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The Happiness Trap Act anwenden fuer Gesundheit , Wohlbefinden und Lebensfreude Dr Russ Harris. www.actmindfully.com.au www.thehappinesstrap.com. Quick Assessment. Introductions Life Drain – p2 Bull’s Eye – p4. About ACT. The name The origin The aim Inevitable?.
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The Happiness TrapAct anwendenfuerGesundheit, Wohlbefinden und LebensfreudeDr Russ Harris www.actmindfully.com.au www.thehappinesstrap.com
Quick Assessment • Introductions • Life Drain – p2 • Bull’s Eye – p4
About ACT • The name • The origin • The aim • Inevitable?
Happiness Myths - #1 Happiness is our natural state
Happiness Truths - #1 The natural state for human beings is an ever-changing flow of emotions.
Happiness Myths - #2 Happiness means ‘feeling good’
Happiness Myths - #3 If you’re not happy, you’re defective
Happiness Truths - #3 If you’re not happy, you’re normal!
Famous Quotes • Life is spelt H.A.S.S.L.E.—Albert Ellis • Life is difficult.—M. Scott Peck • Life is suffering.—Buddha • Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. – Henry Thoreau • Shit happens!—Anonymous
The Big Question: Why is it so bloody hard to be happy?
The Challenge We Face So How Can ACT Help? Let’s do a little exercise Life is difficult A full human life = the full range of emotions The normal, healthy human mind naturally amplifies pain 11
Be Present Mindfulness Psychological Flexibility Do What Matters Open Up
Happiness = • ‘Being present, Opening up & Doing what matters’ • Mindful, values-based living
What Is Mindfulness? Paying attention - with openness, curiosity and flexibility
The Benefits of Mindfulness • handle pain • connection • less worrying • less judgmental • less reactive
The Benefits of Mindfulness • self-awareness • self-control • self-acceptance • balance • calm
The Benefits of Mindfulness • peak performance • emotional intelligence • relationships • satisfaction & fulfilment
‘Negative’ Thinking Myths • ‘Negative’ thoughts are unnatural & abnormal • ‘Negative’ thoughts are harmful • Your thoughts control your actions • Your thoughts will manifest in reality • Positive thinking is the answer!
‘Negative’ Thinking Facts • ‘Negative’ thoughts are natural & normal • In ‘mindfulness’, no thought is harmful. • Thoughts influence, but don’t control your actions • Thoughts only manifest in reality if and when you act on them. • Positive thinking can be helpful, but it’s over-hyped and overrated.
The Positive Affirmation Myth • 2009 study in Psychological Science • J. V. Wood, J.W. Lee, W.Q. Perunovic • ‘Positive Self-Statements: Power for some, peril for others’ • Let’s try it for ourselves
The ‘I’m Not Good Enough’ Story • What’s yours? • Let’s do some defusion
In A State of Fusion, Thoughts Are • THE TRUTH • COMMANDS • GREAT ADVICE • REALITY • THREATS • HOOKS
Defusion • Thoughts are … • WORDS AND PICTURES • May or may not be true • Definitely NOT commands • May or may not be good advice • Definitely NOT threats • Easy to unhook from
But What If A Thought Is True? Workability
Defusion Techniques • I’m having the thought that • Sing your thoughts • Silly voice • Computer screen • Thank your mind • Name the story • Thoughts on cards • Leaves on a stream
Warning • If you start misusing defusion to try to get rid of painful thoughts or feelings, you will soon be disappointed!
The Aim of Defusion Is NOT • to get rid of unwanted thoughts • to reduce painful feelings
Fill In Page 6 Which Thoughts To Defuse? • Workability • If workable, use it • If unworkable, defuse it
Be Present Psychological Flexibility Do What Matters Open Up
Do What Matters • Act on your values • Values are ‘desired qualities of behaviour’
Values Are Not: • Rules, commandments, or codes of conduct • What you want or need from others • ‘Shoulds’ or ‘musts’ • Obligations
Properties of Values • Here and now • Freely chosen • Dynamic and evolving • Never completed
Properties of Values • Often need prioritising • Never need justifying • ?Virtues?
Goals or Values? • Nurturing, maintaining and caring for my body • Lose 10 kg • Get a great job • Being helpful, friendly and responsible
Goals or Values? • Buy a house • Being supportive, protective, caring for my family • Get good grades • Curiosity, learning, persistence
Goals or Values? • Being sensual and intimate • Have an orgasm • Have children • Being caring, kind, loving
Goals or Values? • Win the match • Playing enthusiastically, fairly, skillfully • Being creative • Write a book • Why does this distinction matter?
Trickier: Goals or Values? • Be rich • Be generous • Be famous • Be slim
Trickier: Goals or Values? • Be respected • Be respectful • Be loved • Be loving • Be successful
What Is Success? • Culture says: Achieving your goals! • Alternative definition: Living by your values!
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin, but by the content of their character." -- Martin Luther King, JrAug 28, 1963
The Sweet Spot - part 1 • Bring to mind a memory that conveys some of the sweetness and richness of life • Make it vivid • Make room for all the feelings that arise (sadness often shows up) • Share it with your partner
The sweet spot – part 2 • What does this memory reveal about what matters to you? • How were you treating yourself, others, the world around you? • What personal qualities were you showing? • What does this suggest about the way you’d like to behave, or the things you’d like to do, moving forwards?
Choosing Values • Can be said in one or two words • No ‘right or wrong’ values • Research? • Many useful values! Here are a few:
Choosing Values • Compassion • Acceptance • Forgiveness • Kindness • Gratitude • Altruism • Optimism • Contribution
Be Present Mindfulness Psychological Flexibility Do What Matters Open Up
Fill in P9, top right: relationship values Relationships101 • How do you see the other person?
Question: • Can’t we just get rid of all those difficult/painful thoughts and feelings?
Happiness Myths - #4 • The best way to be happy is to get control of your thoughts and feelings • reduce the ‘negative’ ones • increase the ‘positive’ ones