The Way I See It: A Psychologist's Guide to a Happier Life

The path to happiness isn't what you think.

It's not about achieving more success, getting everything you want, or fixing what's wrong. It's not about changing your circumstances-it's about learning to thrive despite them.

The problem? Your mind wasn't designed for happiness. It's wired for survival. It overthinks, clings to fear, and keeps happiness just out of reach. It will hold you back and keep you playing small-if you let it.

Psychologist Dr. Ashley Smith knows this firsthand. Born with a rare degenerative retinal disease that makes her legally and increasingly blind, she's spent years studying how our minds work-both professionally and in her own life. She knows what it takes to build real happiness-not the kind that depends on everything going right, but the kind that lasts even when life gets hard.

Blending psychology and brain science with personal storytelling, she offers short, insightful chapters full of practical wisdom and immediately actionable tools to help you bring more joy, confidence, and meaning into your life. This book is your roadmap to a bold, happy life.

Inside, you'll learn how to:

• Recognize the hidden patterns shaping your thoughts, emotions, and actions
• Manage difficult thoughts and emotions without letting them take over
• Navigate challenges with resilience instead of getting overwhelmed
• Live as the truest, most vibrant version of yourself
• Create a life that actually feels good to live-not just one that looks good on paper

You don't have to wait for the perfect conditions to be happy. You don't have to silence every doubt or eliminate every struggle. Real happiness isn't something you chase-it's the side effect of how you live.

The Way I See It will change the way you see life, yourself, and what's possible.

Dr. Ashley Smith is a licensed clinical psychologist, professional speaker, and author. She is the co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength and a self-proclaimed happiness quester.