Introduction

The pursuit of happiness has become a bit of an obsession, hasn't it? We desperately chase after those feelings of joy and contentment, convinced that if we could just get a grip on them, we'll be satisfied. But have you ever stopped to consider the irony in that pursuit?

Happiness literally means "occurring by chance" - something meant to arise naturally and be appreciated. Yet we relentlessly plan and try to thrust it into our lives. The second we feel any other emotion, we find solutions to kill it. A surefire recipe for feeling stressed, inadequate, and paradoxically unhappy! And this solution? It becomes the new problem. A vicious cycle! Take Joseph. He’s just your average guy wanting to socialise but terrified of rejection, so he gets super anxious in social situations and as a solution, he avoids them; leaving him isolated and friendless. Once in a blue moon, if he does go out, he’s more anxious than ever because he’s so out of practice. Which just reinforces his fear of rejection even more. See? A trap!

In The Happiness Trap, Russ Harris offers a refreshing approach to happiness, based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACT was created and developed by Steven C. Hayes, a psychologist. It helps you accept your thoughts and feelings while committing to living according to your values. With ACT, rather than creating happiness, you'll find happiness! 

This book is a masterful guide to realizing you're not actually trapped at all - and that you’re not just telling yourself a story that blocks your inherent capacity for peace and life satisfaction. Are you ready to change that story?

Summary

You are now fully armed to live an awesomely fulfilling life. But the real deal-breaker: reading this book won’t transform your life on its own. You need to put in the work! And remember, these aren't The Ten Commandments. You can experiment! Mix and match and see how they fit your vibe. Lastly, trust your own experience, let it be your guide.

Core Principles of ACT

Can you relate to this frustrating paradox? The more you desperately try to control your painful thoughts and feelings to find happiness, the more they seem to spiral out of control? Where does this come from, huh?Modern society has sold us a bunch of myths about how we're supposed to be permanently smiling and eliminating anything negative from our minds. But as human beings, uncomfortable emotions are inevitable. And we've been taught all the wrong ways to deal with them....