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
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Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
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Gratitude is the state of mind of thankfulness. As it is cultivated, we experience an increase in our "sympathetic joy," our happiness at another's happiness. Just as in the cultivation of compassion, we may feel the pain of others, so we may begin to feel their joy as well. And it doesn't stop there.
Stephen LevineRead