Many people are looking for definite answers to complicated and often empty questions that will have very little impact on their happiness and well-being.

Sometimes, I get myself all worked up doing this too…

Then there are different kinds of questions! Questions that do not have a right or wrong answer. Questions that free the mind and keep you focused on the right things. Questions that when asked in the right moment, can transform our life more than any enlightening answer we will ever receive.

Here is a list of 30 such Self-Help Questions that are important to ask yourself at least once in a while (especially when you feel like your mind is filled with worries and mundane problems):

1. If you could offer your child only one piece of advice, what would it be?

2. If you could move to any country in the world, where would you go and why?

3. If you didn’t know your age, how old would you say you are?

4. If you are yourself 1 year in the future, what advice would you give yourself today?

5. If life is so short, why do we do so many things we don’t like?

6. And why do we like so many things we don’t do?

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When I was little, my mom got me a strange book. It was a collection of short funny poems by Grigorii Oster called “Harmful Advice”.

The preface read:

“Scientists have recently discovered that there are some misbehaved children in the world, who are set on doing exactly the opposite of what they are told. You tell them to wash their face in the morning – and they make it their resolution to go around face-unwashed. You tell them to greet other people – and they immediately stop saying “Hello”…”

The idea behind the book was pretty simple and very original – to give bad advice and make disobedient children do the opposite – i.e. behave themselves! Talk about reverse psychology used by sneaky parents to morph their little monsters into composed, soft-spoken angels.

Today I met a person who could have probably used a few Harmful Advices when he was little. He seemed to have a rare gift of instantly turning people off. Well, not instantly. But as soon as he started talking…

The sad thing is that deep down he might be a great, interesting, and kind-hearted guy. He just does not let his nicer side show.

This got me thinking, what if I was to give “Harmful Advice” to adults? Maybe for the sheer pleasure of doing something in spite of what they are told, some people would actually stop making negative comments about those around them and bring their own positive qualities to the light?

Read more about Harmful Advice for Grown-Ups…

Don’t you wish that instead learning about Ancient Mesopotamia and the speed of electrons at school, they had taught us something more practical – for example, how to be happy.

In fact, this subject is taught. Just not at high school but at Harvard University. The course is called Positive Psychology and its underlying premise is that we can learn to be happier, just as we can learn to drive a car or to speak a foreign language.

For everyone, who does not plan on applying to Harvard in the near future, below are

10 Happiness Tips from Harvard’s very-sought-after lecturer Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar:

1. Become conscious of things that make you happy

There is a great little technique to do this. Take a piece of paper and complete the following sentence: “To bring 5% more happiness into my life…”

Think of experiences, not things. It is not a million dollars that will make you happy. It is the opportunity to spend more time with your family, to travel around the world, to gain financial stability. But Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, suggest that we start with the smaller blessings.
If you feel that you have run out of ideas, here are some things from my list.

2. Combine pleasure and meaning

Aristotle had a great concept called “golden mean”. He believed that we should look for a desirable middle between two extremes. This makes a lot of sense, but when it comes to making everyday life choices, we often forget to follow his sage advice.

Let’s take food for example…

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