It’s amazing to think that the first smile Jesus ever gave was in response to Mary’s smile. It must have been an extraordinary moment: her son was smiling at her, and it was God smiling at her too. This book looks at Mary, this extraordinary woman who is “the cause of our joy” because she brought us the greatest joy of all: Jesus. She was full of joy because she was full of gratitude, gladly acknowledging the fullness of grace that God had given her. Her deep joy overflowed when she visited her cousin Elizabeth: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit exults in God my Saviour”. But this Magnificat song wasn’t just a once-off song of praise: the reason it came to Mary’s lips so easily was because it was her usual way of praying. She constantly thanked God for the gifts he had given her. Whatever the circumstances, Mary had the deep inner conviction that “all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well” as Julian of Norwich was later to express it. Many of us seek joy outside of ourselves, in food and drink, or in riches and reputations. But Mary found an inner joy that came from encountering God, a joy that was immeasurably greater than any material joy. And by giving Mary a place in our hearts, we can find true joy in God as well.

What exactly is happiness? Can we measure it? Why are some people happy and others not? And is there a drug that could eliminate all unhappiness? People all over the world, and throughout the ages, have thought about happiness, argued about its nature, and, most of all, desired it. But why do we have such a strong instinct to pursue happiness? And if happiness is good in itself, why haven't we simply evolved to be happier? Daniel Nettle uses the results of the latest psychological studies to ask what makes people happy and unhappy, what happiness really is, and to examine our urge to achieve it. Along the way we look at brain systems, at mind-altering drugs, and how happiness is now marketed to us as a commodity. Nettle concludes that while it may be unrealistic to expect lasting happiness, our evolved tendency to seek happiness drives us to achieve much that is worthwhile in itself. What is more, it seems to be not your particular circumstances that define whether you are happy so much as your attitude towards life. Happiness gives us the latest scientific insights into the nature of our feelings of well-being, and what these imply for how we might live our lives.

In this “powerful personal story woven with a rich analysis of what we all seek” (Sergey Brin, cofounder of Google), Mo Gawdat, Chief Business Officer at Google’s [X], applies his superior logic and problem solving skills to understand how the brain processes joy and sadness—and then he solves for happy. In 2001 Mo Gawdat realized that despite his incredible success, he was desperately unhappy. A lifelong learner, he attacked the problem as an engineer would: examining all the provable facts and scrupulously applying logic. Eventually, his countless hours of research and science proved successful, and he discovered the equation for permanent happiness. Thirteen years later, Mo’s algorithm would be put to the ultimate test. After the sudden death of his son, Ali, Mo and his family turned to his equation—and it saved them from despair. In dealing with the horrible loss, Mo found his mission: he would pull off the type of “moonshot” goal that he and his colleagues were always aiming for—he would share his equation with the world and help as many people as possible become happier. In Solve for Happy Mo questions some of the most fundamental aspects of our existence, shares the underlying reasons for suffering, and plots out a step-by-step process for achieving lifelong happiness and enduring contentment. He shows us how to view life through a clear lens, teaching us how to dispel the illusions that cloud our thinking; overcome the brain’s blind spots; and embrace five ultimate truths. No matter what obstacles we face, what burdens we bear, what trials we’ve experienced, we can all be content with our present situation and optimistic about the future.

An instant New York Times bestseller Two spiritual giants. Five days. One timeless question. Nobel Peace Prize Laureates His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have survived more than fifty years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships—or, as they would say, because of them—they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. In April 2015, Archbishop Tutu traveled to the Dalai Lama's home in Dharamsala, India, to celebrate His Holiness's eightieth birthday and to create what they hoped would be a gift for others. They looked back on their long lives to answer a single burning question: How do we find joy in the face of life's inevitable suffering? They traded intimate stories, teased each other continually, and shared their spiritual practices. By the end of a week filled with laughter and punctuated with tears, these two global heroes had stared into the abyss and despair of our time and revealed how to live a life brimming with joy. This book offers us a rare opportunity to experience their astonishing and unprecendented week together, from the first embrace to the final good-bye. We get to listen as they explore the Nature of True Joy and confront each of the Obstacles of Joy—from fear, stress, and anger to grief, illness, and death. They then offer us the Eight Pillars of Joy, which provide the foundation for lasting happiness. Throughout, they include stories, wisdom, and science. Finally, they share their daily Joy Practices that anchor their own emotional and spiritual lives. The Archbishop has never claimed sainthood, and the Dalai Lama considers himself a simple monk. In this unique collaboration, they offer us the reflection of real lives filled with pain and turmoil in the midst of which they have been able to discover a level of peace, of courage, and of joy to which we can all aspire in our own lives.

Smiling has been shown to relieve stress, boost the immune system, release endorphins, and even make us more attractive. It's the natural drug. Whether it's the sight of baby animals wrestling each other or watching pigeons fight over a Cheeto, there are more than enough funny, silly, and downright weird reasons to put a smile on your face inside this little book of joy, including: When the person in the next lane lets you ahead of them in heavy traffic When you finally get back into your own bed after being away from home You check the calendar on a Friday and realize that Monday is a holiday In our overworked, overstressed day to day life, it’s difficult to find time to relax and enjoy the simple, little things in life. These simple little things that make us smile keep us going throughout the day and motivate us to carry on when things may seem difficult. With this book, you won’t have to look far to find these simple pleasures. So put down the Xanx and grab yourself a copy of 1,047 Reasons to Smile.

The book that wants to help you smile! With positive, motivational comics and concise prompts and activities to promote self-reflection, Everyday Smiles helps you focus on the day-to-day joys that already exist in your life. This ebook version contains journaling and activity prompts. Please have your own writing/drawing tools ready so you can follow along. A PDF of the coloring pages is available to download and print upon purchase of the ebook. Everyday Smiles is written and drawn by Guy Kopsombut, creator of the wholesome webcomic 4amShower. In the book, you will find 75 percent brand-new 4amShower comics and 25 percent fan favorites, along with illustrated self-reflection and activity pages. As you go through the book, cute animals will prompt you with questions to help you find the joys in everyday life. While there is much good being done in the world, our society has a way of focusing on the negative, which can leave people feeling pessimistic and cynical. Having to deal with these issues on top of our own day-to-day struggles can leave any person feeling fatigued, depressed, and filled with anxiety. And, for many, getting through to the next day can be the biggest challenge facing them in the moment. Not only can a smile provide you with warmth but also hope. Everyday Smiles is a collection of comics, activities, and prompts that can help you take a moment to enjoy the small pleasures in life.

Alfie the circus clown and his dog, Sherlock, make a perfect pair. When Alfie loses something, Sherlock is on the job sniffing it down. But one day, Alfie loses his smile, and its not that easy to find. Alfie and Sherlock make the rounds of the circus hoping to solve the mystery of the lost smile. They visit everyone from the ringmaster, to the tight-rope walker, to the elephant trainer, the strong man, the bareback rider, the juggler, the man on stilts, the lion tamer, the trapeze artists and even the roustabout. Where is Alfies smile? The delightful presentation of multiple new characters teaches children to sequence as they try to solve the mystery of the lost smile. A colorful picture book for children, The Clown That Lost His Smile tells a heartwarming story of friendship as a clown and his dog take a delightful romp through the circus. Youll never guess where Alfie finds his smile!

A guide to the foundational practice of “smiling to the organs” to promote deep relaxation and internal health • Presents exercises that dissolve the physical and mental tensions that can cause energy blockages and unhealthy chi flow • Shows how to recognize illness at its inception on the organ level and how to balance the emotions to heal it The Inner Smile is a practice that focuses gratitude and joy on the internal organs to resolve the physical and mental tensions that can lead to illness. In Taoism negative emotions--anger, sadness, depression, fear, and worry--are seen as low-grade energy that causes chronic disease and steals our major life force by creating energy blockages. Master Mantak Chia shows that the internal awareness produced by the simple yet powerful Inner Smile meditation practice flushes the organs of poisonous negative energy that may be blocking chi energy flow in order to nourish the entire body. Just as a genuine outer smile transmits positive energy and has the power to warm and heal, an inner smile produces a high grade of energy that promotes powerful internal healing, deep relaxation, happiness, and longevity. Smiling to the organs and thanking them for the work they do helps to reawaken the intelligence of the body, which, once activated, can dissipate emotional imbalances and inner disharmony before serious illness manifests.

“No matter your situation, you have a choice. I chose joy.” // Roxane Battle was on television for much of her adult life. As a news reporter and anchor, she traveled the world and met notable people from Jay Leno to Mariah Carey to Prince. But shortly after landing her dream job in her hometown of Minneapolis, Roxane’s marriage fell apart. Every day was a battle to keep it together on camera while piecing her life back together at home as the single mom of eleven-month-old Jarod. At one point, broke and alone, dinner was a single chicken McNugget. // With wit, dignity, and gripping detail, Roxane shares her story of intentionally looking for joy during this challenging chapter of her life. Her faith was the guiding force as she searched for moments of gratitude and found a lifetime of grace. Alongside Roxane's practical tips for spiritual, professional, and personal wholeness for today's woman, Pockets of Joy reveals the incredible secret to a joy-filled life.