Happiness Through Goal Setting

An evidence-based, practical guide to reflection on the most important goals in life, this book provides a unique framework and thought-provoking exercises to modify personal and professional goals to increase happiness.

Part 1 The Big Picture; 1 Introduction; 2 Why happiness matters; 3 Things to consider on your happiness journey, including a word of warning; 3.1 Intentional activities and life circumstances - two areas for long term happiness; 3.2 Happiness requires constant fuelling; 3.3 Valuing happiness - can this be a bad thing?; 4 Why goals matter for our happiness; Part 2 The Four Reasons; 5 What makes for happy goals? - The goal-striving reasons framework; 6 Self-esteem: Goals that you pursue for self-esteem reasons; 6.1 Strategy 1: Reduce goal-striving for ego reasons; 6.2 Strategy 2: Learning goals (and how to deal with failure); 7 Pleasure: Important goals that you pursue because they are enjoyable; 7.1 Strategy 1: Match your goals with your heart; 7.2 Strategy 2: Do something fun - on a regular basis; 8 Altruism: Goals that make the world a better place; 8.1 Strategy 1: Engage in "acts of kindness" on a regular basis; 8.2 Strategy 2: Reflect on your own impact; 9 Necessity: Goals that you pursue because you need to make a living; 9.1 Strategy 1: How to avoid doing things out of necessity for your most important goals; 9.2 Strategy 2: Reducing social comparison as another reason for why we want more; 9.2.1 Use more internal standards to evaluate your own progress rather than how you stack up in comparison with others; 9.2.2 Make it a goal to be okay with people who are better than you; 9.2.3 Remind yourself that nobody has it all; Part 3 Related Topics Around Goals; 10 Assertiveness and assertiveness techniques; 10.1 I-statements; 10.2 Reciprocity and concessions; 10.3 Broken record; 10.4 Putting it all together; 11 Creativity/creative solutions; 11.1 Going for a walk; 11.2 Mind maps; 11.3 Asking others for help/getting coached; 12 Summary; Index