Ideas worth carrying forward from "Lost Connections" by Yohann Hari

Upon finishing Hari's "Lost Connections", these are some ideas I'd like to carry with me moving forward:

1. Look to find sympathetic joy rather than be envious. Work to find true joy in good things for other people. Most of what you feel envious for are probably things that are not intrinsic values, so don't be hung up on them. When scrolling through Instagram, use it as an exercise in sympathetic joy.

2. Always refresh your values. Ask questions like "Why am I spending money on this?", "What am I expecting from this purchase?", " What is important to me?", etc. Don't forget to think about what is important to you!

3. Find ways to connect to the people around you (family, friends, neighbors). Spend the time to enjoy being with them, doing things for them, sharing in their joy and pain, etc. It will make you, and them, happier.

4. Find green spaces. Just do it. Remember that prison study? Ya, go look at (or better yet, immerse yourself in) something green and/or natural.

5. Meaningful work isn't just altruistic work, its work that you are invested in. A bike shop can be as important to a hospital, especially if those dependent on it have a true stake in the game.

6. Big change starts with small steps, but a lot of people taking small steps together covers ALOT of ground.

7. Ads (often) want you to feel bad (or envious) so you buy their product. They're everywhere, so its on you to let the noise (and the values intrinsic in the noise) flow around you. Don't absorb it, its toxic (and you'll go poor).

8. Remember to think on the future. Keep it real, tangible, and work towards achieving it. Let your goals be the north star you follow in the night.

9. Home shouldn't just be the box you rest your head in. Work to make home the people around you, the community that you dwell in.

10. Being in pain doesn't make you sick or broken. Life can be painful, and being depressed or anxious is that natural progression of a painful life. You're not broken or sick, your life is painful and you're reaction is totally natural to that pain.

11. Listen to your pain, don't run from it. Your pain will tell you what is wrong and you can only address what is wrong if you can identify its root causes. Pain is the symptom, not the problem.

And one idea totally not from "Lost Connections" I absorbed today.

1. Don't forget to BREATH. Through your nose. Fully. Slowly. And exhale fully and slowly. Expand those lungs and utilize the filter nature put in your nose! You don't see cheetahs and horses mouth breathing and neither should you!

"Lost Connections" was a terrific read and absolutely think everyone should be exposed to, and struggle with and digest fully, the ideas and theories Hari has on depression. His research and conclusions are both difficult to accept and incredibly simple and intuitive.