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Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials
The message of this book is very Right now, you can be happier!
Whatever your age or outlook, Choosing Happiness shows that real change can in how you see yourself - and how you perceive and relate to other people. The most practical of Dr Stephanie Dowrick's bestsellers, this wide-ranging, deeply personal book offers succinct, compassionate guidance. It also shows clearly that while you can't always choose what happens in your life, you can choose your responses, values and behaviors. The results are literally life changing and unconditionally empowering.
Choosing Happiness offers skills and insights across all areas of life from your most intimate relationships to parenting, your friendships, work and community. It also looks at the big questions that let you value your life and your own existence in profoundly stabilizing ways. This book is like the wise, kind friend you can return to again and again - making choices that will lift your spirits, and those of everyone around you.
Whatever your age or outlook, Choosing Happiness shows that real change can in how you see yourself - and how you perceive and relate to other people. The most practical of Dr Stephanie Dowrick's bestsellers, this wide-ranging, deeply personal book offers succinct, compassionate guidance. It also shows clearly that while you can't always choose what happens in your life, you can choose your responses, values and behaviors. The results are literally life changing and unconditionally empowering.
Choosing Happiness offers skills and insights across all areas of life from your most intimate relationships to parenting, your friendships, work and community. It also looks at the big questions that let you value your life and your own existence in profoundly stabilizing ways. This book is like the wise, kind friend you can return to again and again - making choices that will lift your spirits, and those of everyone around you.
512 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
53 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 10, 2011
A wonderful, thoughtful book filled to the brim with insight, inspiration, comfort, enlightenment and just good old common sense. I did read it chronologically but like all Dowrick's books it is easy to dip into for what you're looking for and indeed she has written and designed this book to be that way. This one is up there with The Universal Heart (my favourite of hers) for being a useful, readable and personal book of wisdom to turn to when you need uplifting, reassuring and reminders of how to live the life you want to live.
July 28, 2013
I've read a few self help type books but what I like about Stephanie Dowrick in particular is the balance between a pyschological approach and a spiritual one which means that the ideas presented within do not promise the earth if only you "think positively" or "believe"; rather they place emphasis on the choices that you make in the way you behave while still acknowledging the role of spirituality within the human experience.
This is a bit of a go to book when I feel I need to check my behaviour towards myself and others and also to gain some inspiration when things a bit tough.
(Re read in 2013)
This is a bit of a go to book when I feel I need to check my behaviour towards myself and others and also to gain some inspiration when things a bit tough.
(Re read in 2013)
February 11, 2015
I really enjoyed the practical and easy to implement advice in this book. I also loved the way the information is grouped together in themes, allowing you to skip over a section your not interested in or revisit a section several times, gaining a different message each time.
I listened to the audio version of this book in the journey to and from work. I cant believe the difference it made to the way in which I perceived the world each day.
A great read for anyone in the pursuit of their happiness.
I listened to the audio version of this book in the journey to and from work. I cant believe the difference it made to the way in which I perceived the world each day.
A great read for anyone in the pursuit of their happiness.
January 9, 2013
I have learnt some valuable life skills reading this book - primarily, learning how to love yourself in an authentic and true way. I particularly like how you can select parts of the book you need rather than having to read front to back. My biggest lessons from this book? Learning how to say no & acknowledging what in your life warrants a fuss & what needs to be left alone x
November 22, 2013
one of the best book that ive ever read .... or actually still reading .... i love it cuz its a book that talks to you , targets u .. and understands what ur goin through during hard times ( just by opening any chapter) ..... the cover of my book is different though nd it says ( short answers to big questions )
May 2, 2011
Just like the other reviews, this is a book that sits in my bedroom draw to read when its needed. I find it more a book about living a more mindfull and aware life which then leads to more joy and happiness.
March 23, 2012
Essentially, recycled concepts from her other books (including Intimacy and Solitude)-- just in more digestible bites. (lots of white space on the pages).
March 4, 2016
This is my go to book in times of doubt. I always find the answer I need
October 23, 2020
The author spent the whole book saying “you have to do this, you have to do that, if you don’t do this you are not considerate of others”.
The author was SO judgemental at some points! You come across ideas like women who sleep with many man can never be happy, because they have 0 self respect. Why not men who sleep with other women? Or actually, why not people who sleep with other people? Or what about not even putting that judgemental comment in the book??? Are those type of sentences so important for the outcome of this book?
Maybe it’s because those are the only original content of this book. Anything else is basically a sum of all the ideas that are scattered around the internet and other self help books. Except that not every author puts the self across on their high horse.
The author was SO judgemental at some points! You come across ideas like women who sleep with many man can never be happy, because they have 0 self respect. Why not men who sleep with other women? Or actually, why not people who sleep with other people? Or what about not even putting that judgemental comment in the book??? Are those type of sentences so important for the outcome of this book?
Maybe it’s because those are the only original content of this book. Anything else is basically a sum of all the ideas that are scattered around the internet and other self help books. Except that not every author puts the self across on their high horse.
April 23, 2018
Choosing Happiness: Life and Soul Essentials by Stephanie Dowrick
I wouldn’t suggest that you read this book at one sitting. It lends itself more to be a potpourri of a book, one to dip in and out of as need arises. It’s a mental and spiritual health check to be used as required.
The chapter heading broadly define the scope of the book.
Trust Who You Are.
Let Your Values and Goals Work for You
Build Self Respect
Consider Others.
Honour the People You Live With.
Think & Act Positively.
The book is like having a wise and sympathetic friend to talk with. The kind of friend who makes you think a little more deeply about yourself and your behaviour.
I wouldn’t suggest that you read this book at one sitting. It lends itself more to be a potpourri of a book, one to dip in and out of as need arises. It’s a mental and spiritual health check to be used as required.
The chapter heading broadly define the scope of the book.
Trust Who You Are.
Let Your Values and Goals Work for You
Build Self Respect
Consider Others.
Honour the People You Live With.
Think & Act Positively.
The book is like having a wise and sympathetic friend to talk with. The kind of friend who makes you think a little more deeply about yourself and your behaviour.
January 23, 2018
This is a wonderful and thoughtful book on how we can all learn to cultivate positivity and happiness by being mindful of our thoughts and emotions, having compassion for ourselves, building our self-respect, identifying our values, choosing our attitudes and responses, and connecting and having consideration for other human beings. Even though I have read many books on positivity, bacause Dorwick does a great job of putting the concepts across, I still enjoyed the book and found it to be a useful reminder of how we can always choose to be happy.
June 29, 2020
I'm not a fan of the self-help daily-affirmation genre. But Dowrick's book is really sensible and thoughtful. Better yet, she isn't offering a "turn your life around in 7 days or your money back" solution. Her thinking is sound, and any advice is gently couched. She offers reflection on how to live thoughtfully.
December 22, 2019
A great book to dip in and out of and have on hand when needed. Reading it cover to cover is a task in itself and parts are repetitive, however as a resource it is an excellent tool and I will be cherishing this book and referring to parts within in again and again.
May 15, 2017
One of my firm favourites! A pick up at any time and read any page book.
August 30, 2019
An awesome book! I read a few pages every morning with my cappuccino. When I get to the end I start over. And--for some reason, I love this--it comes with a sewn-in fabric bookmark.
September 7, 2020
Mostly a guide to using common sense. Nothing very new in comparison to any other self-help or happiness book I’ve read previously.
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December 27, 2024You will return to this book again and again! Thoughtfully and sincerely written, each page contains something wise, enjoyable and valuable.
September 23, 2019
This book is full of positive thoughts, suggestions on improving your thinking, and ways to enhance your life. It is a lot to take in as one book. I listened to the full audio and it seemed too long and drawn out. There were points I just wanted to fall asleep or stop reading. I think that this is a book that may read better in print, or on kindle where you can pick and choose what you focus, skip, or meditate on. Not a book that I would listen to again or recommend to anyone in my age group; thought it may be more helpful to the younger generation or those new to self-help. It just didn’t fit my quest for new information, great inspiration, or offer any major life-changing needs.
April 14, 2020
Happiness. We desire it. Pray for it. Yet how many of us actually choose it?
At my weekly yoga class, we're repeatedly told to do what's difficult. 'Don't waite for something to feel good before you do it.' My Yoga teacher instructs. 'Just do it!'
That's a powerful statement and one, if I'm being honest, I had not internalised till reading Choosing Happiness.
This book arrived at a perfect time in my life. Reading it has not been a miracle cure, but has armed me with tools to help.
At my weekly yoga class, we're repeatedly told to do what's difficult. 'Don't waite for something to feel good before you do it.' My Yoga teacher instructs. 'Just do it!'
That's a powerful statement and one, if I'm being honest, I had not internalised till reading Choosing Happiness.
This book arrived at a perfect time in my life. Reading it has not been a miracle cure, but has armed me with tools to help.
October 13, 2015
An amazing book with an incredible message: Right now you can be happier.
Reading this book now for many years .. again and again 'in between' different seasons of life.
Here speaks a woman with great wisdom and insight in life, choosing her words wisely to make the complex and difficult questions in life easy to understand.
Reading this book now for many years .. again and again 'in between' different seasons of life.
Here speaks a woman with great wisdom and insight in life, choosing her words wisely to make the complex and difficult questions in life easy to understand.
Read
April 13, 2017Spiritually uplifting book with loads of examples for a real-life application for choosing happiness in every moment. I am listening to Audiobook version of this but might buy a hard copy too. Its philosophy ranges from Gandhi to Einstein, from Brahma kumaris to new age psychotherapists and good old Vedic messages of kindness and forgiveness.
December 16, 2007
For me personally it isn't a book to read from front to back but rather than a book to help you through all different experiences in your life. Has one or two pages on different subjects with a very detailed index at the back to use. Absolutely brilliant.
January 4, 2010
A very annoying book full of all the rehashed stuff of the new age genre. Nothing new and all very self indulgent. Very disappointing after her book " Forgiveness and other acts of love" which I really liked.
April 16, 2016
I liked this, but it's not the sort of book you can sit down and read all at once. I ended up browsing it for several years and then gifting it to a friend.
May 31, 2009
Always on my bedside table to inspire and prompt me
May 11, 2012
A wonderful book to flick through on a day to day basis, it reminds you how to be happy in a hundred different ways
August 14, 2012
Easy read. A simple way to to be happy.
Read
August 12, 2024Beautiful book. Simply written but with some messages I will take with me throughout life. Definitely going to be my go-to self help book. Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews