The Happiness Solution

Book excerpt: The Happiness Solution: Finding Joy and Meaning in an Upside Down World is a fascinating collection of parable-like stories, myths, and anecdotes. Dr. Gettis draws upon his forty years of clinical experience as a psychologist and combines that with the latest research on the science of happiness. The result is markedly influenced by Dr. Gettis's passionate involvement with Eastern philosophy in general and Zen in particular. The Happiness Solution is written in a down-to-earth, non-pedantic style that makes it easy to read and digest despite dealing with complex human issues. It combines Zen wisdom, cognitive behavioral therapy, spirituality, and the new paradigm of positive psychology. The Happiness Solution won the Best Mental Health Book of the Year award from USA Book News and was also selected as one of the Top Ten Books of the Year by The Best You Can Be Foundation. The book confronts our societal notions of what brings us true happiness, and the answers may surprise you. It turns out that power, fame, fortune, prestige, possessions, and intelligence level are not the ultimate answers. You can't buy integrity, love, self-esteem, and peace of mind at the mall. Dr. Gettis uses humor, pathos, and storytelling to lead you to the solution. He believes we are hardwired for stories, dating back to the earliest cultures and our collective unconscious. Dr. Gettis firmly believes that the stories in The Happiness Solution may indeed change the way the reader lives their life.