How to Want What You Have
by Timothy Miller · first published 1994
8mentions
2recommended by
2HN commenters
2008–2026first – last mentioned
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Expressing gratitude is one of the surest paths to a better day. One of my all-time favorite books -- "How to Want What You Have" by Tim Miller, PhD -- has as its central thesis the idea that: 1. Most people are relatively unhappy; 2. The root cause is our tendency always to want More [money/power, love, recognition] -- which…
on “Just Wanted to Say Thanks” ↗…only...." because I've done the "if only." (Not having other options is actually a surprisingly effective route to happiness. (See: Stumbling on Happiness)). Another great book related to this topic is "How to Want What You Have." https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/933037.How_to_Want_What_...
on “The key to loving your job in the age of burnout” ↗Wonderful post. I have a number of related books I'd add to your list, but this one in particular got me started on a path to the kind of practical philosophy you and I both seek and extoll: "How to Want What You Have" (Timothy Miller)
on “How a 'growth mindset' can lead to success” ↗…generally extremely bad at predicting the future and figuring out what actually will make them happy. It's a cautionary tale for anyone who might think "If only I could do X I'd be happy..." Follow that with "How to Want What You Have," by Timothy Ray Miller, and you have a prescription for happiness.
on “Ask YC: Should I quit programming to pursue the arts?” ↗A book that may capture and elaborate on the above (esp. re: modesty) is "How to Want What You Have" by Timothy Miller: http://www.amazon.com/How-Want-What-You-Have/dp/0805033173 The typical "western" approach to happiness is: "I have X but I want Y, therefore, to be happy I need to achieve Y." This…
on “We Have Luxurious Jobs but We Are Not Aware of It” ↗…you already have. How? Practice three things: Compassion, Attention, and Gratitude. (Pick any two, and the third will follow almost automatically.) That's the central thesis of an excellent book, "How to Want What You Have" by Dr Timothy Miller. It changed my life.
on “Enjoy Every Sandwich” ↗…something of a massive paradigm shift and requires plenty of work that resembles various eastern practices such as Buddhism/Yoga. There's an excellent book on the subject by Timothy Ray Miller called "How to Want What You Have:" http://www.amazon.com/How-Want-What-You-Have/dp/0380726823 edited to add: I should note that these approaches aren't neccessarily in conflict. You can work to do what you love, or if for whatever…
on “How to Do What You Love (2006)” ↗In re: spiritual support, may I recommend "How to Want What You Have" http://www.amazon.com/How-Want-What-You-Have/dp/0805033173 which taught me to live in the moment when I was faced with my own seeming impending demise. [I'm 39, have daughters aged 5 and 7, and had…
on “What Dreams May Come” ↗