Where does your happiness live? Part 2



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Deepali continues discussing happiness:  

I recently read Jack Canfield’s book, “The Success Principles”.  One of his assignments is to write down 30 things you want to do, be, and have.  It is an exercise on becoming absolutely clear in what you visualize for your life.  I felt silly when I first sat down to write down 90 items, but it ended up being a lot of fun.  Because there were no limits, it was quite empowering and gave me clarity on what was most important to me in life.  That’s what happens when you peel back the layers, stop judging yourself, and listen to your authentic voice.  You start living your truth. 

Only then can you follow your bliss and be on your way to experiencing true happiness.

Deepali’s piece of wellness:  Exercise your mind and get excited about writing down 30 things that you want to be, do, and have.  You will have a much easier time hearing the sound of joy when it comes knocking on your door!  
Deepali's blog can be found at wellnesskriya.wordpress.com

Where does your happiness live?

My guest blogger, Deepali Bankar talks on Where does your happiness live?

 

How many times have we said to ourselves and others, “I just want to be happy” in life.  To most, happiness can range from contentment to pure elation and joy.  Sure, there is truth in Joseph Cambell’s simple advise, “follow your bliss”, but how many of us really know what that is?  Do we ever just stop and ask ourselves what exactly we want to be, do, or have in this lifetime? 

There is currently a plethora of books and motivational speakers discussing the science of happiness.  Psychologist Martin Seligman provides the acronym PERMA to summarize many of Positive Psychology’s findings; “humans seem happiest when they have Pleasure (tasty foods, warm baths, etc.), Engagement (aka Flow, the absorption of an enjoyed yet challenging activity), Relationships (social ties have turned out to be extremely reliable indicator of happiness), Meaning (a perceived quest or belonging to something bigger), and finally Accomplishments (having realized tangible goals)”.

When I look at Seligman’s PERMA, I think the pleasure principle is inherent in most of us.  We all intuitively know what brings us that instant gratification in various capacities.  I think the other principles, however, take some serious thought.  It’s easy to think that we’d be happy the minute we won the lottery or the instant we met our ‘soul mate’.  But have we sat down and pondered how much money we really need to thrive in this world?  How would you recognize your soul mate if you haven’t really thought about your values and what you want out of a life partner?  

The truth is, many of us can’t pursue happiness unless we know what gives our life meaning, what we want to achieve, and what healthy relationships look and feel like.  We chase happiness in hopes of catching up to something that ends up being elusive, at best, unless we know the unique experiences for which we are searching.  More tomorrow about happiness.   

Deepali's blog can be found at wellnesskriya.wordpress.com

Happiness in the Blue Zone --part 2



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Yesterday my friend Deepali Bankar shared from Dan Buettner’s book THRIVE:  Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way.  The first three thrive centers were community, work and social life.  Today Deepali discusses the final three thrive centers. 

4. Financial Life – apparently, the old saying “money can’t buy happiness” may be true.  According to the research, after the basic necessities of life are met (food, shelter, health insurance), money will bring about only short-lived happiness.  The key to long-term financial wellness is to “save mindlessly and spend thoughtfully”.

 5. Home – Creating an environment that is clear of clutter, planting a garden, and surrounding yourself with items that hold meaning to you will all facilitate a happy demeanor.  Beuttner also recommends creating a room where you can engage yourself in challenging, yet meaningful activities/hobbies. 

6. Self – It is incredibly important to know your own strengths, values, talents, and passions.  It turns out that the people that were happiest in life knew what made them unique.

I think Beuttner’s book gives us a lot to think about.  It shows us that happiness is something that we can lean into by making a few adjustments in our life.  I can’t wait to read the whole book! 

Readers, I encourage you to follow Deepali's blog at http://wellnesskriya.wordpress.com/author/wellnesskriya.  I do. 

Happiness in the Blue Zone



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It’s my pleasure to introduce my classmate Deepali Bankar as guest blogger.  Deepali, a physical therapist and health/wellness writer, shares insights into happiness and keeping our balance through the challenges of life. 

Research shows that our inclination to be happy is only 50% dependent on our genes.  So what if you weren’t born with the happiness gene?  The great news is that the other 50% is largely dependent on external factors and circumstances.  It is true that we can’t control everything that happens in life, but there may be a way to lean into a happier life. 

New York Times best selling author, Dan Buettner has been gaining a lot of publicity recently with his new book release, THRIVE: Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way. 

Buettner has teamed up with National Geographic to research some key happiness contributers and their relationship to longevity.  It has led them to areas known as the “Blue Zones”, where people are reporting a high level of wellbeing.  The team found that there were essentially six life domains, or thrive centers that were common denominators for life satisfaction.  They include the following:

1. Community - the places people thrived most were those that made them feel safe and those that provided opportunities to walk - cities that had large sidewalks, outdoor cafes, parks, and gardens (way to go, San Luis Obispo, CA! – noted to be the happiest place to live in the U.S.)

2. Work – Do you enjoy your work?  Do you work close to your home? Do you regularly take vacations?   Turns out that all three factors contribute to your wellness.

3. Social Life - I once read that you become the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with most.  If that were the case, wouldn’t you want to surround yourself with positive people?  Having a close knit of dependable friends is crucial for wellbeing, according to Beuttner. 

Check back tomorrow for the other three happiness blue zones from Deepali.  In the meantime, check out Deepali's blog at http://wellnesskriya.wordpress.com/author/wellnesskriya/.   I enjoy Deepali's posts; she writes beautiful inspirational posts. 

News Headlines #9 --WIIFM (what's in it for me?)

One last set of comments about blood clots. 
What can you do to prevent blood clots when traveling?  The WebMD staff gives these suggestions: “Consider purchasing compression stockings at a medical supply store and wear them during your travels.  Avoid wearing short, tight socks or crossing your legs for long periods.  Drink plenty of fluids and avoid dehydrating fluids such as coffee and alcohol.  Dehydration causes blood to thicken and vessels to narrow. When traveling by car, stop every hour to walk around.  Between connecting flights and during long flights, get up and move around.  This squeezes the blood vessels, helping to prevent DVT by preventing the formation of blood clots.“ 

Now I will be honest with you.  I do not wear compression stockings during travel (I don't even own any.)  But it is good advice from the WebMD staff.  As I have become more aware of the risks of blood clots during travel, we do follow other recommendations.  If you are stuck sitting on an airplane and cannot easily move around, move your feet in circles at your ankles and flex your leg muscles (curl your toes up and down) several times and often.   This muscle movement helps keep the blood moving and prevents blood clots.   

For more information about preventing deep vein thrombosis, see http://www.webmd.com/dvt/deep-vein-thrombosis-prevent-dvt

News Headlines #10 --WIIFM (what's in it for me?)

New Shingles vaccine

Did you know there’s a shingles vaccine?  The shingles vaccine called Zostavax was released in 2006 and recommended for people 60 and older.  Clinical trials show that Zostavax reduced the chances of a person developing shingles by 50%. 

What causes shingles?  The chicken pox virus (called varicella Zoster) causes shingles. At present, “almost one out of three people in American will develop shingles during his or her lifetime.” The experts believe that shingles can develop years later in people who had chicken pox as a child.  An outbreak of shingles involves pain, a skin rash and often blisters.  Shingles usually occurs on one side of the body and can last 2 to 4 weeks.  Some people experience several pain (called postherpetic neuralgia) that can last for months after the rash and blisters heal.  

The CDC suggests that people over age 60 talk to their doctor about a shingles vaccine.  More information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/Features/shingles/?s_cid=w_c_dht_cont_001 and

A March 2011 U.S. FDA press release announces that the FDA now approves the Zostavax vaccine for people 50 and older. http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm248390.htm

News Headlines #8 --WIIFM (what's in it for me?)

What can a person do to prevent blood clots?  Healthy people should get up and move periodically.  Go for a short walk.  Don’t sit in front of your computer for hours; get up frequently and get a drink of water or go to the bathroom.  Drink water and keep yourself hydrated.

Healthy lifestyle behaviors help prevent DVTs.  These behaviors include being active and getting exercise regularly, keeping your weight within a normal level, and keeping your blood pressure under control.  For people who smoke, the WebMD staff recommends they quit smoking.  Talk to your doctor if you or family members have a history of blood clots or deal with any of these issues I mention here.   Women taking either birth control pills or hormone replacement should talk with their doctors about risks of blood clots.  For more information about How to prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), see http://www.webmd.com/dvt/deep-vein-thrombosis-prevent-dvt