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Summary: I saw the light!
Review: I've had the book for quite a while and just never thought that I had the time to pick it up. I was diagnosed with depression a little less than a year ago and find myself still having bouts with not being happy from time to time. And Dr. Carlson was so dead on ... it is all in your thoughts! I picked the book up last night and couldn't put it down ... it's the best so-called 'self-help' book I've ever read. He makes comments about how traditional therapy can tend to cause us more problems in the end -- and that was exactly my experience. He made me realize that thinking is simply a function we do one our own -- and that thinking can be seen as 'static.' I've never thought of it like that -- in 21 years I never realized that so many problems could be avoided by simply letting the thought slide away and not focusing on it. That's so simple, and yet so hard to do. I've been in a depressed mood for quite a while -- fighting with people I care about, because I'm thinking in an irrational mannor, and then come to regret it because I wasn't thinking clearly. Dr. Carlson wrote this book in a mannor that doesn't talk down to people, but instead uses the tone of a friend sitting down for coffee with you. He gives you examples and tells you about situations from his own life. Amazing -- I'll be reading this all summer just so that I can continue to remember these principles. The first time was to realize that these concepts existed and the second time will be to understand them and start to allow them to sink into my brain so that I can use them. Thinking doesn't have to run my life -- a break through! Thank you Dr. Carlson!
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Summary: Not much here
Review: I've listened to about half of the audiobook on CD and it does absolutely nothing for me. Very general information. Too much focus is on the "what" to do, but not on "how" to do it. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone - male / female, young / old, etc. There are much better books and audiobooks out there.
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Summary: A Refreshing Mood Change Upon Reading
Review: It's amazing, after each turn of a page, you feel better and better. This book literally saved my mind! My mood is so much improved and after dealing with depression and medication for it, this is a gift from God. I especially liked the chapter on improving relationships. Just wish I had this book before my last serious love relationship which ended in a bitter break up. I can see where I went wrong and how I contributed to it's failure. But, like the book teaches, I choose not to dwell in past hurts or disappointments and instead choose to live in the present moment! I believe Dr. Carlson has a gift from God and knows just how to articulate it to be so simple and understandable. Although I've never met the author, I consider him a good friend. Thank you so much Richard.
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Summary: This one stands out from the rest
Review: My bookshelf is full of self-help books, but when I lose perspective this is the book I reach for first. Unfortunately it is also the first book I lend out or give away, so I didn't really come here to write a review -- I'm buying another copy or two. This will probably be my 12th copy or so.
The principles are simple, but simple in a way that time and again makes me say, "Oh yeah!" because out of habit I have slipped into very complicated ways of thinking that leave me feeling trapped and depressed and resisting my feelings themselves. My favorite principle (and most easily remembered in time of need) is the principle of moods, which reminds me that fighting my feelings will never work. I find this principle very freeing, because something cool happens when I give up that particular fight.
The only problem is that I don't remember the other principles very well right now cause I haven't read it in a while, and I just lent my copy out last weekend to a friend who's going through a breakup. So here I am.
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Summary: happy family
Review: My sister in law read this book and before she did she was a miserable person but now we all get along just fine. I suggest that you might consider buying this book to give as a gift to all of your miserable relatives. It works best on in laws.
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Summary: Immediate "Change Your Life" Therapy
Review: Never has a book of any size, much less an easy to read 141 pages, made such an impression on me. Therapy, group workshops, cognitive therapy and all the endless self-help books on relationships and divorce have really only helped me to "survive" my current seperation/ divorce and a long history of depression. This book immediately changed my perspective and day to day functioning so much that people have commented independently in every facet of my life. My work is better, my health is better (lost 37 pounds), I'm a better parent and my personal quality of life has improved immeasurably. Literally, this book has changed my life.
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Summary: it really make me happy
Review: reading these book really helped me in trying to be happy no matter what , in help me in my family life alot .
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Summary: A wonderful adjunct to health-based psychotherapy
Review: Richard Carlson's book, "You Can Be Happy No Matter What," like his other books, provides healthy doses of common sense that many other self-help books are in need of. I have found this book to be a useful adjunct to psychological treatment. I recommend it frequently to my psychotherapy patients.--Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D., Author, "Energy Psychology"
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Summary: Excellent Insight
Review: Richard Carlson's You Can Be Happy... provides an excellent "inside look" into the power of our thoughts.One of Carlson's major points is that our thoughts directly produce our feelings. Carlson points out that we often resist realizing this, and insist that it's "reality" or "the facts" that cause us to be upset. Carlson points out that there is always another, peace-producing way to perceive these same "facts." Another excellent insight from the book: the way to alleviate stress in our lives is to lower (not raise) our tolerance to it. "Our level of internal stress wlil always be exactly equal to our current tolerance," Carlson writes. "That is why people who can handle lots of stress always seem to do just that." In sum, and excellent, practical, and down-to-earth (if challenging) book. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Profound Words of Wisdom
Review: This book gave me new insight and profound concepts into what constitutes happiness. Words of wisdom from someone that must practice or consult on this matter a lot. My favorites?
Happiness is a state of mind, not a set of circumstances, or outcome. If you hear yourself saying "I'll be happy when I ...." get married? get a house? get a new job? kids? Carlson says you can be happy now because its your state of mind not what or when you achieve something. Often when you achieve what you were seeking, you're not much happier than before. Principle of Present Moment; your past, like the wake of a boat, is powerless. Your past can only be signficance only if you decide to give it so. Therefore, don't dwell on your past, your past has no bearing on your happiness now. Accept the past for what it is, experiences that culminate to form how and what you view life is today, use the past, and then let them go, and move on. Happy people view life as a series of present moments to be experienced, one after another. They understand that life is to be lived now, and future activities and tomorrow's to-do list distracts from your present moment. Are you playing a war in your own head? Are you thinking about yourself too much? Loosen up and live and enjoy life, in the present moment! You have everything necessary to be happy!
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