Happiness Begins in the Heart -- 100 Happiness Prescriptions by Li Zixun

Author: Li Zixun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-11
Features: A set of healing remedies by a special expert from Psychological Interviews, interpreting life's troubles, changing perspectives, and providing effective methods to open the journey to happiness! Zixun's cultivation is not achieved overnight. Whenever a friend asks me to recommend a family therapist, I always think of Zixun because he is one of the most outstanding family therapists in China. — Dr. of Psychology from Peking University, Director of the Counseling Center at Tsinghua University, Liu Dan
Dr. Li Zixun uses the unique perspective of a psychologist to help you open windows into families, allowing you to see family dynamics from another angle, the causal interactions, and the conflicts. Unconsciously, he will guide you to a fresh and wonderful realm where you can face your inner self and everything around you with ease, openness, and tranquility. — Parents Must Read Magazine
This book is an invaluable treasure for any family. Its value reflects Dr. Li’s extraordinary insight into the essence of family and his ability to express it in healthy, humanistic language. His natural and effortless language is like pure, sweet spring water, nourishing every family. — Yang Fengchi, Director of the Psychological Teaching and Research Office, Capital Normal University, Special Expert from Psychological Interviews on CCTV
The diversity of culture is the first consideration for a psychologist. There is a joke about a high-altitude ethnic group living in the Swiss Alps, isolated and living at an altitude of around 4,000 meters. At this altitude, the soil and water contain very little iodine, so everyone in the village suffers from goiter. One day, a few mountain climbers came to the village, and the villagers immediately noticed their slender necks. The children gathered to laugh at them, while a kind person scolded, “Don’t discriminate against people with disabilities!” and called the village doctor for them. After examination, the doctor said, “You are unfortunately suffering from iodine poisoning, a serious illness. You must strictly avoid iodine and follow a low-iodine diet.” For the people in the village, goiter was a symbol of health and beauty. Most psychological conflicts stem from conflicts in culture (conceptual systems, lifestyles, group rules). If a psychologist is solely focused on health concepts, they might act as foolishly as the village doctor. Studying hallucinations in the context of cross-cultural research is also quite interesting. In Eastern cultures, where shame is emphasized, hallucinations often involve thoughts of poor conduct or unwholesome behavior. In Western cultures, which prioritize guilt, hallucinations are more likely to involve accusations of guilt or evil. In African or Native American tribes, hallucinations are interpreted as spiritual communication, so their content is often omens or divine revelations. In such places, hallucinations are considered a gift, and those who experience them are revered as wise, loved, and respected. People intentionally develop their hallucinatory abilities because the hallucinations predict disasters, weather, seasons, planting, or hunting. When someone has hallucinations, they not only do not suffer but also become ecstatic. Such hallucinations naturally do not interfere with their normal lives.
This book primarily addresses the solutions to some difficult questions related to complex inner worlds and interpersonal intimate relationships. These answers may differ greatly from those in general psychology because I have always tried to interpret the culture behind psychological confusion. Most psychological troubles are actually rooted in the pain caused by conflicting concepts. In a class, I asked who could give an example of psychological suffering that is not influenced by culture. Someone said that grief over the death of a loved one is not culturally influenced. I immediately pointed out that attitudes toward death vary across cultures. Some ethnic groups hold joyful farewell gatherings when a relative passes away, sending them home (to heaven).
I would like to thank China Radio and Television Publishing House for agreeing to publish this collection. Of course, I also hope this collection will bring readers new experiences, provide new methods for dealing with psychological difficulties, and help them open the journey to happiness in life.