Situation Is Hopeless But Not Serious: The Pursuit Of UnhappinessCalling upon metaphors, vignettes, jokes, innuendos, and certain other "right-hemispheric" language games, Paul Watzlawick shows how we can (and do) make everyday life miserable. Do you see the past through a rosy filter that makes it seem like Paradise Lost? Are you convinced that traffic lights always turn red for you? Do you have to win (so as not to lose)? After extricating yourself from a bad relationship, do you find another partner just like the previous one? If so, congratulations! You have the makings of an unhappiness expert. With the techniques in this book, you can raise yourself to the genius level. A word of warning, however. Along the way you may begin to ask yourself, "How did I manage to turn myself into my own worst enemy?" Fortunately, this tongue-in-cheek (but serious) volume takes a look at that question too. Special attention is given to such topics as "Four Games with the Past," "Self-fulfilling Prophecies," and "Why Would Anybody Love Me?" Those who believe that the search for happiness will eventually lead to happiness will find much to ponder in the section "Beware of Arriving." All readers will be both amused and startled to find themselves in these pages, but there is a special delight and enlightenment for therapists and counselors. Although the author does not officially admit it, the book is one complex "symptom prescription," a therapeutic double bind as described and practiced by him and his colleagues. |
Contents
Introduction | 11 |
To Thine Own Self | 21 |
Same | 31 |
The Story of the Hammer | 39 |
A Handful of Beans | 49 |
Chasing Away the Elephants | 53 |
SelfFulfilling Prophecies | 59 |
Beware of Arriving | 65 |
If You Really Loved Me You Would Like Garlic | 73 |
Be Spontaneous | 87 |
Why Would Anybody Love Me? | 95 |
The Traps of Helping | 101 |
Those Crazy Foreigners | 111 |
Life as a Game | 117 |
| 123 | |
Other editions - View all
Situation Is Hopeless But Not Serious: The Pursuit Of Unhappiness Paul Watzlawick No preview available - 1993 |
Common terms and phrases
achieve answer Austria basic become beginner behavior Beware of Arriving blame clients common sense consider convince corn flakes course crazy danger demands deny effect of avoidance event example EXERCISE expert fatal feelings Friedrich Nietzsche Game theory garlic German ghost glass of beer goal goes hammer happy hell husband illusion of alternatives imagine instance Jewish mother joke Keesee Laing's Latin Lover Madame Irma's manage Maryn matter ment million mind misery Miss Katz need not deter non-zero-sum game once one's oneself ourselves Ovid partner past Paul Watzlawick person players Polonius possible problem pursuit of unhappiness question reader reason recipe Red Queen relationship level revenge rience right hand know role rules Self-Fulfilling Prophecies simple Situation Is Hopeless Small wonder social solution spontaneous success suspicious talented technique tells thief thing tion totally travel hopefully turn want to hurt wife zero-sum game