Happiness Starts from the Heart: Li Zixun's 100 Prescriptions for Joy

Author: Li Zixun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: A collection of healing remedies from a special expert on "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 first, because he is one of China's most outstanding family therapists. — Dr. Liuzhan Liu, Ph.D. in Psychology, Director of the Counseling Center at Tsinghua University
Dr. Li Zixun uses the unique perspective of a psychologist to help you open windows into families, allowing you to see family dynamics from a different angle, understanding the causal interactions and conflicts within. 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, humane language. His natural and effortless language is like pure, sweet spring water, nourishing every family. — Yang Fengchi, Director of the Psychology Teaching and Research Office, Capital Normal University
The diversity of culture is the first consideration for a psychologist. There's a joke about a high-altitude ethnic group living in the Swiss Alps, isolated and living at an elevation 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 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 for the village doctor. After examining them, 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 within culture (conceptual systems, lifestyles, group rules). If a psychologist is solely focused on health concepts, they might sometimes be as ridiculous as the village doctor.
Studying hallucinations in mental illness from an cross-cultural perspective is also quite interesting. In Eastern cultures, which emphasize shame, hallucinations often involve self-criticism for poor behavior or conduct. In Western cultures, which emphasize guilt, hallucinations are more likely to involve accusations of guilt or wickedness. 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 seek to develop their hallucinatory abilities. Since hallucinations are believed to predict disasters, weather, seasons, planting, or hunting, when someone has hallucinations, they not only do not suffer but may even become ecstatic. Such hallucinations naturally do not interfere with their normal lives.
This book primarily consists of answers to difficult questions related to complex inner worlds and interpersonal intimacy. These answers may differ greatly from those in general psychology, as I have always tried to interpret the culture behind psychological confusion. Most psychological distress is actually caused by pain resulting from conflicting ideas. 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 loved one 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 ways to face psychological difficulties, and help them open the journey to life's happiness.