HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE by Barry Neil Kaufman. Fawcett Columbine, 1991
    INTRODUCTION (pvii)

    APHORISMS --- explicit assumptions from the book:

        [1] Unhappiness is NOT inevitable!

        [2] Even when we are angry, judgmental and miserable, we have the best of intentions!

        [3] We have been systematically taught to use discomfort as a strategy to take care of ourselves. Therefore, we can "un-teach ourselves --- " and begin again!

        [4] Unhappiness is not an enemy --- but just a choice! This book is NOT based on any moral imperatives. There are no "shoulds" or "should nots" --- just choices!

        [5] WHEN WE CHOOSE HAPPINESS, WE CHOOSE LOVE AND INNER PEACE.

          We help others on our planet choose it as well --- by our example

        [6] WE CAN LIVE OUR DREAMS --- instead of just dreaming them.

        [7] WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

        [8] WE ARE THE DIFFERENCE

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS/GRATITUDE (pxi-xiv)

    PERSONAL NOTE (p3-9)

        [1] The way you "choose" to see the world creates the world you see! (p5)

        [2] You can, in a simple and easy way, access an amazing "attitudinal advantage" within yourself --- once you come to know that happiness and love are choices and that misery is optional and not inevitable. (p7)

          I never knew I could just claim happiness, at any time, as my birthright and not be limited by the condemning evidence of my own personal history and the past!

          That awareness, which I had previously resisted as preposterous, has been a blessing and has changed my life profoundly. It has allowed me in my own imperfect way to be so much more loving, peaceful and useful to myself and to all those I help.

          We dared to experiment with ourselves. We dared to live in ways that others might easily dismiss as "unrealistic" or "impossible."

          Ultimately, we resourced and taught each other, crashed through the walls of limiting beliefs, and constructed what we called "a vision to live by."

          Each day we gathered together for experiential interactions, discussions, intimate sharings and segments for self-exploration. We laughed. We cried. We shouted. We whispered. We challenged each other. We loved and hugged each other. Eventually, we forged a respectful and honoring "family" of dear and supportive friends.

          Remember, as you read, there will be something to decide and something to do --- an easy, but amazing adventure!

      1) Living the "dream" --- Our pursuit of happiness and the actuality of becoming happier empowered us more than we had ever anticipated. (p10-20)

        Happiness no longer eluded us. It became the child of our choices and decisions. So awesomely simple! Rather than become passive as our happiness grew, we became more energized, more resourceful than ever before and more capable of translating our ideas into actions.

        Our pursuit of happiness and the actuality of becoming happier empowered us more than we had ever anticipated. We could say easily that living more happily and teaching others to do the same certainly feels good.

      2) Creating a "personal vision" to live by (p21-50)

      3) The happiness option (p51-93)

        The "happiness option" is the assumption that you can experience your own happiness, any time and any place!

        It is the ultimate attitudinal advantage.

      4) Thriving in a "user-friendly" universe (p94-105)

      5) Nothing is impossible! (p106-126)

      6) Five Shortcuts to Happiness --- Implementing the happiness option (p127-199)

        The "Decision to be Happy" is actually the decision to stop being unhappy! (p129-130)

        Creating the "happiness arc" (p131-133)

        A simple blueprint for personal and planetary peace! (p199)

          [1] Making happiness the priority!

          [2] Personal authenticity

          [3] Letting go of judgments

          [4] Being present

          [5] Being grateful

          [6] Deciding to be happy!

    POSTSCRIPT --- THE CELEBRATION (p201-203)

    REFERENCES (p205-209)

    ADDITIONAL READING (p210-223)

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR --- Barry Neil Kaufman is the teacher of a uniquely loving lifestyle and vision called the "Option Process" that has both educational and therapeutic applications.

    Also, he is the author of many books including "Son-Rise," which is about how his wife and he healed his once-autistic child by transforming him into a highly verbal, extroverted, happy teenager with a near-genius I.Q. This changed the lives of his family and thousands of others who have been inspired by his success. (p225-226)

Return to: Feelings Training Abstracts#HAPPY-FEELINGS
Return to Happy Book List: List of Happiness and Satisfaction Book Outlines