Pope Offers Tips for Happiness

Pope Francis is out with a new 10 Commandments of sorts, but this list, given to the Argentine weekly Viva, is all about how to be happy. A sampling, as rounded up by the National Catholic Reporter:

• 'Live and let live': This is the pope's No. 1, and it should be a guiding principle for all, he says. He cites another phrase with a similar theme, "Move forward and let others do the same." Similarly, he urges people not to "proselytize," but to respect others' beliefs and to have conversations about them.
• 'Be giving of yourself to others': Because "if you withdraw into yourself, you run the risk of becoming egocentric. And stagnant water becomes putrid."

• 'Healthy sense of leisure': Parents, play with your kids, he advises. Our frenetic, consumer-oriented culture robs us of simple pleasures like that. On a related note, shut off the TV during dinner.
• Don't be negative: If you're always bashing others, it doesn't speak well of you. That attitude suggests that "instead of picking myself up I have to cut others down,'" says the pope. "Letting go of negative things quickly is healthy."
• Respect nature: The damage humans are inflicting on the environment is a modern scourge, says Francis. "I think a question that we're not asking ourselves is, 'Isn't humanity committing suicide with this indiscriminate and tyrannical use of nature?'"

Click to read his full list. (More Pope Francis stories.)