean? Humans are strange. I will have to look this up especially if it was in a bargain bin--right in my price range :) Also I love the egg cartons for sound proofing in this outhouse.
Karen the book is in the same spot as my picture! Ha! Love that outhouse picture. Can picture everyone that comes along adding their two bits to it. Sounds like a great book.
Very good point. Social psychologists refer to that as either upward social comparison (i.e. comparing our circumstances with those 'better-off' than us) or downward social comparison (those who are 'worse' off than us).
Both have their advantages; downward comparisons can often serve to help us feel better about ourselves; upward comparisons can have a motivational effect where-in we are compelled to try and obtain the 'thing's or circumstances of those 'above' us, for better or for worse. I, personally, am quite fond of using downward comparisons to inflate my already ridiculously high ego :) Seriously though, I believe very strongly in the power of counting your blessings. It's good stuff.
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