Studies show that aggressively expressing anger doesn't relieve anger but amplifies it. On the other hand, not expressing anger often allows it to disappear without leaving ugly traces.
Gretchen RubinRead
We’ve all heard of Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. In contrast, I realized, happiness has four stages. To eke out the most happiness from an experience we must: anticipate it, savor it as it unfolds, express happiness, and recall a happy memory.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Happiness can be cultivated through anticipation, enjoyment, expression, and recollection.
In this quote, Gretchen Rubin contrasts the commonly known five stages of grief with her view on the four stages of happiness. She emphasizes that happiness is not only about experiencing joy but also involves anticipating joyful moments, savoring them in the present, expressing one's happiness, and recalling positive memories to enhance overall wellbeing.
Themes
HappinessStagesAnticipationSavoringExpressionMemory
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech about mental wellbeing, one could use this quote to highlight the importance of appreciating the journey towards happiness.
More from Gretchen Rubin
All quotes →Keep in mind that to avoid loneliness, many people need both a social circle and an intimate attachment. Having just one of two may still leave you feeling lonely.
Gretchen RubinRead
One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.
Gretchen RubinRead
To eke out the most happiness from an experience, we must anticipate it, savor it as it unfolds, express happiness, and recall a happy memory.
Gretchen RubinRead
I enjoy the fun of failure. It's fun to fail, I kept repeating. It's part of being ambitious; it's part of being creative. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing badly
Gretchen RubinRead
I am living my real life, this is it. Now is now, and if I waited to be happier, waited to have fun, waited to do the things that I know I ought to do, I might never get the chance.
Gretchen RubinRead
Similar quotes
You may not know it, but at the far end of despair, there is a white clearing where one is almost happy.
Joan BaezRead
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.
Albert SchweitzerRead
Think, Travel, Celebrate, Charm, Decorate, Dress, Live - colorfully
Kate SpadeRead
There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all.
Ogden NashRead
Happiness is the death of the ego. If you want to remain a separate entity from existence as almost everybody is trying to do, you will be afraid of being blissful, cheerful. You will feel guilty in being blissful. You will feel suicidal because you are committing suicide on the psychological level, on the level of the ego.
RajneeshRead
There is so much to love and to admire in this life that it is an act of ingratitude not to be happy and content in this existence.
Lin YutangRead