You Can Be Happy No Matter What: Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective Review

I usually don't buy into Self-Help books because, well I don't feel I need Help! However when this book came up on my book clubs list, I just had to try it. First the title said You Can Be Happy No Matter What and that "no matter what" part is exactly what I always thought should be true.  People should be able to be happy even if they lose their job, or they can't afford the nicest house on the block, etc.  The second thing that drew me in was the rest of the title Five Principles for Keeping Your Life in Perspective. That sounds like exactly how I talk!  I tell people all the time to think positive, and keep it in perspective.

Richard Carlson wrote a lot of similar books such as the well known "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" so I had a feeling this would be good.  What I like about the author is that he is trying to tell us how to train ourselves to be happy most of the time without needing hours of therapy, expensive self help clinics, etc.  He mentions in the book how therapists are always trying to claim your problems stem from your childhood and they make you revisit your childhood traumas and such.  I've never had any traumas, but Richard explains that even if you did you shouldn't be focused on the past!  That is refreshing to know that we don't have to look back in order to fix our problems now.

Richard's Five Principles apply to every person in the world, but they do take some give on your part.  When you read about his principles of Thoughts, Moods, Feelings, Separate Realities and The Present Moment, you will learn a lot about yourself and how you react to things.  For example, you may have a thought that your sibling is treated better than you.  You could take that thought and run with it and cause trouble and fights, OR you could dismiss the thought and move on with life.  That is a very simplified example, so you have to read the book to get the full gist of it :)

This book is not just for those who have major life issues, but for everyone!  Do you know someone who will be upset for weeks because of some minor comment they heard that they took the wrong way? They need this book!  Do you know someone who is constantly stressed because they are thinking about next week's exam or next month's work evaluation? They need this book too!  Do you know someone who thinks they cannot be happy until they make more money?  They need this book just as much as everyone.

So whether you think you need Self-Help or not, this book is a great read.  I've read this book so many times I practically have the principles memorized.  I've learned how to deal with minor stresses and issues and how to realize what problems ARE worth worrying about and which ones are not.  In the end, I feel happy overall even when things go wrong. Richard teaches you to reach a level of contentment where life can be enjoyed, no matter what!  Enjoy!!