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The happiness workshop: week three

continued from page 2
Set up a support system
You can't always cope alone. Sometimes life can overwhelm you and you will need extra resources and the support of others. If you want to be happy:

Don't hold back from getting help. There's a feeling in our society that people who ask for support are wimps. Nonsense! Successful people are actually more likely to ask for help - and to use that help productively. Make a list of all the people in your life who you have supported you. Then broaden the list to include those you could ask, but haven't yet. If your final list is short, then actively work on developing your social circle. For more support read self-help books, attend courses and weekend workshops.

Exchange support. Getting help is great - but not if you only ever get and never give. If you help others, you will often find that your own problems slide into perspective, or you realise how to solve them. Set up mutual arrangements with friends and colleagues so that you help them and they in turn help you. This will keep the exchange in support balanced.

Feel good about calling in the professionals. There are many experts out there who can help and there's no shame in calling on them. Whether it's a doctor, solicitor, image consultant or counsellor, you don't need to cope alone. Today's society is so fragmented that no one can, and no one should be expected to do everything themselves. Trawl the web for professional organisations, find your nearest expert and use their expertise.

More resources

Networking: The Art of Making More Friends by Carole Stone (Vermilion)

Living Magically by Gill Edwards (Piatkus)

Visit the Relate website for details of local counsellors.

Visit the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy website for details of counsellors in your area who can help you with all kinds of emotional problems.

Introducing The Happiness Workshop:

Quiz: The Happiness Test

Week one: Happy body

Week two: Happy mind

Week three: Happy interactions

Week four: Happy life

Message board: Get happy

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