A practical guide to hope & happiness
by Dr. Ivan Zwart Founder of Happy Ground Wellbeing
“The insights drawn from his experiences, positive psychology and meditative practices, provides a wonderful array of valuable guidance for anyone who wants to live their life with a deep sense of happiness and purpose.”
Debbie Hindle
(Masters of Applied Positive Psychology)
2Appreciate Consulting
“As someone who has spent many years seeking love, guidance, acceptance and ‘a sign’ from the world on what will fulfil my life, the frank practicality of this book felt like a road map home.”
Teleah Healy
Yoga Instructor
About the book
Finding Happy Ground is a practical guide to hope and happiness. It contains the essence of what has been learnt from many years of research, meditation practice, happiness coaching and lived experience of mental health issues. Finding Happy Ground has five steps for the heart and mind, and over 40 practical exercises.
About the author
Dr. Ivan Zwart is a consultant with his business Happy Ground Wellbeing based in Tasmania, Australia. He has a doctorate in political science and has worked in a range of professional roles including researcher, community engagement officer and consultant. He is also a trained meditation guide and facilitator, and runs wellbeing programs on a regular basis.
About the book
Immediately after a very rough time in life Ivan Zwart thought “I’m going to write a book about this one day because perhaps I can help others”. So here it is.
Finding Happy Ground comes from someone who had lost all hope, but found a path to a much happier life. It combines lessons learnt from a lived experience of mental illness and recovery, with years of research, meditation practice, and happiness teaching. Through five steps and over 40 practical exercises, Finding Happy Ground shows you that happiness is not only about the condition of our mind, but also our heart.
This book can help you to:
- Better manage challenging emotions such as fear, anger and sadness
- Think in ways that support you
- Improve your relationships
- Make smart lifestyle choices
- Feel more peace, love and joy
Although the world has plenty of problems, there’s so much we can do to become happier, such as become more grateful, more optimistic and more forgiving. We can learn to meditate with all its attendant benefits, and we can learn to manage our stress. We can become more compassionate and relate better to others. We can also modify our lifestyles in many different ways. All of these things can make us happier. As a result of being happier our brains function better, we are more productive and creative, and time at work and home become more enjoyable as well. When we feel happy life goes more smoothly and we look forward to today and every day after that. This book can help you to find your happy ground.
Is this book for you?
- Do you get anxious and worry a lot?
- Are you quick to get angry at situations or the people around you?
- Do you feel constantly busy and rushed, like you’re on a treadmill that’s not going anywhere?
- Do you struggle to forgive yourself and others?
- Do you have trouble relaxing and winding down at the end of the day?
- Do you just feel heavy under the weight of your burdens?
Would you like to feel happier, calmer and more optimistic and experience the joys of life? Then this book is for you.
About the author
Ivan Zwart works as a consultant with his business Happy Ground Wellbeing in New Norfolk, Tasmania, Australia. He has a doctorate in political science from the University of Tasmania and has worked in a range of professional roles including researcher, community engagement officer and consultant. He is a trained meditation guide and facilitator and runs wellbeing programs on a regular basis. He is also a consumer representative with Flourish, a community sector mental health organisation based in Tasmania.
While Ivan continues to have a successful professional career, since his early twenties he has struggled with his mental health, suffering from anxiety, chronic fatigue and depression. However, his biggest mental health challenge occurred when he became manic in 2010 after the death of his father, and he was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Ivan has learnt to manage his condition and now has a very enjoyable and full life. His hope is that people from all walks of life can learn to feel a little happier, whether they have a diagnosed mental health condition or just want to flourish.
About Happy Ground Wellbeing
We provide wellbeing and happiness training for businesses and individuals through tailored programs that are informative, effective and fun.
We provide a range of training programs for businesses, including programs to manage stress, live well with change, and improve wellbeing. Our community courses are also aimed at improving wellbeing through a range of tools and techniques to improve our minds and open and strengthen our hearts.
In addition to our wellbeing and happiness programs, Ivan also speaks to businesses, at conferences, and to community groups about happiness, meditation, and mental health and illness.
We’d love to help you or your colleagues.
