Decode the secret of happiness

Author: Gao Xin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-12-01
Features: On one hand, people often judge others' lives as very difficult based on their own perspectives, yet those they pity may not feel as much pain as imagined. On the other hand, people are accustomed to viewing others' happiness through worldly eyes, often believing that power, wealth, fame, and impressive achievements bring happiness. In reality, happiness can be far from power and wealth, and not necessarily closely tied to fame or achievements. All of this stems from human adaptability. If you simply wish for happiness, it is not difficult to attain; but expecting to be as happy as others is always challenging, as we often perceive others as happier than they actually are. The desire for comparison is a major source of suffering. This book presents some new perspectives, some of which even starkly contrast traditional views, and I hesitated while writing. However, a passage by the author of The Jiang Zemin Story, Kuhn, made me no longer hesitate. When discussing his experience in writing the book, he said: "Different people have different opinions on different matters. If I were to worry about how everyone would view it, I would never succeed. First, one must believe in oneself, that what is considered correct will be written with conviction. If one constantly worries about how others will perceive it, they will ultimately lose themselves."