Finding the Blue Sky: A Mindful Approach to Choosing Happiness Here and Now

by Joseph Emet

Joseph Emet explores the intersection between Positive Psychology--the study of what makes people happy--and the ancient wisdom of Buddhism.

Positive Psychology—with its focus not on mental "disease," but rather on what actually makes people happy—has revolutionized the way that we look at mental health. What many people don't realize, however, is that Positive Psychology is not as young a field of inquiry as we think. In fact, according to Joseph Emet, the original positive thinker was the Buddha himself.

In this wise and inspiring book, Emet traces the fascinating intersection between the age-old wisdom of Buddhism and the latest scientific research into what makes people happy.  In this book readers will

* How to replace negative thinking with positive thinking
* How to move from frenzied thinking to quiet contemplation
* The duty we have to others to live a happy life

As Joseph explains in this work, the blue sky of happiness is found just beyond the grey clouds of sadness, everyday concerns, stress, or anxiety. Readers will find that the advice in this book can act as the gentle wind that clears those clouds away.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Philosophy, Buddhism

208 pages, Paperback

Published October 4, 2016

Reviews

[Hilary "Fox" · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a rather long time to get through this book, but not due to a lack of enjoyment of it. As with Raise High the Roofbeam Carpenters, and Seymour: An Introduction I took the time I did in order to better absorb the lessons present within the book and allow it to seep into my mind. I can't adequately say whether or not it will stick with me, but I am happy to report that I thoroughly enjoyed the wisdom in this book and believe it has a lot to offer the average reader.

I'm a great fan of Buddhism and Zen teachings, and I believe that this book offered a fine selection of both without alienating anyone coming to it from another religious background. The bulk of the advice within the book is wholly secular, and although easy upon the surface it becomes difficult in practice. Nevertheless, that is life. Rarely is something worth doing not a bit challenging to do.

I enjoyed the advice and the poetry of the book itself. I found its offers on how to practice helpful, and have implemented some of its teachings into my day to day life. Books like these are easy enough to come by, but they serve as a rather helpful reminder that life often isn't as serious as we make it all out to be. I was lucky enough to have this book come into my life entirely by accident (I had put another book about Buddhism on hold and a kind stranger accidentally offered this one up along with the requested title.) Since this came into my life via such amusing means, I thought it best I read it. I'm happy I did.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read, but one that is best spaced out over several days so that you can contemplate what you have read.

[Tom Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads awarded me this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I meditated for the first time using the websites listed in the book.
My biggest take away from this book was when asked to make a list of degrees of angry and happiness, it is the happiness list that we pause and have to think on the words for. To many times we all focus on negative and not the happiness in life. I am going to write the focus words of happiness and put on the fridge to strive for the good in life.
Thank you Goodreads!

[Siyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thought-provoking and practical exercises to find mindfulness in everyday life.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emet offers some good analogies for explaining concepts of Buddhism and mindfulness practices, though some passages I found a little cheezy.

He harps a lot on the evils of sugar and alcohol in one's diet. On the topic of consuming alcohol, he says it "activates the angry fiend inside that you did not know existed." I mean, maybe if you're an angry drunk. I personally happen to be a happy, flirty one lol... so I found his remarks there a tinge biased. He also claims it'll ruin your sex life LOL Again, Emet, you might have some personal stuff there you might want to unpack... I'm not advocating being messy with your vices. Obviously moderation is a virtue... but if you want to indulge sometimes, I say roll with it (responsibly) and do so without shame. Life's about having experiences after all (again, responsibly --- be mindful of not hurting others, obvs).

He also weirdly plugs the Dr Oz show quite a few times *shrugs*

The "not sure what that was about" moments aside, he does have some useful points on the topics of mindfulness & meditation. Maybe not the best book out there, but you'll likely pull at least a couple of nuggets out of it.

[Artemisia Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valuable lessons and good advice on the path of mindfulness delivered in a very accessible, conversational style. Joseph Emet brings the depth of his own meditation practice to the role of Dharma teacher, and his creds are impressive for he trained under Thich Nhat Hanh at Plum Village in France at the Vietnamese Zen master’s main abbey there. Emet also has a background in music which he applies to his Zen practice and teaching in the form of delightful “practice songs” which he shares throughout this book. This little blue volume is filled with plenty of practical Zen wisdom and instruction about the path to true happiness that meditation can provide, and in a way that is down to earth, inspiring and even fun.

[Teodora Ghenciu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Am ramas cu ceva in urma lecturii si pana la urma asta e cel mai important la o carte, cred eu. Sunt multe pilde din care poti trage învățături, dar si sfaturi concrete, bazate pe experiența de viața a autorului, despre cum sa faci sa treci peste anumite provocări pe care mintea noastra ni le ridica. Insa nu ii acord rating maxim pentru ca mi s-a părut ca nu “curge” lectura. E ca o înșiruire de idei, adunate intre doua coperți. Altfel spus, poti deschide cartea la întâmplare, la orice capitol, si poti incepe de acolo sa citești. Asta poate ca nu e neaparat ceva rau, dar mie imi place ca o carte sa aibă un ritm, un cap si o coada.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good introduction to Buddhist and Positive Psychology principles. I listened to the audiobook and wasn't particularly fond of the narrator (who was not the author), but I did appreciate the message. Good food for thought. The meditation "practices" at the end of each chapter were a little odd, very short, with numerical steps, so I just listened and didn't attempt to use them as guided meditations. Overall, I'd recommend this one.

[Kim W · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very general book. General knowledge, general mindfulness reminders, general cliches. I wish the author had done a bit more research (other than Dr Oz) and had a bit more focus. Making generalizations like "sugar is bad for you. Try giving it up for a couple of weeks and see what happens" is not that helpful.

I did check out the website with the meditation songs. The website looks like a decent, free resource for meditations so I gave this book an extra star.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Sometimes something so simple as "Look up to see the blue sky" is what we need in our too busy lives. I didn't get as much out of the practice sections, but found the main chapters to provide new ideas.

[Catrina Berka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Emet's commentary and insights on wisdom and happiness. Includes a link to free guided meditations for several chapters that I enjoyed as well.

[Ayaan Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't like the idea that happiness is something that can be achieved. Human life is inherently hedonistic. The book discusses Buddhist teachings but Emet is not a monk. For a book written by an actual monk, please read Love for Imperfect Things. For a better book on extracting meaning in an overstimulated life, please spend your time reading that one.

[Geoff · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Recommendation: I thoroughly enjoyed this one, it was an easy and understandable read. I can see why there seem to be more and more of these books every year, and in this case I can even appreciate why it was published. I'm not sure I will go back to it, but I think combined with all the other bits of wisdom I've collected over the past couple of years it can only make my unpracticed, unstructured and sporadic meditation a little stronger when I do it in the future.

My Response: Unlike the last three books by Miguel Ruiz, this book seemed to really make sense to me and didn't offend me with it's contradictory stories and lessons.

I didn't plan to end the year with a bunch of self-help books, but because work took up so much of my time in the last third of the year I'm just now catching up on all the galleys I received.* That's a sentence I never expected to write.

As someone who is incredibly skeptical of self-help books, religion, psychology, psychotherapy or really anything doing with the mind or the ethereal, I'm not only surprised at how many I've read this year, but I'm also surprised at how many I appreciated. I still think there is a time and place for all of the thing above, but I've found that when they are well written (which most of TarcherPerigee's seem to be) they're worth some time investment, but not too much!

Click here to continue reading on my blog The Oddness of Moving Things.

*I received a copy of this from the publisher in return for an honest response. No goods or money were exchanged.

[Pamela Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars