How to be Abby - A Cat's Guide to Happiness

 

The book "How to Be Abby: A Cat's Guide to Happiness" by Henry Grbac uses the author's seventeen-year-old cat, Abby, as a teacher to illustrate deep spiritual and psychological principles for achieving a life of contentment and peace.

 

The core of "being Abby" is not about following a strict set of rules, but about understanding a more profound state of being that leads to happiness, contrasting human tendency to constantly do things to get happy.

 

Here are the main lessons and tools Grbac presents based on Abby’s example:

 

The Cat's Guide to Happiness

• Practice Presence and Simplicity: Abby’s happiness comes from simple pleasures, such as sleeping 20 hours a day, basking in a sunbeam, and purring on a lap. This teaches humans to find joy and peace in the simple, present moments of life rather than seeking complicated, external validation.
• Embrace the State of Happiness: The book explores the difference between trying to be happy (putting in effort) versus simply being in a state of happiness. Abby demonstrates the latter—she just is happy without visible effort, suggesting that a baseline state of contentment is achievable.
• Respond, Don't React: A key philosophical lesson is learning to respond appropriately versus reacting to life's unpleasantries. By choosing a thoughtful response over an automatic, negative reaction, you can avoid suffering and maintain inner peace.
• Utilize Inner Tools: The book guides readers to use practices that nourish happiness from within, including:
• Mindfulness and Meditation: To experience the complete life that is already within you.
• Self-Compassion and Loving-Kindness: To inspire self-acceptance and kindness toward yourself, regardless of your personal flaws or circumstances.
• Integrate Universal Wisdom: Grbac connects Abby's simple lessons to broader spiritual and philosophical teachings, such as The Sermon on The Mount and The Four Noble Truths, to provide a framework for finding life purpose.
• Understand Suffering: The guide helps the reader find the answer to the question of how pain and suffering can ultimately lead to happiness, positioning challenges as catalysts for growth and deeper peace.

 

Links to Henry's Youtube videos on Abby

• How to be Abby: A Cat's Guide to Happiness
• The 6 Step Guide to Self-Reflection
• Teen's Strugles - Stress & Anxiety
• Pain and Suffering
• Replace your negative thoughts with happiness - Meditation
• Strong Emotions
• Happiness Teachings
• Life Purpose
• Acceptance
• Happiness
• Compassion and Kindness to Yourself!
• Meditation
• Relaxation Meditation
• Ways to be Kind to Yourself
• Struggles in Life
• How to be HAPPY
• Uncertainties about life and what to do next
• Life GOALS
• 6 Steps in how to let go of your EGO

 

Who is Henry Grbac?

 

He is the most exceptional leader I have encountered in my 21-year career in Canada. His approach to occupational health, safety, and environmental management is characterized by absolute professionalism and expertise. I was fortunate to be hired into a company where his vision established an exemplary Health and Safety Management System over the past 25 years. It is a privilege to work alongside him as part of this outstanding Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) team.

 

Here is his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-grbac-815a4969/

 

The book "How to Be Abby: A Cat's Guide to Happiness" by Henry Grbac is available at:

• Indigo
• Amazon
• Walmart - US
• Vitalsource