Zen and the Art of Happiness

I recently finished the book Zen and the Art of Happiness by Chris Prentiss. I found it recommended on The Feel Good Lifestyle. I found myself needing a bit of inspiration to keep motivated and moving forward emotionally in this time of change for me.

All in all I found that this book had it's pros and cons. The positive is that it is a great reminder of some lifelong philosophies that are needed to constantly work on your wellbeing and to be as happy as possible. It's philosophy is very much like most relating to positive thinking and new patterns of thought. In order to achieve the outcomes and progress that we want for ourselves we have to change our responses to what happens in the world around us.

The more I work at it the more I realize what a difference the way you think and react to the situations in our lives really affects your own mood and outcomes. It is definitely not easy and something that I have to constantly work at and if I don't the same negative thoughts and emotions sneak in. I'm still on my beginning of my journey and have a long way to go. This book helped to confirm and remind me how to replace the negative and depressing thoughts and why I am on this journey in the first place.

The cons would be that some of the examples are very extreme and ridiculous and difficult to relate to your own life. Also, no matter how many positive thinking or self-help time books and blogs I read I cannot give into the idea that everything happens for a reason. In the case of this book Chris Prentiss says that you have to go through your life with the expectation that everything that happens in life is for your benefit and for the greater good for the world on the whole. When I was younger I was entirely behind the idea that everything happens for a reason and I know that the difficulties as well as positive times in my life have made me the person I am today and has taught me much.What I cannot get behind is that everything has a  reason with no exceptions. There are far too many terrible things that happen in this world to good people and things like rape, abuse, murder, childhood illness and death, and extreme violence have no rhyme or reason. No one is violated or hurt for their own good.

I enjoyed the read and more and more think that it is so important to top up my knowledge, motivation, creativity, and inspiration. The day to day grind of work, commuting, and routines can get me off track and this book has been a really great reminder about putting the work in to make me the best version of me.

So, I recommend you pick up this book. It is a small quick read that puts the world in a bit better perspective and definitely makes you think.