Choosing Happiness: "Self-Coaching for Happiness"

For the first time in history scientists have answers to the age-old question, "What are the keys to happiness?"

Happy people do not just feel better—they do better than less-happy individuals. Research shows they achieve greater success and wealth, are healthier, are more altruistic, and have more satisfying relationships. The keys to happiness are within everyone’s reach—because the keys are actually habits. In this course, students learn happiness-enhancing habits that will help them improve responses to stress and opportunities at work, at home, and in relationships. The tools presented are derived from research in the innovative field of positive psychology, the science of well-being. The course text will be Shift: Self-Coaching for Happiness, a handbook that Ted Anstedt and I wrote, which includes case examples, summaries of scientific findings, action plans, and weekly practices. Participants will apply these principles to their daily personal and professional lives and engage in discussions, mindfulness practices, and experiential exercises.