Part of the elegance of the IHT is that it uses the “state” - the state of Happiness that is the same for each of us. People learn to create the state and then let it guide them to becoming Happier. In other words, you use the theory to create, manipulate and then monitor your Happiness - exposing the things which “cause” you to be Happy or unHappy. You quickly achieve an ability to create the state you desire as well as the wisdom to sustain it. Then it is simply a matter or documenting each day, making whatever changes necessary and “winning” one day at a time. Does that sound like something unattainable?
Another part of the elegance of the IHT is in the question of why there are over 200 strategies contained within this robust theory. The reason is that it has taken all of these innovations and more to keep my Happiness as well as that of my students progressing over the years. Another truth is that ideas, strategies, and revelations about Happiness continue to come through me on a daily basis. But probably a better way to understand the extensive amount of strategies is to compare them with collecting music. Anyone who uses music to help them reach Happiness knows that having only one piece of music is not enough to always satisfy them. There will be periods when a certain song will help you experience Happiness over and over for a long time. However, sooner or later that vibration will not work and there will be a need to change to a different piece of music - that is the reason a music collector has so many. Well, Happiness is probably the most complex construct ever found. And just as you need many different songs to help you enjoy music, you will need many different strategies to enjoy life - that is why there are so many strategies in the IHT.
Lastly, there is a premise of this theory that I have found true in my life and am convinced is true in yours: Happiness is at the root of every decision a person makes. Every choice you make in life - whether you realize it or not - is made because you believe it will make you Happier. To buy a new car or house, to take a different job, to drink or not drink alcohol. To find that “certain someone,” to lose weight, to learn to juggle, WHATEVER - you make that decision because, deep down you believe it will make you Happier. The IHT is designed to go right to the end product - to establish Happiness in your life NOW so you will have a firm foundation from which to make correct decisions for the rest of your life.
KEEPING A HAPPINESS JOURNAL
First let me emphasize something VERY IMPORTANT: Keeping any type of written documentation on a daily basis about your Happiness WILL HELP YOU TREMENDOUSLY in your goal of becoming a Happier person. Documenting your life means you can always look back and understand what you have done as well as how it affected your Happiness. Keeping a journal also allows you to learn more about yourself through deeper analysis and introspection. Unquestionably, keeping a Happiness Journal is better than just living life day after day and not using those experiences to make you a Happier person
Although the above points are certainly true, while working with clients and readers of my first IHT text, I discovered that a percentage of people didn't choose to keep a journal. I also found that those people did not make as many strides forward toward becoming Happier. Therefore, I made the commitment that in future writings I would thoroughly explain why people failed to do so in the past. Let me begin by suggesting three basic reasons why people do not keep a journal of self-analysis to help them become Happier.
1. People do not realize how simple keeping a journal can be. They mistakenly believe that it is more difficult and time consuming than worthwhile.
2. People do not know how important keeping a journal is to their Happiness. How can you remember what you have done and use it to become Happier if you don't write it down for further review?
3.People are afraid of understanding more about themselves. People claim they want to know themselves but most are much more committed to looking outside than inside.
All three of these issues can be overcome by simply beginning the process of self-understanding that comes with keeping a Happiness journal. What better way to know if what I am telling you is true than by putting it to the test of experimentation?
Keep The Journal Process Simple
In order to learn to be a Happier person you must eliminate the choices that make you unHappy. There is no better way than to put these things in writing so you can know, remember, and get them out of your life. The best approach for keeping written Happiness self-analysis is to keep the process as simple as possible. Plainly state what was the circumstance, what you did, and how that choice affected your Happiness. If done correctly keeping a daily journal can be quite uncomplicated and yet very beneficial.
Fear and Changes of Keeping a Journal
The first fear of change that always is mentioned by people who doubt the importance of keeping a journal is not being able to appropriate the time. Two rebuttals: First, with the exception of deep meditation I know of nothing else that will help you more in the 10 to15 minutes it takes each day to keep an effective journal. Second, as just stated you can learn to keep a tremendously helpful journal while spending only 15 minutes a day - and everyone has that kind of time to positively help themselves. A one page daily journal is sufficient to provide you with an enormous amount of information that will assist you in becoming a Happier person.
Another fear of journal self-analysis is rooted in the understanding that many people are afraid of failure. Too often people are programmed to fear the thought of doing something wrong or attempting something and not carrying through to completion. This triggers the fear in people that they won't keep the journal correctly or more often, the fear of quitting after a short period of time. Hey, always remember that becoming a Happier person is a process - you cannot fail - you just need to keep working at it. If you miss a day of keeping a journal simply write on one page what you remember about that day and then get back on numerical track. Think of keeping a journal as the same as learning to play tennis or playing the piano or anything in life that you want to get better at. You keep practicing and doing the best you can and you will get better - in this case you will continue to become Happier.
Think of the old analogy of parenting and teaching a child to walk. The number of times a child falls does not matter - you stand the child back up and encourage them to try again - they end up walking. Adding more Happiness in your life should be handled the same way. Try it, if it doesn't make you Happy change strategies and try it the next way. But WRITE IT DOWN SO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID! Like every wise proponent of keeping a journal says: "If life is worth living, it's worth writing down."
Always Be Honest With Yourself
There are several things that are essential when keeping a journal of self-analysis to become a Happier person. The first is to always be honest with yourself. You need to state exactly what you thought and felt during situations so you can truthfully know how that choice affected you. All you need is to indicate your main situations and then report honestly how you felt during that circumstance in terms of your Happiness. Sometimes your choice will make you Happier and sometimes it won't but regardless, if you honestly report your feelings you will learn something and begin to move forward.
Reasons For Keeping A Happiness Journal
Here are 7 reasons to keep a journal...there are many more listed in “How To Be A Happier Person – Now!”
1. Just doing that day's journal is concrete evidence - every day - that you are moving forward on your quest for more Happiness.
2. Great writings tell us, "know thyself." You cannot really know yourself or continually move along efficiently without written self-analysis. If you really want to be Happier and "know" yourself - the things that make you Happy and not Happy - keep an IH journal.
3. Remembering and recording your worthwhile achievements will positively affect your self-concept because it will help you remember your accomplishments as well as learn from any unsuccessful endeavors.
4. Written self-analysis will increase your respect and love for others because you will quickly learn about your own shortcomings. You will also learn that treating people better helps you become Happier.
5. The mental and physical process of writing things down on paper helps you to "get them out" of your system. Keeping a daily journal has a therapeutic effect - releasing and defusing pent-up emotions. You can in fact write it in your journal, learn from it, and leave it there!
6. Keeping a Happiness journal will assist you in your quest of maintaining good health. As you document your Happiness you will automatically write about your health. Having your life in writing when you are healthy and also when you are not enables you to learn how to stay healthier as well as Happier.
7.The decision to keep a journal is rooted in wisdom. Many of the great Masters kept journals and required their students to do the same. Paramahansa Yogananda called it "shining a searchlight into your inner being..."
Lastly, if you will just spend two minutes a day keeping a journal - you will be Happy you did!