You Can Be Happy No Matter What

Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective

By: Richard Carlson

Narrated by: Richard Carlson

Length: 3 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Most of us believe that our happiness depends on the outside world - and that by solving our problems, improving our relationships, or achieving success, we will find contentment. In You Can Be Happy No Matter What, Dr. Richard Carlson shows that happiness has nothing to do with forces beyond our control. His simple and practical guide teaches 5 principles - Thought, Moods, Separate Realities, Feelings, and the Present Moment - for discovering a new mode of living that doesn't repress natural emotions, yet where feelings and thoughts don't overwhelm us.

Dr. Carlson is the best-selling author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff.

©1997 Richard Carlson (P)2012 New World Library

Critic reviews

"...Shows us...how to remove the blocks to the awareness of our natural state, happiness." (Gerald Jampolsky, Love is Letting Go of Fear)

"...[Counterbalances] the therapy junkie's tendency to wallow in 'processing' while life's beauty passes them by." ( Yoga Journal)

Wordy but enlightening

While I found it easy to drift mentally at several points while the narrator spoke, the content is extremely eye opening. Perhaps the fact that I became distracted a few times ( the context gets deep) is precisely why this book was so helpful for me- learning to control your thought pattern from slipping into negative thoughts. I will listen one more time because I think it's worth going over again!

Everyone needs to read/listen to this!

The world would simply be a better place if we could learn and understand the messages in this book.

A must listen for EVERYONE

What a great book to understand thought process and the power thoughts have over you - yet, you will see that you have the power to overcome and make changes, change the way you think and you will change your life into a most positive, content stage - Happiness is within you ! - thanks Dr. Carlson!

excellent very practical,

narrator read well, easy to listen,
it helped me understand my thinking feelings and mood.

Focusing on current instead of past or future

I have been a big fan of Richard Carlaon's books. We easlily lost track of our thinking and reminding bad things that occurred or expected. This book can help us to live more lively focusing on the present.

everyone should read it

real life application available if you do what it says. totally worth your time to read or listen

This book is great

The narrator is great this book keeps me focused. I've had it for a while and I've read it several times. This book helps me put things into perspective. I'm Happy.

A must read

The earlier in life you read this book the better! It should be re-read at the beginning of each year as a re-fresher.

A unique approach

Turns traditional psychology therapy methods on its head. Why focus on all your problems, resentments or roadblocks. Doing so only invites more despair. With contentment as our goal, we can learn to feel peace in the present moment by ignoring our disturbing thoughts. A thought isnt reality- and we need to stop letting them predict our moods and hence behaviors. Freedom from mental suffering is within everyone’s reach,

Insightful, thought provoking, and an easy read

I’ve listened to this book twice since purchasing it; and I plan to re-read it, time and time again, specially when I feel imbalanced or need uplifting.

The material is concise, easy to follow, and kept my attention- one of the few audiobooks I enthusiastically finish in one sitting. The content unlocks years of counseling knowledge, including lesser known, and arguably some of the more powerful, cognitive principles. I think this book introduces a revolutionary view on collective acceptance towards one another.

In summary, the narration is easy on the ears, the story opens the reader’s mind, and it provides a comprehensive dialogue around. A deep understanding of the systems covered in this book should be viewed as an essential tool for building life changing perspectives.

From personal experience, I’d say if you have survived trauma, complex grief, are easily angered or often annoyed, or if you just want to enhance your communication skills with colleagues or in your close relationships, this story brings people together by gently breaking down the “why” behind human thought processes.