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We all know how do we feel when we go for walk in the deep woods. They hold several stress busters. The 2010 IUFRO World Forestry Congress in Seoul gave an account of such benefits and answered how? For that matter, forests or forest like settings in our backyards improve moods and help to bring back overall happiness into over lives.
If you want to sooth your nerves or ease your blood pressure, it is a good idea to take up a promenade into woods. The conference says, forests not only lifts up your moods, but also several chemicals into air that acts against several cancers.
Can beauty, money, fame and a host of worldly things bring happiness. May be for some people who also have inner peace and equilibrium. But these things cannot bring happiness to the people whose self is immersed in the pride and lives only in the reactive sphere of being recognised and gratified by others.
The suicide of Viveka, Kamasutra condom supermodel, is just one of the many examples. It is not to say that people with wealth and beautiful body figures are not happy. If there is some inner equilibrium, and if the core of the person is well composed of happiness and clarity, the other external things will enhance it. Most of the glam world stars live far away from themselves. Though we cannot say what exactly prompted her to end the life, it is an end reaction of the feeling that no amount of happiness is possible with this life.
If a person cannot smile or laugh freely, in all probability he or she is not a happy person. There is link between smile/laugh, positive emotions and ability to move facial muscles. Look into mirror every day. Try how many facial muscles you can move using the very muscles but not hand or any other tool to lift.
If you cannot move many face muscles, you cannot smile happily. As you cannot smile happily, there is an underlying cause at your emotional world. There must be something wrong there. In fact, this link is found in a study of Botox, which actually paralyses the muscles in the area. The purpose is to cure wrinkles. But the side effect is that you cannot show up emotions.
Facial expressions act as feed back mechanism to the brain. So, keep smiling and avoid frowning.
A “Global Happiness Summit” is planned on 10-10-10 near San Francisco in the US. Organisers say, it will be Educational, Enlighten, Entertaining and Empowering. The mission of the I Am Happy Project ( http://www.globalhappinesssummit.org) is to spread happiness globally one person at a time. Happiness is defined as: “a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment satisfaction, pleasure or joy. Happiness comes from deep within, and not from people, situations or circumstances.”
On 10/10/10 and on the 27th, organisers of the event planned a Viral Global Campaign. The core aspect of this event is that one person’s happiness ( http://www.globalhappinesssummit.org) triggers a chain reaction that benefits not only his friends, but his friends’ friends, and his friends’ friends’ friends. This relay effect can be felt and measured upto three levels according to the researchers from Harvard Medical School and the University of California, San Diego.
Tags: “Global Happiness Summit”, San Francisco, Educational, Enlighten, Entertaining and Empowering, state of mind, satisfaction, pleasure, joy, Viral Global Campaign, Harvard Medical School, University of California, San Diego
'Show me few of your friends and I will tell you what kind of a person is you are' is an old adage. The recent findings of scientists Nicholas Christakis of Harvard University and James Fowler of University of California reconfirms the underlying principles of this adage.
As habits and influences spread in closely knitted groups, most important of them are friendship groups, lifestyle outcomes like obesity, losing weight, happiness or otherwise spread in these groups. Though they are not contagious flu or viral diseases, many habits and their outcomes of lifestyles spread like flu. These scientists conclude social networks are bad as they spread flu type viruses so quickly. But at the same time they are very good if the happiness is to be distributed.
So be in social networks that generate good vibes to feel and spread happiness. Start spreading the infection of your smile.
Living together brings in happiness. If a man and a woman lives together, it might bring more happiness irrespective of their marital status. When two mature adults of opposite sex live together, sexual relationship comes in without saying.
Indian society is said to be more liberal in terms of relationships. But in many cases, neighbours and society will not reflect this. Unless there is prostitution, or unlawful activities, why somebody should bother about relationships of others.
This happened in case of Khusboo when she expressed such views in her interviews. Many found fault in her and filed criminal cases. Finally, Supreme Court endorsed Khushboo's view and proclaimed living together is not an offence.
China Daily has published an article on the happiness of urbanites. It says, the middle class people living in cities are the unhappiest lot. Despite increased incomes, better medical and recreational facilities they are unhappy because they are unable to find time to spend with their family members. This in turn is leading to increased stress.
The same is the case with Indian urbanites. When people are getting enough incomes to meet their costs of living, a gradual shift takes place from earning to quality of life. spending some quality of life with family is also part of quality of life, which urban middle class people are not getting.
'Be happy and keep your heart healthy' is the formula given by a recent study published in the European Heart Journal. Heart's function is to keep the engine of the body running. In that way it keeps us alive and alert. If there is no circulation, there is no consciousness. Without consciousness there is no felling including happiness.
According to the study, this works in reverse direction also. Try to be happy and keep your heart cheerful. In the 10 year study by the Columbia University, the prime finding was that the sufferers of cardiac ailments were not the happy people. Happiest people have not experienced cardiac problems much.
When you are happy, novelty attracts. When you are sad, you may look for familiar things. These are the findings of a study conducted by University of California, San Diego psychology professor Piotr Winkielman and Marieke de Vries, currently affiliated with the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands.
According to this study, when we are sad, we turn to familiar things and comfort foods. These findings are important for interpersonal relationships and persuasion professions.
Companies introduce novel products in the backdrop of happy environment that encourage a happy and playful mood. While doing so they know that people will not try new things if the mood around that is not happy.
As predicted, saddened participants showed the classic preference for the familiar, even smiling at the sight of familiar patterns. A happy mood, however, eliminated the preference.
"When you're happy," researchers say, "known things, familiar things lose their appeal. Novelty, on the other hand, becomes more attractive.
We know happiness comes more from within and only up to some extent comes from outside world. When we look at such external things, important ones are those accrued with social status. How do we measure this?
Dopamine, a brain chemical, plays a key role in experiencing life as rewarding and stimulating. Researchers Dr. Martinez and colleagues found that increased social status and increased social support is directly proportionate to the density of dopamine in the region of brain responsible for the feeling of life fulfillment.
In simple words, people who climb up the ladder of social status experience life filled with more completeness and satisfaction. In the words of Martinez, low levels of dopamine receptors were common in people of lower rung of the society.
So we remember once again we are social creatures. Let us enjoy being in the midst of people. Sangham Saranam Gachchami.
You might have read a blogpost here in which we have explained the need for happiness audit from the level of a personal life to Governments. We also mentioned that Bhutan is the pioneer and only country that has a Happiness Index and it gives more weight to it than the general life indicators like GDP or Life expectancy.
Now there is a call in Britain by Geoff Mulgan, Director of the Young Foundation, and co-author of The State of Happiness report of the Young Foundation and the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).
Happiness is not on the agenda of the politicians in most parts of the world and Britain is not an exception so far. If Government and politicians listen to the call of Geoff Mulgan, what effects the happiness of private lives may become the basis of public policies in the future.
If this thought process gains momentum and implemented in whatever manner possible, policy decisions will have a basis of people's behaviours, psychology and sociology.
If we understand the difference between short term spikes in our moods due to sensual pleasures or emotions carefully, we will start to understand what is long-term happiness. People often think sensual pleasures or self cherishing as happiness.
If we analyse closely, we will begin to understand such spikes last only for short term. Whatever lasts only for short period of time and leaves some hangover effect or void after that, it cannot be called long-term happiness. So what sustains for long-term?
Analyse for just few minutes a day for two or three days, you will understand some mundane chores to create a kind of tranquil environment inside your head; and some so called excitements leaving a kind of upper in your mind followed by a long downer. This is just a lull.
Then if you continue to analyse such events and happenings in your internal and external environment, you will be slowly knowing the source for long-term and sustainable happiness is in our internal environment and not in outside environment.
Everybody longs for happiness. While doing so, people go after some pleasures. Here, the real problem is inability to distinguish what really lasts longer and what disappears like a water drop on the frying pan.
If we understand closely, persons, events and things bring us happiness. Whenever we come into contact with these three categories, there will be some short term happiness. But soon we recognise that is short lived and we know the long-term happiness or sustainable happiness if totally different and we cannot get it through the above categories.
Then what exactly is sustainable happiness and how to be in that state always. In a nutshell, we can say that does not depend on any external factor, possessions or your ability to purchase, etc.
How do we train our mind to achieve that state of sustainable happiness? Read the next post.
Matthieu Ricard, who has been declared by many newspapers the happiest man in the world, is not really happy about the media labeling him so. He says in his blog, he might be the happiest person, but there are many others like him.
He recounts how it started when he participated in an ABC documentary long back. He suggests anyone can be happy if he cultivates wisdom, altruism and compassion for a quite long period. He also advises to eradicate mental toxins such as hatred, attachment, and ignorance completely.
He humbly says in his blog that he tried to make a disclaimer, but quite in vain. He says all of us can be happy with these few tips. There were more than 15 people who experienced similar bliss, according to him. But, incidentally, he was the first man to participate in such experiments of neuro scientists.
Now, you can work out to be in that slot. Be happy or happiest. But do not tell anybody that you are happiest, because the debates of how, what and when can make you unhappy.
Matthieu Ricard is the happiest living man on this earth, according to the US neuroscientists. What makes him to be so happy. Here are few things. First one is meditation, through which he achieved two things. He came to know happiness should be explored from within. He also cam to know rewiring of the mind by our own efforts can bring happiness, which is possible only through meditation.
He has the authority to say these things because he was very well of materially in Paris before becoming a monk. If you feel intellectual pursuits give happiness, he proved it to be wrong as he was a famous genetic scientist. By analysing his activities before and after becoming monk, we can understand that material things can only bring momentary happiness and it will not last longer. Secondly, intellectual pursuits bring some kind of satisfaction, but not permanent happiness.
According to Ricard, consciousness, mindfulness, and lloving kindness are some of the ways that we experience through meditation that leads us on to the path of happiness. If you are "stubbornly stuck" in your brain, in the loops of anger, jealousy, love, hatred and a host of other emotions, you might be distancing yourself from the happiness.
Ricard's example clearly makes us understand that we can program our mind to be happy regardless of the situations we face in our daily lives.
In the life of a person there will be happy days as well as sad ones. This is in a journey of a person in the time-line. Similarly people across the globe experience more sadness in one place and happiness in another place. This is because where they live.
Recently there was a study that identified sadness or happiness of US people with reference to where they live. The survey by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came to a conclusion that New York is the saddest state and Louisiana is the happiest. All other states were in between somewhere in the scale.
So, what we learn from this. It is not just our own moods or inner feelings that affects happiness. We need to know how much the place we live contributes to this. Next time when you feel sad, check whether it is due to your internal environment or external environment. Once you make sure that that is the effect of the place, leave that place immediately, though it is great to some other person.
Several factors contribute to happiness. Generally economists list taxes, cost of living, climate, crime, commuting costs, etc, etc..... Now onwards, do not forget to think of the place you currently live.
When you offer flowers while prayers or greet somebody with flowers, what happens exactly? Flowers are not only impressive to the eyes, but also emit subtle aromas that directly reach brain through olfactory bulbs in our nose.
The floral aromas work on the endocrinal system of the body and bring in a sense of happiness, serenity and freshness. Because of this nature, flowers bacame part of prayers and offerings in many religions. A bunch of fresh flowers on each table make good ambiance for business discussions.
While decorating the first night bed, many oriental cultures use jasmine, lavender and other flowers that emit soothing aromas.
In all these cases smells are used to enhance happiness. Recently there was a survey in UK, that listed various smells that make Brits happy. The list include roses, freshly backed bread, petroleum and so on.
If you work for yourself a bit, you can prepare your own list of smells that make you happy and another list of disgusting smells. Then if you plan your environment in office or bedroom accordingly, you can bring in a bit more happiness at your work or engaging your spouse under sheets.
In one of the previous posts, we have mentioned about the potential of music in making a person happy. Similarly colours also play an important role for happiness.
We all know news announcers appearing in black attires while announcing death of a national leader in the beginning days of Doordarshan. So there is a belief in some societies that some colours bring in happiness while some irritate.
Again, perception of a particular colour affecting mood differs from culture to culture. The same colour is seen as auspicious in one culture and the other way in another culture. Then the age, gender and environment of the perceiver also affect the response to a particular colour.
If there is no such complexity and diversity about colours there would not be the fashion industry. Then if we go by very general observations, colour yellow is considered to be associate for the moods of joy, happiness and vibrant positive energy.
Then the question is how you can use colours to feel happy? You can wear the dresses with the colours that are specifically associated with your happy moments. You can plan interiors at home and office using such colours. Youu can even think of arranging lighting of a particular colour whichsoothess you.
It is not a surprise that colours alone are used to treat mood disorders. If you cannot believe, visit Solarium in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.
Music nourishes mind like how food and drink nourishes body. People enjoy music in two ways. One is when they feel the notes trigger some happy centers of their brains. Here it plays primary role. They also enjoy listening to such musics that were associated with their happy moments. Here music acts as indirect trigger for happiness. Recalling or listening to the music that was in the air in the background when you enjoyed an activity will certainly brings in happiness again.
Music connects you with your inner feelings, thoughts and subtle world. In a way it takes you closer to yourself. This gives you a feeling of richness in your life by making it more meaningful as you are closer to yourself. For that matter, anything that takes you more closer to yourself brings you happiness.
If we we observe carefully, most unhappy people are closer to other people, things or negative feelings and emotions. Being closer to oneself means nothing but being more familiar to yourself and exploring your own world from your own reference. In the busy, hurry world of activities we often tend to see ourselves through the glasses of others. This sends us far away from ourselves, which is the root cause of unhappiness.
In earlier posts we have discussed happiness comes more from within the mind than from the stimuli from external sources. We also discussed about togetherness brings happiness. Even in this case our mind pre-decides to feel happiness only in somebody's association but not in another person's association.
We all know this is very subjective. If the company of a person brings in happiness to one person, the very mention of that person irritates another person. So associations and companies bring happiness selectively and relatively.
If you go by today's news, US is very happy because India extended hospitality to Dalai Lama. Even the mention of such thinking irritates China. This is a comparative happiness towards the same person.
This holds good for companies, associations, religions, etc which are represented by a group of people. Coming on the scale to smaller size, this also holds good for families and ultimately.
Then if we think of a person, the same thing or person made him happy may not cause the same feeling next time. It changes from time to time.
All these indicate happiness is more a feeling that comes out from inside the mind. So do not try to search for happiness elsewhere but within you.
Togetherness plays vital part in a love affair, family relationships, friendship or office teamwork. In all these areas, togetherness helps to develop positive vibes among the people.
In the past couple of years the West reeled under financial slow down and many people faces severe stress on their lifestyles. In such situations, togetherness not only helped to be happy and get rid of worries but also worked well for readjust the the new realities of low income, job loss, etc.
A study by University of Denver (DU) suggested families to be together and spend more quality time daily in order to be happy and to make relationships more meaningful. According to the study, giving your energy and time to your family will give back many times of the same assets.
We can understand this with few simple examples. When we travel and sit along with a stranger, we develop some sort of positive attitude towards that person. We will not develop same kind of attitude if we are in a mad crowd even though the same person is sitting around you.
When there is togetherness in good ambiance and tranquil atmosphere, it is certain that it leads to good relationship between the people. As the life is a very long journey the same analogy applies to the family members. So try to be together and spend some quality time, it is sure you will be happy. It applies in case of your spouse, girl friend or office mate.
You can be happy if you make others around you happy. This may be the advice of our elders. But in the glamour industry, making other happy is an earning source. Some people touch the beauty aspect, some touch pride or self esteem, etc.
Barbers know this technique very well. They talk about the simple routines things like- had your breakfast?, How is your bot studying like that. Recently in Bangalore, a beauty parlour implemented an innovative idea that boosted its bottom line.
The sales promotional task is simple. It hired a couple of young guys. The duty is very clearly explained to them. As per the instructions, they keep on chitchatting and do not mind when a cusomer is entering the beauty parlour. But, whenever a customer is coming out of the beauty parlour, these guys look at that women or girl and with ogling looks, they say super, beauty, so cute.... etc.
That's all. Here is a business in making others happy.This is similar to cheer leading, but in a different way.
Recently there was an interesting article titled "Do Happiness and Billions Go Together?" in Forbes India magazine. Writing about how Bhutan gives more weightage for the happiness of their people, it has initiated a debate on "Should we include happiness in how we measure the economy?"
In femefashions.com we have published an article about Costa Ricans. According to the latest update to Happiness Index of the several countries in the world, Costa Ricans occupied the top slot. There are some other countries like Denmark, where people are more happy than peers of other countries.
Bhutan measures Gross Happiness Product as the standard of living of their people. Though Bhutanese economy is is just a miniscule, 68% of its people claim they are happy. There king takes care of total education and health of all its citizens. Taking cue from that big economy France is thinking to measure indicator of happiness of the people.
Really speaking this should reflect the well-being and overall fulfillment of life than just the number related to the perceived values of material possessions, which is the case with GDP measures.
We invite you to send us by way of comments here what makes you happy to take this discussion forward.
Tears come out when there is extreme pain or happiness. Researchers say, tears come out in both the situations to improve communication with intimate partners or to send s strong signal seeking more care than the current level.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University conducted studies that conclude tears have emotional benefits.
"Crying is a highly evolved behavior," says Dr. Hasson of Tel Aviv University. "Tears give clues and reliable information about submission, needs and social attachments between one another. My research is trying to answer what the evolutionary reasons are for having emotional tears.
"My analysis suggests that by blurring vision, tears lower defences and reliably function as signals of submission, a cry for help, and even in a mutual display of attachment and as a group display of cohesion," he reports.
So we can understand the difference between tears of joy and the tears of grief. When we are happy, tears tell our friends how happy we are without the need of verbal expression. In the conditions of otherwise, tears show how far we are from happiness. In both the cases they act as the drops of bonding with the people around us or family members and triggers for acts of mutual cooperation.
But, in order to get these advantages do not shed crocodile tears. People can find what came out from the real emotion and what is stage managed.
As per the latest report of Happiness Adjusted Life Years (HALY), Costa Ricans are the happiest people on our planet for more number of years than people of any other country.
According to the previous reports of the same compilation most happiest people belong to some other country. This is one type of estimating how happy people are, depending on many objective parameters like life expectancy, ability to buy goods or services for life fulfillment and many more.
If we look at our past years, we can recollect some happy moments, some depressing moments and mostly the time periods, we can say just normal. What makes us happy in one moment may not make us similarly happy another another moment.Then, the next question is what are the things that can fetch us happiness. Things, environment, sensual pleasures, or our actions? We can say one or many of these at some point of time. But when we start analysing, we can not pinpoint one particular thing as source. There is tremendous interest in this subject now-a-days and boffins are mulling over to find what and how of happiness.
We will present such aspects here that are directly or indirectly linked to happiness. We request you to participate by telling us what are the things that make you happy and why. With your participation, we can make this blog more interesting and a bit more than just boring facts out of psychology labs.
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