Rafael Santandreu, psychologist, the best stage of life is appreciating the “almost magical things at every moment”
A Spanish psychologist has given his thoughts on the perfect way to find happiness.
Rafael Santandreu, the Spanish psychologist and bestselling author known for his work in cognitive therapy, has challenged a common belief about happiness.
Rather than tying the “best stage of life” to youth, middle age, or retirement, Santandreu says it happens when a person changes how they think and see the world.
According to him, the moment someone stops complaining and begins to notice life’s small wonders marks the start of their happiest phase.
To be fair, I love nothing more than a quiet cup of tea in the house when everyone else is out, so there’s a good place to start.
“The best stage of a person’s life is when they start thinking in the right way, stop complaining and begin to value the incredible, almost magical things around them at every moment,” he said, via social media.
@arthurcbrooks Gratitude isn’t just for good days. True masters of gratitude wake up and say: “I’m thankful for the good—and the bad.” Because they know something powerful: The hard stuff becomes the growth stuff. Pain turns into strength—if you let it.
♬ original sound - Dr. Arthur Brooks
Most people instinctively look back to childhood or young adulthood as the high points of life. Childhood, with its freedom from responsibility, and youth, with its opportunities, often loom large in memory. Yet adulting also comes with high levels of anxiety, insecurity, and emotional turbulence.
Central to Santandreu’s idea is a change in inner dialogue. Instead of automatically spotting flaws and deficiencies, people can train themselves to pay attention to positive elements that surround them daily.
This could be as simple as appreciating a conversation with a friend, a walk in nature, or the quiet rhythm of daily chores. Over time, he says, these moments accumulate into a sense of richness in life that outshines nostalgia.
He also says that a sense of humour is key to a happy life: “Retain your sense of humour,” he replied when asked for positivity tips. “If you can, laugh at your own exaggerations. Let’s face it: our minds sometimes tell us to believe ludicrous things. Do you really think you’re ultimately unlovable because you have a big nose or can’t fit into those jeans? Think about all the big-nosed, big-bottomed people in the world – are you trying to tell me that none of them are loved? In this way, you can mock your own notions about yourself and take all of the power out of them."
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