Choosing happiness over hostility is healthier for minds and bodies. Numerous studies tell us what we know intuitively, smiling makes us feel better,and may even be preventive medicine. Happiness 101: Today Show with Matt Lauer, choosing happiness over hostility
Depression rates
“Nearly 15 million American adults, or about 6.7% of the U.S. population age 18 and older, is affected with a major depression in a given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
“Statistics about how frequently depression affects one partner in a relationship are elusive. . . .but depression often leads couples to seek counseling, fearful the depression will lead to divorce.” Depression and Divorce: How Depression Affects Marriage and Divorce
Save your marriage even after infidelity — resources from Michele Weiner-Davis
Why does infidelity happen in the first place? It may have more to do with emotional dissatisfaction within a marriage than the desire for hot sex. Many reasons complicate the infidelity triangle.
I talked with Michele Weiner-Davis Divorce Busting® – How to Save Your Marriage.
She is the author of “Divorce-Busting: How to Make Your Marriage Loving Again,” who won the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy’s Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Marriage and Therapy Award and Smart Marriages’ Impact Award.
She says, “It is important to know that no matter how bleak things might seem, it is possible to revitalize a marriage wounded by infidelity. But it takes teamwork and commitment from spouses willing to work hard at getting their marriages back on track.
“Re-establishing trust and finding ways to manage overwhelming painful emotions are key to the healing process.” Rita Watson: Infidelity, meet sex addiction March 7, 2010
The happiness project: In the wake of all the infidelity news, here are some of Gretchen Rubin’s tips on fighting fairly.
In a new CNN.com interview Happiness Project leader Gretchen Rubin talks about her new book, The Happiness Project. Her blog is a collection of insights to help us create happiness projects, which are blossoming around the globe. My ‘gigantic engine of happiness’ – CNN.com
Helping couples
She says, “Many couples try to ‘solve’ their problems, when in fact, many problems can’t be solved. How much time to spend with the in-laws, how to spend money, how to discipline children, who does various chores…these arguments will happen over and over. They aren’t problems that can be permanently fixed. This Wednesday: Five tips for how to FIGHT RIGHT with your sweetheart.;
Summary of tips
Here is a summary of each tip she offers; read the whole piece by following the link below:
1. Joke about the conflict.
2. Take a break ( a 20 minute recess).
3. Throw money at the problem.
4. Hug and kiss.
5. Make “repair attempts.”
Book link: The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More Fun
Catching happiness
From social networking projects we have learned that:
- Happiness spreads more reliably than unhappiness in a network
- You are 15 percent more likely to be happy if your direct connection is happy
- People who smile on Facebook are generally friends with other smilers
Here is the full story. Catching Happiness
Links to Examiners with trusted resources:
Health and Happiness Examiner
Charlotte Love and Marriage Examiner
West Palm Beach Marriage Examiner
Copyright 2010 Rita Watson/ All Rights Reserved
