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The Happiness Triangle

Reusability

A three-component system for achieving sustained happiness by controlling focus, state, and story interpretation

How It Works

Works by giving conscious control over the three primary inputs to emotional experience: what you pay attention to, your internal emotional state, and the meaning you assign to events

Components

1

Focus: Consciously direct attention to what matters versus trivial inconveniences

2

State: Manage internal emotional state before entering situations

3

Story: Deliberately choose empowering interpretations of events

When to Use

When feeling unhappy despite external success, when reactive to circumstances, when seeking sustainable contentment

When Not to Use

During acute crisis requiring immediate action, when clinical depression is present, when basic needs aren't met

Anti-Patterns to Avoid

Trying to change external circumstances instead of internal responsesFocusing on all three at once instead of mastering one at a timeUsing positive thinking to deny legitimate problems

Example

After being laid off, instead of focusing on rejection (focus), entering interviews stressed (state), and seeing it as failure (story), focus on new opportunities, enter situations optimistically, and frame it as redirection toward better fit