Roads to true happiness

Theologian Anselm Grün lives in Münsterschwarzach (Lower Franconia) as a Benedictine priory. As the author of more than 300 books, he is known beyond Germany's borders.

He is in popular as a guide to many situations in life - not just religious ones. One of our favorite books by Anselm Grün deals with the rituals that always offer reliable points of calm in modern life with its hectic pace and uncertainty. Rituals have often given us the strength to manage everyday life. To mark his 65th birthday, Pater Anselm Grün has summarized his 10 most important paths to happiness.

Accept your limits!

Always wanting to be the best and the strongest is an illusion.

Don't take yourself too seriously!

The smile of a child and the humor of an adult often help.

Check your thinking!

Always check your thoughts in relation to their reality.

Learn to be!

The real art of living is to live intensely and consciously.

Learn to wait!

Waiting for an event sharpens your mindfulness and opens your consciousness.

Try something new, show courage!

New horizons are reached with the courage to leave gaps, not with perfectionism.

Open your heart!

Open and honest conversations create trust in others.

Enjoy - it's later than you think!

Enjoy the present moment, because no one knows how long life will last.

Do not deny anything!

Denying events distorts life and makes you unhappy.

Go your own way!

Find your own personal way and don't just follow your fellow human beings.

Tags: Happiness; exercise; mindfulness; social contact; kindness, Anselm Grün