Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #34208 in Books
• Published on: 2006-11-13
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781577315681
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Review
-A most important book that shows us in practical terms how to remove the blocks to the awareness of our natural state, happiness.- - Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD, author of Love Is Letting Go of Fear -A needed counterbalance to the therapy junkie-s tendency to wallow in -processing- while life-s beauty passes them by.- - Yoga Journal

From the Back Cover
"A most important book that shows us in practical terms how to remove the blocks to the awareness of our natural state, happiness."
-- Gerald G. Jampolsky, MD, author of Love Is Letting Go of Fear

"A needed counterbalance to the therapy junkie's tendency to wallow in `processing' while life's beauty passes them by."
-- Yoga Journal

"You will find Dr. Carlson's new approach very helpful -- solid, sensible, and filled with loving guidance."
-- Dr. Wayne Dyer, author of Your Erroneous Zones

"You Can Be Happy No Matter What will appeal to those caught in the tangles of outmoded thinking. It speaks simply to us in a way that's most fitting when we want to move out of dysfunctions into robust, effective living."
-- Marsha Sinetar, author of Developing a 21st-Century Mind

"A profoundly simple, hopeful, and human book about what's available to us all -- happiness."
-- Joseph Bailey, author of The Serenity Principle

From AudioFile
The DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF author, a psychologist, puts his experience to good use again in this comprehensive guide to happiness. The program is anchored by five principles that explain the importance of one's thinking, mood, subjective individuality, emotional feedback patterns, and focus on the present moment. The lesson is relaxing and integrative--a combination of the Buddhist notion of being rather than doing and the brand of psychology that says we have control over our thoughts and interpretations of experience. Veteran audio authors like Carlson know how to create programs that flow ideas into the deepest learning centers of our psyches. This one is an intuitive listening experience that Carlson has organized with great care and balance. T.W. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Customer Reviews

This is Self Help at Its BEST!
Ever felt like depression and negativitity were swamping all the happiness out of your life? Then read this book before you turn to Prozac. When I first found this book, back in 1997, I instantly recognized myself in Dr. Carlson's descriptions of the way thoughts can play through one's head and cause you to act in reactionary, emotional ways when one is experiencing what he calls a "low mood." He teaches readers, though, through a step by step process, how to return once again, to a state of "healthy psychological functioning." This book is NOT another "positive thinking" book. No, it is one of the most profound little books you'll ever pick up. It teaches you how to recognize "low moods" and to avoid action during low moods. It shows how to return to "normal functioning." After reading the book version several times a year for the last couple of years, I recently bought a two-tape audio version of this book, which is read by the author, and allows me to review the book's key principles whenever I feel a low mood setting in for too long. Not just a book. A great mental health tool.

Good advice, but...
I have to agree with all of the reviewers below: This book has some valuable insights. And because I am not unfamiliar with the concepts (see my review of "Napkin Notes on the Art of Living") I was interested to read a different presentation of similar material. Yes, we control our thoughts, our thoughts affect our moods, and feelings are a good indicator of when our thought process has derailed -- ie we're not living in the moment. And with a lot of patience and practice, we can navigate even the hardest things in life with more grace. But there were times while reading that my little voice said "This guy is making it sound way too easy... OR he's way too happy..." He insists that ignoring your low moods or negative feelings isn't "denial" but "deferral" of dealing with those feelings until you're in a better frame of mind, but often we aren't given that luxury. I worked really hard to maintain respect when, in two or three lines, he described how he was able to cope when a dear friend died in a car crash on the way to standing up to his wedding. Was it really as easy as he makes it sound? Human beings are complex, and often overwhelmed by feelings. So while this is good advice for many of life's ups and downs, I suspect the more complicated scenarios will require a bit more.

Depressed? Anxious? Try healthy psychological functioning!!!

This was the first of several books I read from Dr. Carlson, and I know it was a very instrumental part of my recovery process overcoming depression. I can't remember when I was so excited to read a book (except perhaps, when I read his book, "Shortcut Through Therapy"). I've read it three times, and bought four copies for other people who were also amazed at how much control they actually had over their own happiness!

The beauty of this book is it's simplicity. It combines principles and applications that are not difficult to understand and, with practice, almost effortless to implement. This book benefited me because I believed, that I had little or no control over my thoughts, feelings, moods, circumstances or happiness.

As I reflect after reading the book, I find that I have been feeling better longer. I still have low moods, but I don't sink as low, stay as long or hurt as bad as I used to. I'm still in therapy, and an end is in sight. My shrinks have substantially lenthened the time between visits, and reduced my meds considerably.

Thank you Dr. Carlson, for your helping hand when it was needed most.