Five Principles for Keeping Life in Perspective - You Can Be Happy No Matter What

I had misplaced the first printing of this book and wanted another. I've recommended it to so many people. It's easy to follow and one can successfully adapt each one of the Principles for happiness into his or hers own life. There are enough specific examples that enable the reader to strive for and achieve this state of happiness. It has helped me through the years, through many changes, and I continue to use the book to refresh what I've already learned.

This book is okay but is not as easily digestable and useful as Richard's 'Don't sweat the small stuff' book. While I would still say reading or listening to this book is useful it is not as life changing as Don't sweat the small stuff.

Easy to ready, straightforward cognitive therapy like advice, there are times I feel like this book keeps repeating itself and overusing same words or same phrases that it could very well hamper progress, however all and all ok

I have read literally hundreds of self help books, and I do realize that any book is only the opinion of the particular author. I tried to read the book with an open mind, however, when the author criticized addiction treatment and expressed his view that addictions and habits are the same thing, I lost any interest or respect for the book and the author. As a recovering alcoholic, 10 years sober, I would not be here today without the 12 step treatment program and Alcoholics Anonymous. There is A VERY REAL distinction between a habit and an addiction. I chew on my lip unconciously when I'm nervous or deep in concentration. When I realize what I'm doing, I stop it. THAT is a habit. When I was drinking, I literally could not stop. There is no way an addict can recognize the desire to use and dismiss it as "just a thought". This author obviously has no familiarity with addiction and therefore should not be writing about it! If an addict wants to recover, he truly must think about it 24/7. Usually when I read something like this book that I think is ridiculous, I just toss it and move on, but I really was angered by the audacity of this "doctor" to criticize a program that has saved thousands of lives, in order to promote his "money making gimmick".

This was probably the worst self-help book I ever read and I feel like I've read them all. There's nothing new to be discovered here and it's a very poor effort from someone with a phd. The author continuously preaches the idea in a tiresomely expanded essay that if you think happy thoughts you will lift your mood entirely and no longer be depressed. If you believe that, then you'll enjoy this book. For most people, moods do not come out of the blue like this and there are many physical and environmental factors at play. As in the review above, fine if your life troubles don't amount to much!

Firstly, the author is repetitive - this book is much longer than it needs to be. Secondly, I found it overly simplistic and almost insulting. I think we can all agree that dwelling on negative thoughts is probably not productive much of the time. But just as often new ideas and solutions come out of a sense of dissatisfaction. The over-riding mantra of the book is to wait until you feel happy to engage your brain. When you're unhappy, shrug it off and wait until you feel happy. I doubt whether that's good news for folks with clinical depression or other life threatening situations. I read a lot of self help and have learned a lot along the way, but I did not find this book helpful at all.

Welcome. You've found the very best work ever written on Happiness. I know because I've read most of them and I keep coming back to this treasure. Richard had a gift for writing the simple truth. It all makes perfect sense and there's no filler. He delivers on everything on the cover. Get your high lighter and take this book to bed. You'll want to read it and reread it, and make the ideas your new way of thinking and feeling. It will change your life. It's my go-to book.

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What a wonderful book!! Ultimately, it is the ability to leave the habitual thought patterns, that of analytical thinking and contemplative efforts to the state of thoughtless non-activity, which Carlson calls the "Natural State of Mind." This is truly the place where peace and happiness always exists, always in the present moment regardless of external circumstances.

Carlson calls this a new teaching and labels the area outside of the habitual thought patterns an area called the Natural State of Mind. While this may be true, it has been known for thousands of years, such as in the Gita, many of the Sutras and the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, which Osho so profoundly expounds upon. The only difference is the two opposing forces are those of the mind and the consciousness/the no-mind, as the mind itself is the disease. Regardless of how you wish to interpret it teaching is basically the same. One place is of thoughts and computer analytical deductions and interpretations, the other is the area of peace and thoughtless, relaxed wisdom. If you can come to the awareness that your mind is not you, but habitual patterns of thought that can both benefit you greatly and detrimentally disturb you - depending on how you use it - then you can obtain the ability to leave the mind and rest in the consciousness or natural state and find happiness despite ALL external circumstances. It is an amazingly profound concept. To quote one Tibetan Buddhist, Sogyal Rinpoche, from The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying, "Slip quietly out of the noose of your habitual anxious self, release all grasping, and relax into your true nature."

Carlson's comments on moods, feelings and separate realities are equally profound in that our thinking derives from our self accumulated perceptions, our perceptions derive from our thinking patterns and our feelings from our thinking. Our moods, once recognized with our awareness of our mind separate from our natural state can then be tolerated and taken far less seriously, enabling us to both endure and patiently wait until such moods pass over. This is the power we obtain when we can be objective, an objectivity that comes with the ability to enter our natural state of mind (no-mind) and understand our thoughts that are clouding our decisions are from the lower areas of habitual thought patterns.

I can't write like Carlson, or like Osho, but am so grateful to both men and many other authors, psychologists, writers, masters and so forth. I've read this book a dozen times and it's never old, always valuable. Far more valuable than relying on a perceived religious book of absolutes, when in effect, it is the mind and the consciousness (the natural state of mind or the no-mind) that one must discover to find peace, not the other way around.

Carlson's book is a simple read with some profound insights. While it might not apply to extreme situations, (for example, the European Jews stuck in the Holocaust) and it may not be the sole answer for biologically-based clinical depression, it's likely to be quite helpful for the overwhelming majority of people. A few of the reviews have suggested that Carlson urges readers to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. That's not accurate (and rarely works, anyway). His method of working with thought patterns is more natural and practical--almost a Zen of common sense. The book occasionally does feel a little unrealistic (e.g. the section on the friend who dies on the way to Carlson's wedding), but if you can get past those few passages, there are some truly valuable methods and insights that you can put into immediate practice. I found the book genuinely helpful and rather unique in the self-help genre. I'd recommend it to anyone.

World-class! Have a sense of respect for yourself. Stop internalizing and share with the right people who can help and support you.
Raj Gavurla, Author of Winning At Entrepreneurship and Your Raise The Bar Primer: Mental Performance Tools
Winning At Entrepreneurship

Richard Carlson's You Can Be Happy... provides an excellent "inside look" into the power of our thoughts.
One of Carlson's major points is that our thoughts directly produce our feelings. Carlson points out that we often resist realizing this, and insist that it's "reality" or "the facts" that cause us to be upset. Carlson points out that there is always another, peace-producing way to perceive these same "facts."
Another excellent insight from the book: the way to alleviate stress in our lives is to lower (not raise) our tolerance to it. "Our level of internal stress wlil always be exactly equal to our current tolerance," Carlson writes. "That is why people who can handle lots of stress always seem to do just that."
In sum, and excellent, practical, and down-to-earth (if challenging) book. Highly recommended.

My bookshelf is full of self-help books, but when I lose perspective this is the book I reach for first. Unfortunately it is also the first book I lend out or give away, so I didn't really come here to write a review -- I'm buying another copy or two. This will probably be my 12th copy or so.

The principles are simple, but simple in a way that time and again makes me say, "Oh yeah!" because out of habit I have slipped into very complicated ways of thinking that leave me feeling trapped and depressed and resisting my feelings themselves. My favorite principle (and most easily remembered in time of need) is the principle of moods, which reminds me that fighting my feelings will never work. I find this principle very freeing, because something cool happens when I give up that particular fight.

The only problem is that I don't remember the other principles very well right now cause I haven't read it in a while, and I just lent my copy out last weekend to a friend who's going through a breakup. So here I am.

There are no "buts" about this book...it can help just about anyone. I've passed on copies to friends over the years and they've all gotten something positive from it. There are great points inside and if you follow them you can make yourself feel better and really enjoy life to it's fullest. I recommend rereading it every year as a refresher. Today I heard that Richard Carlson just died of a heart attack at 45. Luckily we have this and many other fine books to remember him by.

This is one of those "instant magic" books just like "Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr; upon finishing it you might not be enlightened, but you will certainly feel more self-aware, confident and happy- I did! I also figured out the reason my boyfriend and I are fighting all the time- it is due to different perspectives on the same issues and trying to push those perspectives on one another instead of sitting back and realizing that you cannot change other people or circumstances, you can only change your own attitudes by having a better grip on your moods and what they signify. Unfortunately, the author died back in 2006, otherwise I would have definitely wrote him a thank-you letter with a couple of pointers. Anyways, what the book seems to be missing is some tips on how to get into a better mood quickly; the author just sort of implies that you need to wait until your mood changes, but what if it doesn't? What if you have clinical depression and are permanently stuck in a foul mood, thus unable to enjoy anything in life or look at yourself from a healthy perspective? Also, being stuck in a bad mood can be frustrating for some people who are very eager to get out of it and feel happy again, but the frustration only leads to more negative feelings, etc. What I would recommend is a) Register what mood you're in; b) If you find yourself in a bad mood, don't panic, just accept it, c) Notice your face and body muscle positions, etc. Very often when you're angry or upset, you will have a frown, tense lips, etc. Relax all of those muscles, take a deep breath and focus on APPEARING calm, even if you're still upset. d) After the muscle tensions are gone, it is easier to slip into a natural calm state, especially if you think of something positive, that always cheers you up (for me it would be my dog, who is a 100% angel without wings); e) Re-assess your mood, it should start improving shortly. If you cannot seem to get out of it, you might need to seek professional help and medication, etc.
The author also never raises the questions (at least in this book, as I have not read others yet), of what to do with those "ambivalent" feelings like guilt, shame, etc, especially if you seriously screwed up somewhere (did not help someone in need, while you could, or hurt someone, physically or mentally, in a serious way). My answer would be to acknowledge those negative feelings, but to let them go just like everything else, even if everyone around is angry with you for what happened. Beating yourself up, however righteous it sounds, will not help you improve the situation, it will only bring you down to a bad mood, and then you are on a road to misery and bad decisions (in accordance with the author and personal experience).
In addition, there are barely any mentions of what to do if you're under physical stress (headaches, tiredness, various aches and pains and medical conditions), and that would obviously make you more irritable and less able to handle various situations efficiently. The only thing I can think of suggesting, besides treating the root of the problem, is to use your mind in the same way as with emotional stress- i.e. divert from it. For example, if you have a bad headache, all you would think about is how bad it is, it will likely to get worse; however, if you divert your mind from it and just try to relax, it might get better.
On a final note, the book tends to be a little bit too redundant, but I am not sure if it is a necessarily "bad" things, since the author provides numerous examples of various kinds, and perhaps this repetition of the five principles would help the reader grasp a concept that he otherwise would've only understood halfway. Therefore, this "mantra" style is probably for most people. So in conclusion, I would definitely recommend it to virtually ANYONE, and the only reason I am giving it four stars, is not because of what's in it, but because of what's missing.

I bought this book having just finished the wonderful "Manifest Your Destiny..." by Wayne Dyer, thinking Wayne was one of the authors of this book and hence trusting it would be worthwhile reading. I ended up being surprised twice: (i) Wayne Dyer is not a co-author, but simply a reviewer; (ii) (the best surprise) Richard Carlson has done a great job explaining simple and down-to-earth situations in life that cause problems in the lives and relationships of so many of us, yet these are all problems that can be easily avoided by just keeping one's flow of thoughts in check. I will resist the temptation to give you concrete examples - the book has many of them. Go for it and take your time reading!

I say this book is aggravating because it takes away all justification for the bouts of self-pity that can be so enjoyable and enticing. Realizing that happiness is entirely up to me through the perceptions and thoughts I CHOOOSE to have about a troubling situation is very empowering but also carries a challenge and responsibility. I am an alcoholism/addiction counselor and have utilized Carlson's ideas with many of my patients who, like most of us, can prefer to think that bad feelings are caused by others or just come from out of the clear blue. Considering instead that feelings, good or bad, come from our beliefs and perceptions creates new possibilities for growth, change and HAPPINESS. I also find his idea regarding wisdom to be quite compelling. That our true answers come not from the analyzing, information-crunching computer part of our brain but from our wisdom, which works after we've "processed" and when we are no longer "thinking" about an answer, seems obvious after reading his description of it, but would not be self-evident to most people. I've given this book to almost everyone I love; whether in the end they agree with the ideas or not, it always causes them to think about things differently than before.

I must admit the information in this program is exceptional. It brings to light common mistakes we all make in recognizing the differance between what is real and what is thought. Sadly the down side of this program is that the delivery of the information is dry and boring. Its actually hard to listen to more than one or two chapters at a time. I think you would be better served if you got the paperback book or if you really want to study this line of thinking on CD. try the CD's from Dr. Wayne Dyer. He keeps you up and motivated with a very well done presentation.

I don't think there is anything revolutionary here but there is some good common sense. Yes, we have an inner voice constantly talking away and, yes, it's good to realize when to discount that voice and, yes, we need to realize other people have their own 'thought systems' and inner voices going all the time and, yes, we need to live more in the moment. Perhaps I'm too happy already, but I didn't find much more here than some good reminders and the writing, while clear, was average.

I say this book is aggravating because it takes away all justification for the bouts of self-pity that can be so enjoyable and enticing. Realizing that happiness is entirely up to me through the perceptions and thoughts I CHOOOSE to have about a troubling situation is very empowering but also carries a challenge and responsibility. I am an alcoholism/addiction counselor and have utilized Carlson's ideas with many of my patients who, like most of us, can prefer to think that bad feelings are caused by others or just come from out of the clear blue. Considering instead that feelings, good or bad, come from our beliefs and perceptions creates new possibilities for growth, change and HAPPINESS. I also find his idea regarding wisdom to be quite compelling. That our true answers come not from the analyzing, information-crunching computer part of our brain but from our wisdom, which works after we've "processed" and when we are no longer "thinking" about an answer, seems obvious after reading his description of it, but would not be self-evident to most people. I've given this book to almost everyone I love; whether in the end they agree with the ideas or not, it always causes them to think about things differently than before.

I must admit the information in this program is exceptional. It brings to light common mistakes we all make in recognizing the differance between what is real and what is thought. Sadly the down side of this program is that the delivery of the information is dry and boring. Its actually hard to listen to more than one or two chapters at a time. I think you would be better served if you got the paperback book or if you really want to study this line of thinking on CD. try the CD's from Dr. Wayne Dyer. He keeps you up and motivated with a very well done presentation.

I don't think there is anything revolutionary here but there is some good common sense. Yes, we have an inner voice constantly talking away and, yes, it's good to realize when to discount that voice and, yes, we need to realize other people have their own 'thought systems' and inner voices going all the time and, yes, we need to live more in the moment. Perhaps I'm too happy already, but I didn't find much more here than some good reminders and the writing, while clear, was average.

Richard Carlson's book, "You Can Be Happy No Matter What," like his other books, provides healthy doses of common sense that many other self-help books are in need of. I have found this book to be a useful adjunct to psychological treatment. I recommend it frequently to my psychotherapy patients.--Fred P. Gallo, Ph.D., Author, "Energy Psychology"

Due to the richness in content and a somewhat monotonic reading by Carlson, the AUDIOTAPE version of this book is hard to digest in large pieces. The message, though, is one of the most reavealing about why we think the things we do. It provided me great insight into dealing with family and friends who occasionally make me angry or cause me to become defensive. Not only do I now have a greater awareness of my own processing of their words and actions, but I have greater insight into what 'thinking' causes them to say what they say and do what they do. This is a great book for those people trying to be at peace with themselves and others.

In our ever faster gerbil spinning society, Dr. Carlson gives.us pause, &makes us realize what is of true value & importance. I'm going out & buying a copy for each of my family members!

This book is absolutely revolutionary in its ideas and concepts. It will completely help anyone who worries. This book is so simple and yet its ideas ring true. I am telling all my friends that if they need a book to read, this is what they should get and share with thier friends as well. This book has helped to change the way I think to a more positive healthy way. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.

I have been reading Richard Carlson's books for about 8 months now. I started with this one. I have been struggling with depression for years. Looked everywhere and tried a lot of different things. Carlson's books have slowly over 8 months turned my life around. I usually read a little from one of his books everyday (I have several). Try it! You'll like it!

This book isn't for everybody; it certainly wasn't for me. Granted, I was so unimpressed that I didn't finish it, so take that as you see fit. This book reads like a college essay, covering the same points over and over and over and using exaggerated and sometimes unrealistic examples. The book talks about how thoughts aren't reality and how everyone's perspectives are different - common sense things like that.

This book mainly brings people back from the edge to an equilibrium state by pounding some basic principles into their minds. I feel I'm already at the state he tries to bring you to, and his suggestions won't make a person like me happier.

If you're looking for common sense and equilibrium, I recommend this book, but if you're looking for something more, I'd say to move along.