"A thorough presentation, rich in detail, yet very reader friendly.
I enthusiastically endorse Tom Stevens' book and recommend it
as a powerful tool for human development."
Dr. Wayne Dyer, bestselling author of Your
Erroneous Zones, Your Sacred Self, and 15 other books.
"The degree to which this book integrates so many current ideas
from diverse areas of psychology and applies them in such a
practical way is remarkable."
Dr. David Dowell, psychology professor and
associate dean
"Now there is a book, head and shoulders above the
rest, entitled You Can Choose To Be Happy. . . In this reviewers opinion, Tom G. Stevens has given us a milestone
work
to re-achieve inner power and rise above negative emotions."
Richard Fuller, Senior Editor, Metaphysical Reviews
"I find it exceedingly interesting and passionately
fascinating"
Mimi Couch, Book Review Editor, American Eagle News
Reader Comments:
"I'm a self-help book 'junkie'--I've read them all; and
this is the best self-help book I've ever read."
"This book is much more clear, understandable, and 100
times more useful than other self-help books I've read."
"I am a professional and find most self-help books too
simplistic. I was happy to find one that was so interesting and that I
could get so much from. I highly recommend it to people who are more advanced
in their own self-development."
"It gave me practical advice on how to implement the ideas.
The step-by-step instructions were a rare and invaluable component."
"It is an exceptional book and covers all areas necessary to
create major changes. One doesn't need any other book."
"The book is very easy to read, and the techniques are simple and
precise."
"It seems to cover most things needed for mastery of the
self."
"I learned I am in control of my life and I can choose to be
happy."
"It's packed with insightful knowledge and expertise. All the personal experiences and skills I learned will stay with me forever."
Return to Index
Testing the book: A test group of 35 prepublication copy readers say that
it really works. They rated it 8.23 out of 9.0 possible on "overall usefulness"
and 100% said they would recommend it to a friend.
ABOUT
THE BOOK
What if you could be a little happier the rest of your
life as a result of reading one book? Even if you have a history of unhappiness
or depression or if you are facing difficult circumstances, you can learn
to be happier. Each chapter of You Can Choose To Be Happy
is packed with valuable information about how to be happy. The book is
especially for people who value growth and self-development to become happier
healthier people.
The book begins by exploring your
top goals and values in life. It teaches how to explore deep causes of
unhappiness and how to find many routes to happiness even in difficult
situations. It explores underlying beliefs that lead to pessimism versus
realistic optimism.
People often look for a book about how to overcome low
self-esteem, anxiety, depression, procrastination, shyness, lack of assertiveness,
or other specific problems. This book gives specific help help with these
problems. However, these problems are often symptoms of deeper causes.
What is "broken" isn't usually just habits, but basic beliefs. In contrast
to many problem-oriented approaches, a primary goal of this book is to
empower your growth-oriented core.
Inner harmony and growth are keys to happiness. Each of
us has a natural Higher Self that can remain a weak voice within or can become
a strong leader--the executive of our personalities. Providing change in
our top-level is a necessary part of transcending our history and progressing
toward self-actualization. To become strong, the Higher Self must develop
a strong philosophy of life and learn how to bring our subparts into harmony--like
a maestro conducting a great symphony.
Happiness is not just a good feeling; it comes from a
mechanism built into the brain that measures how our lives are doing. One
big secret of this book comes from striking new insights about the causes
of emotions. The Harmonious Functioning model of emotions will teach you
how to adjust your emotions almost like adjusting a thermostat to turn
up your emotional heat or to turn it down.
Being "in the zone" of harmonious functioning creates
the Big 3 outcomes--peak learning, peak performance, and peak happiness.
It explains why people who seem to have all life's advantages are often
less happy than people who have much less. Our mental control of events--not
our external control--is the key to happiness. Our happiness level tells
us how healthily our body, mind, and "spirit" are functioning. It tells
us if our lives are in proper balance and harmony. We can't be maximally
happy if we only live for today or only live for ourselves. An innate brain
mechanism controlling our emotions scans our personal world and will not
let us ignore important issues.
Knowing that in any situation we can choose one of many
internal or external routes to happiness gives us optimism and confidence--mental
control of the situation. Learn how to rise above anxiety, anger, and depression.
This simple state-of-the-art model can help you better understand and control
your emotions.
Relationships and loneliness are key sources of happiness
or unhappiness. You can learn how to overcome fears of rejection and criticism
or unhealthy needs for acceptance or codependence. You can become more
internally controlled and assertive. Chapter 6 tells how.
Return to Index
==> See the You Can Choose To Be
Happy Self-Development Plan below.
The
You Can Choose To Be Happy SELF-DEVELOPMENT PLAN to Achieve a Happy LIfe
1. MAKE HAPPINESS FOR SELF AND OTHERS A TOP GOAL (along
with love, truth, growth, health,
and other timeless values that go hand-in-hand with happiness.)
Avoid becoming overly attached to any one particular goal, person, or condition.
Take responsibility for your own happiness. Learn to choose both internal
and external routes to happiness. (Chapters 1, 2)
2. LEARN HOW TO FIND AND SOLVE DEEP CAUSES OF UNHAPPINESS.
Learn the self-exploration process to use in following chapters to root
out dysfunctional beliefs and replace them with happiness-inducing ones.
(Chapters 2 and 3)
3. DEVELOP YOUR HIGHER SELF. Your Higher Self
is your "Inner Hero" that loves unconditionally. Seek empathy and balance.
Learn to understand and respect each point-of-view of each inner part of
yourself. Seek the same deep empathy for others. Develop a strong, positive
philosophy to guide your life. (Chapter 3)
4. CREATE A POSITIVE WORLD BY ADOPTING A POSITIVE
WORLD VIEW. Overcome your greatest fears, and learn that you can be
happy in any situation. Then you can face each day with peace and confidence.
Discover a rock-solid basis for optimism. Overcome deficit motivation--instead
learn abundance thinking. Learn to hope for the best, be prepared for the
worst, expect something between, and be grateful for all that you receive.
(Chapter 4)
5. DEVELOP GREATER SELF-WORTH AND SELF-CONFIDENCE.
Learn to love yourself and others unconditionally. Learn to accept all
parts of yourself and overcome negative self-beliefs. Learn the causes
of low self-confidence and how you can improve it. (Chapter 5)
6. REPLACE EXTERNAL CONTROL WITH INTERNAL CONTROL. Overcome too much dependence (or codependence)
on others, need for others, or worry about rejection or what others think.
Learn to improve relationships by being more internally controlled, intimate,
and assertive. (Chapter 6)
7. LEARN HOW HARMONIOUS FUNCTIONING PRODUCES PEAK
LEARNING, PERFORMANCE, AND HAPPINESS. The harmonious functioning model
is a breakthrough for understanding the basic causes of emotions and motivation.
Learn what it takes to get "in the zone" of harmonious functioning. (Chapter
7)
8. LEARN THE SIX "CHUG-OF" MENTAL CONTROL STRATEGIES
to achieve harmonious functioning and rise above anxiety, anger, and depression.
Learn how to adjust your emotions like a thermostat. These six powerful
strategies--based on the harmonious functioning model--will increase your
"Happiness IQ" so you can choose to be happy. (Chapter 8)
9. CREATE A BETTER WORLD FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS.
Learn the O-PATSM self-management system to accomplish your goals and get
control of your life. Dr. Stevens has taught O-PATSM to thousands of people
through his workshops. Follow-up questionnaires have shown that attendees
rate the system over 8.0 on a 9.0 scale of "overall usefulness" and over
90% of the people say they will keep using the system. Learn how to reduce
stress from time pressures, accomplish more, and have more fun. (Chapter
9) Return to Index
Without knowledge, we have little choice
and little power.
With knowledge, we can transcend our environment
and even our own biology
to soar to new levels
of living. I hope this book will contribute to your
journey to self-actualization.
I hope it has strengthened your Higher
Self, so that you can choose to be happy.
I wish you a happy life!
