Russ Harris is a physician and psychotherapist specializing in stress management. Having used the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to overcome his own battles with anxiety, he now trains individuals and mental health professionals in the basics of this technique. A major problem for many is the belief that they can be happy all the time and that a chief activity in life should be avoiding unpleasant experiences by trying to control what happens to them. Four myths undergird this "happiness trap":
Myth 1. Happiness Is the Natural State for All Human Beings.
Myth 2. If You're Not Happy, You're Defensive.
Myth 3. To Create a Better Life, We Must Get Rid of Negative Feelings.
Myth 4. You Should Be Able to Control What You Think and Feel.
The rest of this paperback explains ways in which the six techniques of ACT can be used to handle painful feelings, rise above fears and insecurities, and reduce stress and worry. They are:
Defusion: Ways to deflate unhelpful thoughts and self-limiting beliefs.
Expansion: Accepting unpleasant feelings and sensations.
Connection: Staying in contact with the present moment instead of worrying about the past or trying to anticipate the future.
The Observing Self: Becoming familiar with your mind.
Values: Making life meaningful by clarifying your
values.
Committed Action: Letting your values spur you to act.
Harris does not want to get rid of happiness, just reframe it as "living a rich, full, and meaningful life." This is quite different from the fleeting feelings of pleasure, gladness, or gratification that are offered by consumer culture or the fantasy of a life with only a few brief moments of sadness, fear, and anger. Instead Harris concedes that if we live a full life, we will feel "a full range of human emotions." This mindfulness program is quite interesting and might prove to be especially helpful to those who feel stuck.
