Article. Metro newspaper.

Straightforward but not simple. That’s how Igor Ardoris describes his book ”Soul-Defence
Happiness and success”. But don’t read it to be happy, and don’t expect it to give any tips on happiness.

What is happiness?
- It’s the feeling you when you devote yourself so entirely to something that you want that you forget about yourself.
How can you succeed at happiness?
- That’s very simple. What does happiness mean to you? Känn efter, leta inte efter
svaret.
How does your method, Soul-Defence, work?
- It’s based on four steps. Step one is increased self-awareness, which teaches you to identify your positive emotions. Step two is to understand them, step three is learning to control them and step four is trusting them.
How can I become happier?
- By finding out what makes you happy, and rooting it in your daily life.
Can you train at being happy?
- Yes, of course. Life is how we experience it.
What do you mean when you say that there isn’t a connection between success and happiness?
- Successful people aren’t always happy even though they have everything they need in able to enjoy their lives. One reason is that they have bought the myth of happiness instead of thinking about what makes them happy.
What makes you happy?
- Working with something which is meaningful and which gives me pleasure. And spending time with people that I like and who I trust.
Is happiness lasting?
- No, life is a process. Once you have been full for a while, you’ll start to feel hungry again. Look upon life as a possibility to make yourself happy for a moment.

When you worked as a physical education teacher in Class 9A, how did you put your Soul-Defence to use?
- I asked what I could do for the pupils instead of what I could do with them. That creates a feeling of we, which gives credibility and respect. These are prerequisites for good relationships.
You work as a coach. What’s the difference between coaching children and adults?
- Children find it easier to use their imagination and they are less cynical. They haven’t had so many knockbacks

Quote: Waiting for happiness turns you into a victim of happiness.

Quote: Nobody else can make you happy. Why would you let anyone else tell you what would make you happy?

Igor’s tips on happiness. There are no ready-made tips. You must start with yourself.

The four steps
1. Self-awareness. Learning to identify what makes you happy.
2. Self-knowledge. Understand what makes you happy.
3. Self-control. Controlling what makes you happy.
4. Self-confidence. Trusting that it will make you happy.