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Journaling is included in this TED talk about the “happy secret” approach to living a more fun, productive, rewarding life.
It starts with how you feel, and how positive you are. Your emotional level — how happy you are — determines how happy your life events are.
Click the Play arrow to watch it. The video is about 12 minutes long, and very worthwhile.
If you’re in a hurry (though I hope you’re not), the screenshot below shows you the point to fast-forward to. Start at about the 11 minute marker. (The graphic, below, is a screenshot… click on the video above, to watch it.)
All of those suggestions can help.
Of course, “meditation” will mean different things to different people.
They may include things like:
- Prayer
- Conscious meditation
- Admiring art in a museum, gallery or studio, or even
- The simple act of “being there”… being in the moment.
I believe the more of these elements you can include in your life, the happier you’ll feel.
Journaling each day — making notes (words, images, a recording, etc.) about one happy event of that day — can make a big difference in your happiness.
The studies were based on a 21-day practice of… well, whichever of those choices seem most appealing to you.
Sometimes, people will become happier the first day. Others will need to develop the habit, and — somewhere around day 21 — the person will pause and realize that she (or he) is feeling happier.
Colors seem brighter.
There seem to be more opportunities, more fun, and more whimsy in daily life.
Serendipity is in your favor, and life is better.
Maybe you can journal your way to happiness. It’s worth trying.
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That is indeed very interesting – especially the part that accepts that parallel or similar ideas are equally effective at their part of the process. Prayer, meditation, silent contemplation at an art gallery, etc. – all can be effective if done for the right reason and done often.
Have you seen Joseph Campbell’s “Mythos” series on Netflix? Very top-notch comparative mythology stuff.
I loved this–thank you!
I’m so happy to be able to share this!
Merlin,
I’m nodding in agreement. The synchronicity of these ideas — within themselves and how they resonate with other concepts you and I use — is wonderful.
I hadn’t seen the Joseph Campbell series yet. I’ve had it in the queue and just didn’t make time for it. After seeing this TED talk, and reflecting on a few other things that work with these concepts, I’m making more time for awareness-type movies and documentaries. Thanks for the recommendation!
Also, worth seeing on Netflix, at least as background while doing busywork: “Uncorked” with Nigel Hawthorne, Russell Sewell, and Minnie Driver. It’s a sleeper of a movie, and the beginning is such a yawn, I nearly turned it off, but it builds to a good conclusion. It’s not a riveting movie, but kind of nice.
Cheerfully,
Ais
I appreciate this post, and I REALLY appreciate your free eBook. I have linked the first to and featured the latter on the latest post on my ADD-focused WordPress blog entitled, “Remembrance of Selves Past” I hope my readers will avail themselves of your generosity. I plan to recommend it to my clients as well, and will put it in the references section of an upcoming ADD in The Spirit Coach Training. Thanks again. GREAT job!
Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, SCAC, MCC – (blogging at ADDandSoMuchMore and on ADDerWorld – dot com!)
“It takes a village to transform a world!”