The Best Cure for Being Unhappy Is...

"The best thing for being sad," replied Merlin, beginning to puff and blow, "is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it. That is the only thing which the mind can never exhaust, never alienate, never be tortured by, never fear or distrust, and never dream of regretting.”
--T. H. White, The Sword in the Stone

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I frequently drop by the blog Beyond Blue -- "a spiritual journey to mental health," where Therese Borchard writes about depression, happiness, and similar issues from a religious perspective. Therese and I met online because of our mutual preoccupation with St. Therese of Lisieux.

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Consider starting a group -- organized around happiness projects! I'm busily creating the starter kit to send out to anyone who is interested in doing something like that -- also would work if you want to start a book group focused on happiness books. If you want a starter kit, email me at gretchenrubin [at] gmail [dot com], and I'll add your name. (Use the usual email format -- that weirdness is to thwart spammers). Just write "happiness-project group" in the subject line. Or use the sign-up box in the top-right column of the blog.

Comments

[David Cain]

"There is only one thing for it then — to learn. Learn why the world wags and what wags it."

Better advice I have never heard :)

[The Healthy Librarian]

I agree 100%.

1. "Once You're Through Learning, You're Through"

John Wooden, retired UCLA basketball coach, 97 years old

2. “The best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

[HappinessBlogFan]

This should be added to your happiness emergency list--it works for me! I know some people use crafts like knitting or crochet to distract themselves--browsing wikipedia works for me!

[Randy Zeitman]

Wonderful insight.

(A few years ago I had the insight that surreal is the 'emotion of nirvana' and we spend our lives trying to cause it (having enough money, the right mate, etc...having reality exactly as we want it, what else could nirvana be?)

[Nadia - Happy Lotus]

That was a beautiful quote. I have found that those who have a sense of wonderment and a desire to learn more about the world, are usually happier than most people. Learning (and that does not mean just being in school or univerity) is awesome! :)

[Positively Present]

I love learning -- in fact, it's my favorite thing to do -- but I never before thought about it as a cure for being unhappy. Now that I'm thinking about it, I completely agree that it is.

I love the Wooden quote posted in the comments above too. "When you're through learning, you're through." So true! There is so much to learn in life and we never, ever stop.

Thanks for yet another great and enlightening post. :)

[Catherine Cantieri, Sorted]

I read that quote years ago, and it literally changed my life. I hope one of your readers will have a similar reaction -- sounds like some of them already have! :-)

[Laurie]

Now that I know learning relieves unhappiness, I'll start a list of all the things I'd like to learn more about so I should be set to be happy almost all the time!

Thanks for the quote.

[queenie]

the longer I read your blog, the more I appreciate you and your work. semper fi!

[FupDuckTV]

I have learned some lessons in my life that have made me less than happy. I've learned to never catch a falling knife (not happy about that one). I've learned that Love is not always forever (again, not happy). I've learned you can only count on yourself... (down right miserable about that lesson).

The optimism of learning bringing happiness is nice, but there is a flip side to that lesson. Some things learned can really ruin your day.

[Magali]

Get your mind off yourself and do something for someone else. Works every time.

[Melita]

I love the quote. It's a new favourite. Thanks for writing this, Mrs. Rubin! Love your blog and your writings.