Resisting Happiness audiobook cover - A hands-on guide to happiness

Resisting Happiness

A hands-on guide to happiness

Matthew Kelly

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Categories:
Mindfulness & Happiness

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Key Takeaways from Resisting Happiness

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Resisting Happiness
Overcoming Resistance+
Finding True Values+
Cultivating Compassion+
Tools for Growth+
Solitude & Connection+
Active Listening+
Meaning Through Service+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
What does Matthew Kelly identify as the primary force that prevents people from attending to what matters most and finishing long-term projects?
  • A. Lack of financial resources
  • B. Resistance
  • C. Societal expectations
  • D. Poor time management
Question 2 of 8
According to the book, how can confronting the inevitability of death help you find happiness?
  • A. It encourages you to spend your money while you still can.
  • B. It makes you realize that physical suffering is an illusion.
  • C. It helps you prioritize what is truly important by focusing on avoiding end-of-life regrets.
  • D. It motivates you to leave a large financial inheritance for your family.
Question 3 of 8
What profound realization did Kelly have on the day he was diagnosed with cancer that helped him develop compassion?
  • A. People can look fine on the outside even when they are struggling deep down.
  • B. Modern medicine is the greatest source of human hope.
  • C. Only those with strong religious beliefs can truly overcome adversity.
  • D. Physical pain is directly linked to spiritual resistance.
Question 4 of 8
What does the story about Kelly's neighbor, Joe, planting trees illustrate about human satisfaction?
  • A. Hard physical labor is the only way to achieve a good night's sleep.
  • B. Earning a high hourly wage is the best way to guarantee a job well done.
  • C. Volunteering should only be done if you have excess wealth to fall back on.
  • D. True satisfaction comes from giving your best effort, not just from financial reward.
Question 5 of 8
How does the author suggest people should deal with the fear of loneliness?
  • A. By filling their schedules with constant social plans and dates.
  • B. By spending more time alone to learn how to enjoy their own company.
  • C. By using social media to stay connected with friends at all times.
  • D. By finding a romantic partner as early in life as possible.
Question 6 of 8
According to Kelly, what is the defining characteristic of the best kind of friends?
  • A. They always agree with your decisions to provide emotional support.
  • B. They challenge you to become the best version of yourself.
  • C. They help you achieve financial independence.
  • D. They share your exact hobbies and interests.
Question 7 of 8
Which famous psychological study does the author cite to prove the long-term positive effects of delaying gratification?
  • A. The Milgram obedience experiment
  • B. The Pavlov's dog conditioning study
  • C. The Stanford marshmallow experiment
  • D. The Asch conformity experiments
Question 8 of 8
What practical exercise does the author recommend to help discover your life's mission?
  • A. Write a list of everything you would regret not doing if you died today.
  • B. Keep a daily gratitude journal listing three things you are thankful for.
  • C. Meditate for ten minutes every morning on the concept of resistance.
  • D. Ask five close friends to write down what they think your strengths are.

Resisting Happiness — Full Chapter Overview

Resisting Happiness Summary & Overview

Resisting Happiness (2016) is a probing exploration of the reasons we sabotage our own happiness. Drawing on author Matthew Kelly’s deep well of personal experiences, it’s a profound and personal guide to leading a happier and more meaningful life. Happiness, Kelly believes, is a choice. If we want it, we have to choose it. And that means overcoming resistance and negativity.

Who Should Listen to Resisting Happiness?

  • Self-helpers looking for a practical guide to achieving happiness
  • Anyone scared of loneliness
  • The spiritually-minded

About the Author: Matthew Kelly

Matthew Kelly grew up in a Catholic household but didn’t truly connect with his faith until his late teens. That’s when he embarked on his career as a religious public speaker. Since then he’s authored 20 books, which have reached an audience of millions around the world. These include the New York Times bestseller The Rhythm of Life. In 2009, he founded the Dynamic Catholic Institute, an organization that aims to help people reconnect with Catholicism in the United States.

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