I have learnt a lot about life, happiness and the mind from the 14th Dalai Lama's book, The Art of Happiness. It is about more than feeling good for a moment. It asks you to look closely at your own mind and work on changing it. Four ideas from the book stayed with me. Compassion The Dalai Lama treats compassion as a way of living, not only an emotion. Wishing for the happiness of all beings improves your relationships and your own well-being. You can practice it by trying to see things from other people's side, by doing small kind things that tend to spread, and by meditating on love and kindness, aimed at yourself and at everyone else. Anger and anxiety Negative emotions get in the way of contentment. When you are angry, ask whether the thoughts behind the anger are accurate and reasonable. Mindfulness helps build patience, which gives you something steady to lean on when emotions run high. When anxiety shows up, move your attention from the worries to the good things in your...