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Be Happy, Always: Simple Practices For Overcoming Life's Challenges and Living Each Day With Joy
Nobody teaches you how to be happy in school. We learn how to be successful in our careers, but everything else - like recovering from a heartbreak or a betrayal, or why love can bring so much frustration and pain, or how to navigate through everything that life throws at us without being pessimistic, negative or depressed... we're expected to just know these things, but it's all a fumble in the dark and we make so many mistakes along the way trying to understand how to be happy with ourselves, how to be happy with someone else, and how to be happy with our life.
Be Happy, Always spots the pitfalls of life and equips people with the wisdom and courage to navigate through everyday issues. Over five illuminating chapters, Xandria Ooi speaks to you with honesty and empathy, like your best friend or sister who knows what you need and offers you perspectives that can help you figure out what to do to lift yourself up and be happy even when life is challenging.
Be Happy, Always spots the pitfalls of life and equips people with the wisdom and courage to navigate through everyday issues. Over five illuminating chapters, Xandria Ooi speaks to you with honesty and empathy, like your best friend or sister who knows what you need and offers you perspectives that can help you figure out what to do to lift yourself up and be happy even when life is challenging.
- GenresSelf Help
270 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2019
53 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Xandria Ooi
3 books25 followersXandria Ooi is a motivational speaker, host and author. She started her career at age 16 as a journalist for Malaysia’s leading newspaper, The Star Publications. After her returned home studying for her degree in Australia, she pursued journalism and entertainment in writing, producing and hosting. Her first book, “Love, Work and Everything in Between” was published in 2009.
One day, she turned her inspirational writing into short two-minute videos that inspire others to live each day with happiness. The videos took the online world by storm. Her international audience is the reason she travels regularly for speaking engagements, workshops and trainings.
She lives with her husband in Kuala Lumpur and hosts weekly LIVE sessions on her Facebook page where fans can tune in to talk about life, love, work and happiness.
Connect with Xandria on Instagram at @xandriaooi, and on Facebook or YouTube at /xandriaooi.
One day, she turned her inspirational writing into short two-minute videos that inspire others to live each day with happiness. The videos took the online world by storm. Her international audience is the reason she travels regularly for speaking engagements, workshops and trainings.
She lives with her husband in Kuala Lumpur and hosts weekly LIVE sessions on her Facebook page where fans can tune in to talk about life, love, work and happiness.
Connect with Xandria on Instagram at @xandriaooi, and on Facebook or YouTube at /xandriaooi.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 8, 2020
Be Happy Always
Written by Xandria Ooi, a Malaysian motivational speaker, host, and author.
"Be Happy Always" philosophies for gaining happiness through simple and reachable methods. This book is neither literature nor thriller. Neither it is romance nor poetry...... but carries a message that is simple and sincere. Insightful.
It is a manual, written straightforwardly for people who struggle to find happiness. Subscribed for people who want happiness but have no idea to do so. This book will be the guide.
The author used lots of real-life stories to exemplify her message. Her mom, herself, and her friend. Real and personal, the book relates its message to us. It feels human.
The book centers on YOU as the main character. You are on the paddle. You are the driver. You will be the person who can get you to the places you wish to be in life.
What I have learned.
Be ready to feel uncomfortable for some mind shift as the author tactfully laid out areas of problems where you need to revisit to "Be Happy Always." Be prepared for some soul searching as the author talks about the most intimate issues that caused unhappiness and suffering. Be open to accept new perspective and let go of old memories and histories that kept you from "Be Happy Always." Be forgiving. Forgive yourself and others! Be understanding of yourself and others. Finally, be accepting of yourself and others.
By the end of the day, all we are looking for is to live each day with simple happiness. If that's you, go on, read the book!
Written by Xandria Ooi, a Malaysian motivational speaker, host, and author.
"Be Happy Always" philosophies for gaining happiness through simple and reachable methods. This book is neither literature nor thriller. Neither it is romance nor poetry...... but carries a message that is simple and sincere. Insightful.
It is a manual, written straightforwardly for people who struggle to find happiness. Subscribed for people who want happiness but have no idea to do so. This book will be the guide.
The author used lots of real-life stories to exemplify her message. Her mom, herself, and her friend. Real and personal, the book relates its message to us. It feels human.
The book centers on YOU as the main character. You are on the paddle. You are the driver. You will be the person who can get you to the places you wish to be in life.
What I have learned.
Be ready to feel uncomfortable for some mind shift as the author tactfully laid out areas of problems where you need to revisit to "Be Happy Always." Be prepared for some soul searching as the author talks about the most intimate issues that caused unhappiness and suffering. Be open to accept new perspective and let go of old memories and histories that kept you from "Be Happy Always." Be forgiving. Forgive yourself and others! Be understanding of yourself and others. Finally, be accepting of yourself and others.
By the end of the day, all we are looking for is to live each day with simple happiness. If that's you, go on, read the book!
June 15, 2020
One of the four most influential books I have ever read (the other three are “I and Thou” by Martin Buber, “When bad things happen to good people” by Harold Kushner, and the Big Book of “Alcoholics Anonymous”).
So much wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
So much wisdom. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
October 23, 2020
This is a great gem! The titles gave you clue that this book is about seeing another perspective and find happiness in overcoming life's problem. The message contains are truly deep and eyes-opening!
The book divided into five chapters :
1. Chapter one - Understanding happiness & unhappiness
2. Chapter two - Fulfilment in love & relationships
3. Chapter three - Communicating Positively with difficult people
4. Chapter four - Letting go of anger & what doesn't deserve us
5. Chapter five - Living with joy, positivity & gratitude
The book divided into five chapters :
1. Chapter one - Understanding happiness & unhappiness
2. Chapter two - Fulfilment in love & relationships
3. Chapter three - Communicating Positively with difficult people
4. Chapter four - Letting go of anger & what doesn't deserve us
5. Chapter five - Living with joy, positivity & gratitude
March 24, 2020
Simple and straight to the point! i loved reading this book & i would highly recommend reading this!
January 26, 2023
The whole experience of reading this book is indeed, challenging. Not because it’s a bad book, but for the feeling of uneasiness that it gives me.
Change is indeed uncomfortable. Scary. Difficult. Rather, staying in our own comfort zone is the best option as long as we’re afraid of the changes and many impending consequences that it’ll bring.
This book scares me with its uncomfortable truth. Yet i will say that it is my best read ever for this year.
The author’s insights that centres around happiness and joy are what makes me contemplate deeper about the meaning of those two words.
It makes me reflect on my own happiness and the things that bring me joy.
I also notice that the author touches a lot on expectations and how it can cause us so much misery.
Will definitely reread it in the future.
August 28, 2019
"UNDENIABLY ON THE TOP OF MY LIST OF "WORTH MY TIME AND MONEY TO READ"BOOK.
SHOULD BE IN THE HAND OF EACH AND EVERYONE WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR LIFE NOW AND ARE WILLING TO PUT IN SOME EFFORT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT TRUE HAPPINESS IS ALL ABOUT."
I am a 58 years old " self-help books addict"and out of the hundreds of "self-help" books I'd ever
read,this book is on the top of my list.Worth every cent and every minute spent on it.
Don't believe what I said just because I said it.Read it for yourself. If you happened to disagree with me, you would have just lost 15 euros (the cost of a lunch menu in France ),but if it turned out that you agree with me,then you would have gain "A BUFFET FOR LIFE"
I believe in sayings such as these;"THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS","YOU ARE THE SOMME TOTAL OF YOUR THOUGHTS. "or "THOUGHTS LEAD AND SPEECH AND ACTIONS FOLLOW."
Therefore I am extremely mindful of what kind of thoughts I feed my mind with.Reading this book five minutes every morning after my meditation session is a great way for me to start my mindfullness practice throughout the day.THANK YOU XANDRIA FOR WRITING THIS BOOK!!!
SHOULD BE IN THE HAND OF EACH AND EVERYONE WHO ARE UNHAPPY WITH THEIR LIFE NOW AND ARE WILLING TO PUT IN SOME EFFORT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT TRUE HAPPINESS IS ALL ABOUT."
I am a 58 years old " self-help books addict"and out of the hundreds of "self-help" books I'd ever
read,this book is on the top of my list.Worth every cent and every minute spent on it.
Don't believe what I said just because I said it.Read it for yourself. If you happened to disagree with me, you would have just lost 15 euros (the cost of a lunch menu in France ),but if it turned out that you agree with me,then you would have gain "A BUFFET FOR LIFE"
I believe in sayings such as these;"THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS","YOU ARE THE SOMME TOTAL OF YOUR THOUGHTS. "or "THOUGHTS LEAD AND SPEECH AND ACTIONS FOLLOW."
Therefore I am extremely mindful of what kind of thoughts I feed my mind with.Reading this book five minutes every morning after my meditation session is a great way for me to start my mindfullness practice throughout the day.THANK YOU XANDRIA FOR WRITING THIS BOOK!!!
April 15, 2020
It offers kind thought and self reflective idea to observe our behavior. When we cannot change our environment, we shall change our inner self. Perspective cause a difference.
January 14, 2021
This book is highly recommended! I'm currently reading this for the fourth time and each time I read, I'm still as deeply amazed as the first time and everytime, I learn something new and see things from different perspectives.
Few reasons why I love this book and recommend everyone to read this:
1) It really helps me learn that happiness is not just a feeling, and we have to practice happiness everyday, and it doesn't mean that once we understand this then we will be happy always, but we have to keep on putting in conscious effort and spend time with ourselves so that we will understand ourselves better and what is our triggers and why do we have all these triggers.
2) I feel that it has helped me improved my relationship with my boyfriend. We have been together for 3 years+, and he has always been a very nice guy even when I was mad at him. But then I realised that the version of me of being mad, yelling at him, or giving silent treatment, is not really who I want to be. This book helps me to understand why do I get so upset over something he said, and when I truly understand it, I find that I won't be triggered by that same thing again, it's like I can see things in a perspective that goes "I see, that's your opinion, it's a little bit different from mine but it's totally okay!" And then we can enjoy the rest of the day rather peacefully ❤ I also learnt that arguments are not normal, only disagreements and it's okay to disagree
3) It also helps me to see that it's not that people are difficult, it's just that they are very different human being from us and so I can choose to understand their difference and find ways to communicate with them without being upset!
Overall, it really helps me see things with new lens, a lens that is not so narrow as before, a lens with more acceptance and more understanding, less judgemental and less egotistical! I used to think that it's impossible to be happy always, but after reading this book and putting it into practice every single day, I realised that, we can definitely be happy, always! ❤
Few reasons why I love this book and recommend everyone to read this:
1) It really helps me learn that happiness is not just a feeling, and we have to practice happiness everyday, and it doesn't mean that once we understand this then we will be happy always, but we have to keep on putting in conscious effort and spend time with ourselves so that we will understand ourselves better and what is our triggers and why do we have all these triggers.
2) I feel that it has helped me improved my relationship with my boyfriend. We have been together for 3 years+, and he has always been a very nice guy even when I was mad at him. But then I realised that the version of me of being mad, yelling at him, or giving silent treatment, is not really who I want to be. This book helps me to understand why do I get so upset over something he said, and when I truly understand it, I find that I won't be triggered by that same thing again, it's like I can see things in a perspective that goes "I see, that's your opinion, it's a little bit different from mine but it's totally okay!" And then we can enjoy the rest of the day rather peacefully ❤ I also learnt that arguments are not normal, only disagreements and it's okay to disagree
3) It also helps me to see that it's not that people are difficult, it's just that they are very different human being from us and so I can choose to understand their difference and find ways to communicate with them without being upset!
Overall, it really helps me see things with new lens, a lens that is not so narrow as before, a lens with more acceptance and more understanding, less judgemental and less egotistical! I used to think that it's impossible to be happy always, but after reading this book and putting it into practice every single day, I realised that, we can definitely be happy, always! ❤
August 20, 2022
This is a comprehensive guide on why and how we can choose happiness regardless of circumstances. It’s amazing that she had so much to say without ever mentioning any sort of higher power. It was a good 7 hour audiobook listen. She ties in her own experiences and those of family and friends; her book is also peppered with sage words of her husband.
The quality of the recording was a bit sub-par but the message is beautiful!
The quality of the recording was a bit sub-par but the message is beautiful!
August 17, 2025
It took me a while to come back to this book. I really enjoy listening to Xandria talk on SM. So that’s what prompted me to get this book. But at the time I don’t think I truly had the patience to finish.
Everything sounds so easy and practical. But to actually practice it, it’s hard. Like duh, light bulb moment for me as I read the book. But I also don’t think my mindset is right at the moment to actually receive the benefits on what was written. But overall I enjoyed it.
Everything sounds so easy and practical. But to actually practice it, it’s hard. Like duh, light bulb moment for me as I read the book. But I also don’t think my mindset is right at the moment to actually receive the benefits on what was written. But overall I enjoyed it.
February 8, 2023
It's such an easy yet comforting book.
So nice to have a friend which confides in a book form <3
So nice to have a friend which confides in a book form <3
December 30, 2021
It overlaps with Buddhism teachings with regards to letting go (working on attachments) and not taking things personally. However it gets repetitive when it comes to chapter 4, which talks about letting go of anger and what does not serve us anymore. Overall a good read.
January 1, 2021
Amazing
Great pearls of wisdom! Thank you for an amazing and practical book. I really enjoyed reading this book! I will apply these lessons step by step.
Great pearls of wisdom! Thank you for an amazing and practical book. I really enjoyed reading this book! I will apply these lessons step by step.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews