The Simple Secrets for Becoming Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: What Scientists Have Learned and How You Can Use It

Front Cover
Harper Collins, Mar 17, 2009 - Health & Fitness - 416 pages

Sociologists, therapists, and psychiatrists have spent entire careers investigating the ins and outs of health, success, and happiness, but their findings are inaccessible to ordinary people, hidden in obscure journals seen only by other experts.

Now David Niven, the international bestselling author of the Simple Secrets series, has collected the most current and significant data from more than a thousand of the best scientific studies on three of the most important aspects of our daily lives. Niven has boiled these findings down to sound, succinct advice for each day of the year, presenting 365 essential ways to find and maintain health, wealth, and wisdom. Each entry is accompanied by a true story showing the results in action. Whether you want to enhance your body, your bank account, your IQ, or all three, this bestselling series offers 365 essential ways to let science help you.

 

Contents

Motivation Beats Everything
1
Be Happy to Succeed
2
Give Yourself Time
3
Creativity Comes from Within
4
The Mundane Is Heroic
5
Never Give
6
See Possibilities Where Others See Obstacles
7
The Quest for a Perfect Body Is Doomed
8
Learn from Losses
181
The Best Life Needs No Trophy
182
Control Your Health
183
Transitions Can Be Both Happy and
184
Stay Safe in the
185
Leadership Is Contagious
186
Dont Romanticize the Past
187
Laughter Really Is Medicine
188

Dont Let Your First Idea Be Your Only Idea
9
What You Do Matters
10
There Are Second Chances
11
Wonder
12
Volunteer for Yourself
13
Use a Plan Not a Piecemeal Approach
14
You Have Nothing to Envy in Your Partner
15
Resist the Urge to Be Average
16
Too Much of a Good Thing Is Too Much
17
Its Never Just One Thing
18
Change Is Possible Not Easy
19
Know Your Health
20
Its Not How Hard You
21
You Cant Force Yourself to Like Broccoli
22
The Past Is Not the Future
23
Competence Starts with Feeling Competent
24
Were Too Good at Imagining the WorstCase Scenario
25
Set Rules for Conflict in Your Relationship
26
Give Yourself the Best Chance to Eat Well
27
You Are Never Too Old to Improve Your Habits
28
A Victory at All Costs Is Not a Victory
29
You Have to Have
30
Accomplish Something Every
31
You Must Approve of Yourself
32
Healthy Living Is an Attitude
33
Write Down the Directions
34
Its the Little Things That Matter the Most
35
Couch Time Affects Body and Mind
36
Winners Are Made Not Born
37
See the Love Around
38
The Cold Doesnt Give You a Cold
39
Anticipate Irrationality
40
Attitude Triumphs over Outcome
41
The Best Defense Is to Listen
42
Always Being Right Is Wrong for Your Health
43
How We See the World Is More Important Than How the World
44
Express Your Love
45
Eat Your Spinach
46
Dont Be Bound by Tradition
47
Seek Input from Your Opposites
48
Avoid Tanning Beds
49
Know What Makes You Happy and What Makes You
50
Wipe Dont Blow
51
Do Things in Order
52
Avoid Internet Takeover
53
You Can Worry Your Health Away
54
Seek Harmony in Your Life
55
Take Small Victories
56
Theres Never Been a Better Time
57
Effort Does Not Equal Success
58
Its OK to Be Right When Everyone Else Is Wrong
59
Think in Concrete Terms
60
Slow Music for Dinner
61
A Relationship Requires Two Equals
62
Cleaning Isnt Clean
63
Get Experience Any Way You
64
Cultivate a Common Interest
65
Health Is Mental and Physical
66
Embrace Challenges
67
Look Up Literally
68
Tell Your Family Story
69
SelfMotivation Works Once
70
There Are No Mind Readers
71
Do What You Say You Are Going to
72
Put Stuff in Its Place
73
History Isnt Everything
74
Theres No Point to Putting on a Show
75
Speak Slowly
76
Pursue What You Need Forever Not What You Want Today
77
Dont Buy the Fountain of Youth
78
Make Your Mark on the Next Generation
79
Do One Thing at a Time
80
Remember Who You Are and Where You
81
Relationships Are Not Random
82
Emergencies Cant Wait
83
Treat the Disease Not the Symptom
84
Help the Next Person Who Needs Some Minor Assistance
85
Negotiate with Confidence or Dont
86
Your Surroundings Will Affect Your Health Approach
87
Money Cant Buy Love but It Can Buy Stress
88
Where You Stand Depends on Where You Look
89
Keep Going
90
Overcome the Culture of Failure
91
Play the Odds
92
Decide Whether You Want to Win or Be Happy
93
Travel the Stable Road
94
Mold Is EverywhereRelax
95
The Most Time Is Not the Best Time
96
The Past Is Not the Future
97
Look on the Bright Side
98
Avoid Generational Competition
99
Drink Less
100
Try Something
101
Remember the Task Forget the Rankings
102
Find a Community That Fits Your Family
103
Turn Off the
104
Honor Your Spiritual Beliefs
105
Drink Grape Juice
106
Get a Good Nights Sleep
107
Drive Safely When Its Safe
108
Seek a Tall Plateau Not the Peak
109
A Sense of Humor Helps
110
Avoid the SecondGuess Paralysis
111
Eat Less but Eat Often
112
See Around Career Roadblocks
113
Be Engaged to Reality
114
You Dont Have to Get Straight As Anymore
115
Write Down Your Thoughts
116
Fitness Is Free
117
Theres No Need to Hurry
118
Volunteer to Achieve
119
It Doesnt Matter Who Earns the Money
120
Notice Patterns
121
Get Out of the
122
Its Always a Choice
123
Its Less What Happened Than What Happened Next
124
Forgiveness Helps You Heal
125
There Is Plenty of Time
126
Do Not Go to War with Bacteria
127
Be Open
128
Home Means More Than Work to Your Health
129
Balance Depends on Which Way You Lean
130
Buy Fun Not Stuff
131
Happy Looks for Happy
132
Ask Whether a Medicine Is Right for
133
Beware of Fairy Tales
134
Lessons Cant Threaten
135
Stay in Control
136
Use the Stairs
137
The Future Matters More Than the Past
138
Listen to Your Favorite Music
139
Separate Hype from Substance
140
It Starts and Ends with
141
See the Big Picture
142
Make Your Work a Calling
143
Stretch
144
You Need to Know More Than Just How Talented You
145
Ask Where Your Water Comes From
146
You Dont Have to See Eye to Eye on Everything
147
Have a Tomato Any Way You Like
148
Success Is Formula Not Fantasy
149
Accentuate the Positive in All Aspects of Your Life
150
Efficiency in Everything
151
SelfProtection Prevents SelfReflection
152
Ambivalence Is a Negative
153
Let Your Stress
154
Tomorrow Will Be a Better Day but How Exactly?
155
Theres No Better Time to Be Sick
156
A Relationship Starts with Yourself
157
Breathe Right
158
Use Your Own SelfInterest
159
Doing Nothing Is Rarely a Solution
160
Accept YourselfUnconditionally
161
SecondHand Smoke Is Optional
162
Listening Is More Than Not Talking
163
Youll Get Knocked Down and Then Get Back
164
Keep Your Fears in Line
165
Television and Eating Should Not Go Together
166
Think of Your Own Ideal
167
Communicate on Your Listeners Terms
168
Talk to Your Pharmacist
169
Let Go of the Burden of Pain
170
Boredom Is the Enemy
171
Share Housework
172
Role Models Are Not One Size Fits
173
The Mirror Will Be Kinder
174
Common Chores Can Be Dangerous
175
Foundations Are Created in the Beginning
176
Get Away from It
177
Study Your Sports Drink
178
Make Change Count
179
Develop a Healthy Calm
180
View Your Life As a Choice
189
Life Is Not a ZeroSum Game
190
Dont Confuse Stuff with Success
191
Respond to Stress
192
Have an Orange
193
Share the Praise and Share in the Blame
194
Embrace WorkIt May Have to Last Forever
195
Dont Gamble Your Future
196
Combinations Matter
197
Resolve to Pursue Resolution
198
Limit Your Exposure to Pesticides
199
Even in a Relationship You Are Still an Individual
200
Want Support? Deserve
201
Make Should and Want the Same Thing
202
The Fun Is Not Over
203
Build Your Energy Level Gradually
204
Meaningful Commitment Is Mutual Commitment
205
You Will Give Up Faster If Youre Not in Control
206
Anything Beats Boredom
207
Most People Are Sensitive to Whitening Teeth
208
Like the Way You Look
209
Remember Ginkgo Biloba Wont Help You Remember
210
Think About Potential
211
Youll Get What Youre Afraid
212
See the Beauty Around
213
Whet Your Appetite for Success
214
Write Through Pain
215
To Find a Better Way Look Where Youve Been
216
Tell Clean Jokes
217
Turn Off the
218
Dont Bring Your Job Home with
219
Practice Maintenance for Life
220
Dont Pack Like a Mule
221
Look for Value
222
Never Trade Your Morals for Your Goals
223
Dont Let Irritation Be Louder Than
224
Sleep Well
225
Recognize the Value of Shared Values
226
Get Your Motivation Where You Can Find
227
Have Some Tea with Your Remodeling
228
We Assume Similar Preferences
229
Memories Are Not Lost
230
Nobody Wins Without a Loser
231
If Youre Not Sure Guess Positively
232
Understand What Youre Looking
233
See Your Goals
234
ShortTerm Stress Is Healthy
235
Prepare for Milestones
236
Your Health Isnt Just About
237
Dont Want Everything
238
Rest UpThis Is Going to Take Some Effort
239
Your Lives Must Fit Together
240
Find a Physician You Like
241
Dont Let Secrets Eat You
242
Remember the Difference Between You and Everybody Else
243
Be an Expert
244
Root for the Home Team
245
The Future Can Be Brighter Than the Past
246
Religion Can Help Ease Your Burden
247
Regrets Hold Us Back
248
Your Teeth Are More Than Something to Chew
249
Define What You Need
250
You Cant Be Persistent Without Perspective
251
Youll Need Some Relationship Friends
252
Your Goals Are a Living Thing
253
Limit Yourself to Thinking About One Subject As You Go to Sleep
254
Express Yourself in What You
255
Hostility Hurts
256
Changing Jobs Doesnt Change
257
Share What You Know
258
Home Is Where Accidents Happen
259
Take Off Your Blinders
260
Smell Healthy
261
Music Can Bring Us Together
262
You Are Not in This Alone
263
Value the Multiple Uses of Aspirin
264
Make Your Decisions for Positive Reasons
265
Think About Who You Ought to
266
Noise Matters
267
Work on Your Own Terms
268
Never Let Faults Stand for the Whole
269
Dont Accept Televisions Picture of the World
271
Dont Wait to Start Moving in the Right Direction
272
Care
273
If You Dont Believe No One Else Will
274
Dont Let Negativity Build
275
See a New
276
Remember the Drugs We Tend to Forget
277
The Pieces of Your Life Must Fit Together
278
Youll Work Harder If You Feel Wanted
279
Do You Work in a Sick Building?
280
Show You Care Even When Its Hard
281
Electric Brushing Is Easier But Not Much Different
282
Avoid RollerCoaster Emotions
283
We Are All Much More Alike Than Different
284
Value Practical Knowledge
285
Guilt Is Bad for
286
Are You Lonely?
287
Be Careful with Botox
288
Limit Your Interest in the Past
289
Dont Talk to Yourself
290
Money Cant Buy Happiness
291
Pay Attention to Your Dreams
292
Choose Not to Worry
293
A Relationship Is Built on a Foundation of Support
294
Limit Your Piercings
295
Seek Coherence and Congruence
296
Where You Live Matters
297
Dont Let Others Set Your Goals
298
See the Risk in Doing Nothing
299
Your History Strengthens Your Future
300
We Look Inward to See How People Feel About
301
Keep Variety in Mind When Exercising
302
Get Your Reality from Reality
303
It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better
304
Vote
305
Connect See Youre Capable and Know You Count
306
You Need to Know What You Are Looking
307
The Most Treatment Is Not the Best Treatment
308
Life Gets Easier
309
Avoid the Comparison Game
310
Cherish Animals
311
The Benefits of Alcohol Must Be Weighed Against the Risks
312
Own What You
313
Beware of Second Opinions
314
Be Realistic About Yourself
315
Adjustments Never
316
Recognize the Difference Between Caution and Fear
317
Youll Forget the Disagreement but Remember the Disagreeing
318
Dont Forget Packaging
319
Vitamin Levels Do Not Have to Be Constant
320
Learn to Lead Yourself
321
Dont Let the Holidays Ruin Your Health
322
Always Think About Whats Next
323
You Are Never Too Old to Find Love
324
Stretch Out and Fly Right
325
Foundations Shift but Life Stands
326
Closeness Cannot Be Measured on a
327
Believe You
328
Hug for Health
329
Exercise for Your Mind
330
You Are Complete by Yourself
331
Be Honest for Your Future
332
Find Your Own Path
333
Why Not Be Optimistic?
334
Your Life Has Purpose and Meaning
335
Can I Do It? Ask Yourself
336
Pets Are Healthy
337
Have Faith but Dont Forget Reality
338
Be Careful What You Ask
339
Take Action
340
Health Is About Life
341
The Search for Perfection Is Endless
342
Win Your Own Respect First
343
Think As If Others Can Read Your Mind
344
Dont Drown Yourself in Water
345
Relationships Are Like Modern
346
Keep Your Goals Where You Can See Them
347
Make Health a Convenience
348
Dont Settle
349
People Who Have It Right Work Harder to Make It Better
350
What Is the Point?
351
Its Not Easy Even If It Looks
352
Hope Springs Internal
353
Completely Healthy Is Rare
354
We Seek Warmth
355
Dont Run in the Wrong Direction Just Because Youre Near the Finish Line
356
Do It
357
Happiness Is Not an Accident
358
Master Your Fears
359
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About the author (2009)

David Niven, Ph.D., bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series, is a psychologist and social scientist who teaches at Ohio State University.

David Niven, Ph.D., es el autor de los bestsellers internacionales Los 100 Secretos de la Gente Exitosa, y Los 100 Secretos de las Buenas Relaciones. Es psicólogo y científico social, y enseña en la Florida Atlantic University.

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