How to Get the most out of Life: An Innovative Toolkit for Doing Life Well

By Kerstin Hack

If you can be happy today, do not wait until tomorrow. —Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi

'My life is actually going well but somehow my joy in life is gone' If this is something that you sometimes think or say, then this is the book for you. It explains which attitudes and actions lead to joy. It provides inspiration for rediscovering happiness again. You will also discover practical ways you can make room for more joy in your life. The questions and action ideas help you not to get stuck in theory but put into practice what you have read.

The book inspires and accompanies you in your learning process with four stimuli per day: a concise quote, a stimulating food for thought, a provocative question and a practical action.

It's ideal for those who want to feel more joy in their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Down to Earth
• Release date: Mar 18, 2019
• ISBN: 9783862705108

Book preview

Kerstin Hack

How to Get the most out of Life

An Innovative Toolkit for Doing Life Well

Imprint

Kerstin Hack: How to Get the most out of Life. An Innovative Toolkit for Doing Life Well · Quadro No. 15

Copyright © 2010 Down to Earth · Laubacher Str. 16 II · 14197 Berlin · Germany

English version 2019

Design: www.michaelzimmermann.com

Photos: photocase.com - Pippilotta* (1), vandalay (6), satin-doz (14), manun (22), froodmat (30)

Translation: Debbie Wright

Copy editing: Marilyn Meinzinger

ISBN: 978-3-86270-510-8

More English e-books:

www.down-to-earth.de/e-books/englische-e-books.html

How to find Joy

How to use this book

Week 1: Letting go

1.1 Having Space

1.2 Relationships

1.3 Thought Patterns

1.4 Perfectionism

1.5 Letting go

1.6 Jobs you don't like

1.7 Energy

Week 2: Being Aware

2.1 Keep your Eyes open

2.2 The lost Art of Wonder

2.3 Focus

2.4 Enjoying Freedom

2.5 Breaking Prejudices

2.6 The Art of Enjoyment

2.7 Here and now

Week 3: Being Open

3.1 The great Outdoors

3.2 You have a Voice

3.3 Room to expand

3.4 Movement and Flexibility

3.5 Giving

3.6 Be free!

3.7 Discovering Opportunities

Week 4: How to Experience Life

4.1 Enjoying Work

4.2 Togetherness

4.3 Who is up for an Adventure?

4.4 A List of Ideas

4.5 Breaking your Routine

4.6 Savoring the Moment

4.7 Celebrating

To remember!

How to find Joy

Happiness can be found in the way you love your life.

—Erich Fromm

■ Many people long to be more joyful. For a long time, I thought that the reason was because of different personality types. Some people are just happier than others and I am one of the more lucky ones, who enjoys life more than others. 

I then discovered that it wasn't just to do with the kind of person you are, but the way you think and your attitudes. Some people are so weighed down by life that they have little room to enjoy it. They suffer from their load and have never learnt how to create room for the things they enjoy.

To combat this, I decided to work out my top tips and pass them on. To help, I asked myself the following questions: Why do I enjoy my life so much? What attitudes encourage a joy-filled life? What do I do subconsciously that makes me feel so happy and content? 

Joy cannot necessarily be controlled. We've all experienced someone telling us not to worry, but to be happy when we were unable. Joy cannot be generated exactly, but can be experienced when our deepest needs are fulfilled. If our basic needs are not met, for example, closeness, security and provision, we feel anxious, sorrowful and alone.

However, when our needs for freedom, connectedness and adventure are fulfilled, we experience joy. Just to reinterate, joy cannot be forced, but