Till You Find the Bluebird of Happiness

Bliss, Nirvana, Joy, Happiness – Where is it to be found? Well, try this happiness trek: The Geography of Bliss. My book group just finished discussing this humorous travelogue by Eric Weiner, a longtime foreign correspondent for National Public Radio. In Geography Weiner travels to ten countries (Iceland, Switzerland, Moldova, India, Bhutan, Qatar, Holland England, USA, Thailand) where he – in a very unscientifically manner - observes how happy the inhabitants are. It surprised me to learn that Iceland is one of the happiest countries in the world – according to the Dutch World Database of Happiness. Weiner’s website says: “Is this a self-help book? Perhaps, but not like any you've read before. I offer no simple bromides here. No chicken soup. You will find no easy answers in these pages. You will, however, find much to chew on and, perhaps, some unexpected inspiration. We Americans, it turns out, have no monopoly on the pursuit of happiness. There is wisdom to be found in the least likely of places.”

And if you crave more happiness, then you watch a Mike Leigh’s flick Happy-Go-Lucky about what a totally joyous person would be like. Her name is Poppy. Poppy, an elementary school teacher in London, positively pops with positivism, joy, warmth, optimism, compassion, and love. She seems very real, if perhaps, rather rare. What makes Poppy happy? She spends time with her friends, she loves her work, she isn’t too concerned about material things, and she looks on the bright side. Could this be the formula for true, lasting bliss? Why don’t we all know this? Or more to the point, achieve this? Well, there are lots of ways to study up on happiness. You can take the online happiness inventory test at The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire to get a snapshot of your current happiness state. The questions were developed by University of Oxford psychologists. And take time to read some of the happiness articles found there: Three strategies for being happier at work or school or Can Money Buy Happiness? Or click on the Authentic Happiness website based on the work of Professor Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive Psychology. Positive psychology studies positive emotions and strengths-based character. According to this psychology it is “possible to be happier — to feel more satisfied, to be more engaged with life, find more meaning, have higher hopes, and probably even laugh and smile more, regardless of one’s circumstances. Positive psychology interventions can also lastingly decrease depression symptoms.” The Authentic Happiness site has over 1 million registered users around the world. Its resources include: happiness self-tests, articles, exercises for well being. The library has several of Dr. Seligman’s books, including, Authentic Happiness.

And what wouldn’t life be dull without some novels about happiness. Richard Power’s Generosity: an enhancement depicts what might ensue when a person who should be terribly depressed and miserable – and for very good reasons -- proves to be luminously joyful. Science is amazed and wonders if a young Algerian immigrant in an American university Creative Nonfiction class with a painful past (a father murdered, survivor of civil war, loss of mother to cancer) perhaps has the genotype for happiness. Power’s novels teases out the consequences of our modern need to quantify, qualify, measure, and package our souls.

Or for a nice Gallic touch, read Hector and the search for happiness by the French happiness psychiatrist Francois LeLord. Hector is a young psychiatrist who can’t seem to make his patients happy either with drugs or talk therapy. Undeterred, Hector journey s around the world to find the secret of true bliss. This novel has sold over 2 million copies and is touted as a feel-good gem. Light and joyful.

Finally, what is more American then taking on a project? That’s what Gretchen Rubin did in her blog, website, and now bestselling book The Happiness Project: or Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun. This is the chronicle of the author’s one year search for happiness: studying the happiness gurus (Aristotle a happiness expert? Epicurus, Martin Seligman, the Dalai Lama) and taking concrete action to change her behavior and attitudes: she keeps a gratitude journal, expresses more love to others, and simply haves some more fun. The result? Rubin both rediscovers some truth in old truisms and new insights. Ready for the journey? Well then

Be like I
Hold your head up high
Till you find the bluebird of happiness.
…
And so remember this
Life is no abyss
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness. –

lyrics from Bluebird of Happiness

- Karen S.

Bluebird, Cabin Lake Viewing Blinds, Deschutes National Forest, Near Fort Rock, Oregon Source=http://www.naturespicsonline.com/ Date=June 2006 Author=www.naturespicsonline.com Permission=www.naturespi) (Wikipedia)