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Happiness is ………

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The reasons for feeling good vary by individual but the overall are attributes are consistent. Our state of mind is overcome by positive emotions (joy, contentment, satisfaction ) resulting in an enduring sense of well being.

The root cause of happiness lies within.  That is while external factors influence us, at times apparently overwhelmingly so,  ultimately how we feel is our choice.

Or is it?

The brain is our engine driving our decisions both of feeling and logic.  The operation of the brain is basically chemical reactions which require among other things, chemicals like serotonin, epinephrine, adrenalin and so on.

The level of these substances contained within our body can affect our ability to decide we are happy.  To effectively create emotional well being the brain relies on these compounds to function optimally .

Personal Accountability

I am a strong believer each of us is responsible for our decisions a d determining our emotional state but there is strong evidence measuring and adjusting critical  components of our body chemistry does improve our ability to control our own happiness.

In a strange turn of events the levels of critical chemicals within our body can be diminished by traumatic events causing an imbalance resulting in sadness and depression largely out of control.

Help Yourself with Pills

In essence this means our ability to successfully combat  the impacts of traumatic events (e.g. death in the family) is complicated by managing the levels of brain chemicals, something largely outside of our conscious control.

There are ways of increasing  the levels of these chemicals and in cases where your ability to control brain function is diminished, these might be worth considering.

Stay happy out there.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Retirement Musings

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I retired today from my paid work with the University of Alberta.  After 43 continuous years in the workplace (post University) I am no longer “working for the man” (A sixties expression that has hung with me).

However, lots of unpaid work beckons me, actually looks like my spouse has been compiling the post retirement “to-do” list for the last 43 years.  That could take awhile to finish.

Attitude

As the baby boomer generation begins to retire, around the globe, we see a lot of studies and associated recommendations for how to succeed in retirement.

I am not really looking to achieve any specific aim or result so for me retirement does not have any success or failure criteria.  It is just another moment in time to be happy, enjoy and bask in the pleasure of life, albeit a different context.

I found my own attitude to retirement attitude is clearly stated on a quote from Mr. Rogers of children’s TV fame,  “Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else.” – Mr. Rogers

Leverage the Opportunity

Most importantly, retirement is best viewed as an opportunity.  It is a new beginning in which you can choose to partake of even greater happiness and pleasure from life.

Human life is a gift (I know this is a very trite statement).  The key to having the best possible retirement experience is to continue to explore all the opportunities the gift of life offers us.

Sadly, for many of my loyal readers as I move into retirement I do plan to keep posting to this blog, although perhaps not daily, so you will still need to put up with my very random musings (if you so choose),

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Celebrate, dance to the music

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Celebration contributes to our ongoing joy, it behooves us to find a purpose for marking our pleasure at an important event or occasion or just by engaging in enjoyable, typically social, activity, every day.

Holidays are designated days of ceremony, on and off as both individuals and  social groups we select significant events and milestones to celebrate but these celebrations are selective and not continuous.

Life is Short

In the context of the Universe and time as we know it our own lives are just a drop in pond.  From that perspective celebrating everything continuously only makes sense.

While the following is a trite and a well worn phrase, our life is a celebration in and of itself we should not waste any moment under a cloud of fear, anxiety or other stressful feelings.

However small or large, beautiful or ugly scary or relaxing everything we experience is ours to enjoy and celebrate.  Logically why would we choose otherwise.

Choose Pleasure

One of the greatness opportunities of life is a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment.  Why entertain anything but the joy we derive from pleasure.

We can find distinctive pleasure in everything.  An open and optimistic perspective is all you need to do this.  How you perceive your personal interactions and the things around you is core to achieving personal enjoyment.

Simply put, choose pleasure every-time, what possible reasons can there be not to.  It is only logical.

Pass it On

Another significant reason to find pleasure and celebrate everything  around you at all time is the fact it is infectious.  Your celebration will very quickly be joined by others.

Spread the joy.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

True Wealth

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Most often we define wealth as an abundance of valuable possessions or money.  Personal well being is founded not on fiscal abundance but rather on our mental state.

When we have a wealth of emotional stability and contentment we are happy and display a keenness of thought and vision.  For me, true wealth, indicative of real prosperity, lies within and is not based on physical ownership.

  Feeling Good

You may gain a false sense of happiness and joy by having solid financial resources which leads you to believe you are satisfied.  However, real personal satisfaction is based on your state of mind.

You are defined by the innate instinctive impulses and primary processes that are manifest within your brain.  This forms your ID and functions best when grounded in logic and kindness.

Give and Receive

One of the keys to personal emotional stability is freely sharing kindness.  By being kind to others you will receive kindness in return and the give and take increases exponentially over time.

For all of us, the outcome of shared kindness is a wealth of peace, contentment, and joy.

Seeking to gain solely through material wealth can actually detract from our ability to behave kindly because our actions are motivated by the need to acquire (they are not selfless).

Behaving with a focus on maximizing pleasure is not grounded in material wealth but rather your spiritual whole.  You need to act in accordance with your ID, fighting it only causes anxiety although we do not always recognize this as the root cause.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Don’t Worry Be Happy

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Time spent in a state of happy satisfaction is time well spent.   Seeking to feel joy as frequently as possible, maybe continuously, is nothing to be ashamed of.

This approach to life is neither arrogant or self-centered.  After all other people contribute to our joy just as we can be an integral part of theirs. You will still be part of the whole, just happy about it.

Pleasure for All

The key aspect of seeking to be continuously happy that moves it out of the realm of hedonism and selfishness is also believing in happiness for everyone.

Without being able to experience empathy we probably can never be really happy.   Human beings are social by nature, the extent of which can vary from introverted to extroverted behavior but even introverts are social.

Empathy is about sharing the feelings of others, to be effective this practise should be neither about you or about them but rather simply comprehension.

Embrace Joy

Enjoyment is a feeling.  While their are sub-conscious components to feeling interpreting and converting your feelings to joyful moments can be nothing more than a mental exercise.

Being sensitive to both your own and other peoples feelings, understanding what they are and the root cause is simply a tool you can use to to take charge.

Why would you let how you feel be unpleasant?  Everything we experience can be interpreted as contributing to our happiness and there is no good reason not to.

Unhappiness cannot be justified.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Don’t forget to have fun

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The purpose of our lives whether holistic to the entire population of the earth, individual or by cultural groups most likely includes a component of pleasure.

This should not be applied in the hedonistic sense, personal pleasure at the expense of everything else,  but for each of us life without pleasure to some extent will be quite empty and void.

Anytime

I have run into dissenters from time to time but my own philosophy is fun, laughing, joy are always appropriate.  Actually probably even more so in dire circumstances.

I my life on earth was not intended to bring joy (both to myself and others) than what?  I can imagine no other purpose and while times of adversity are sometimes unavoidable the ability to create fun is always within your grasp.

Appropriate Behavior

I will concede that social and cultural norms do put some limitations on when and how to have fun, but these can always be overcome, albeit gently.

Crashing a sober occasion like a bull in a china shop with joyous antics clearly is not appropriate but being somber and sad exclusively is not necessary.

I told appropriate amusing anecdotes at my parents funerals, in good taste and within acceptable context of the audience.   This went over exceeding well and I received many complements.

Don’t Let Calamity Overwhelm

Laugh through your tears, you will never regret it.  My own personal mantra, sadness should be a fleeting emotion, joy and happiness forever.

Bring a little humor and fun to everything you do, I guarantee you will never regret it.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Feeling Good

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In the Northern hemisphere, the week or so after the winter solstice is a time of celebration.  Intuitively this makes sense, in a way it is celebrating the coming of the light

That is, the solstice is the shortest day of the year and from then until the summer solstice the days get longer.  Longer days mean longers periods of light, a reason to celebrate.

Holiday Happiness

This seasonal period is labeled a period of peace and joy.   Many customs abound supporting this varying by cultural and religious background but all have a common focus – a time of universal contentment.

I have always wondered why we concentrate our focus are happiness focused behaviour (giving gifts, dancing, frolicking etc.) with a single time of year.

Sure the days are getting longer but aren’t the desires for a peaceful and happy existence something that is universal and life long.  Pausing each year for a period of peace and joy reverting back to eleven months of death and destruction just does not seem logical.

Reward Psychology

Intermittent reward is much more effective than constant or ongoing.  In fact if it is not periodic the value of a celebration and it’s associated impact is lessened.

It becomes the norm.  The periodic celebration of longer periods of daylight has a cachet because it is periodic.  Celebrating and behaving in a peaceful manner all the time is just boring I guess.

Still, all in all I think this is an illogical approach.  That being said, I wish peace and good will to all , now, next month, next year and so on.

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Stand Alone

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Poet John Donne observed, “No man is an island”.  Today this is probably more politically correctly stated as no person is an island. Regardless the sentiment is accurate, humans are a social animal.

Sometimes we prefer to live on a virtual island of our choice from time to time.  This particularly applies to those with personalities leaning toward the introverted.

Balance your isolation

Choosing moments of isolation is best for yourself and often and can be best for those around you; However, if not carefully balanced and practiced in the situational context you could frustrate others.

If people think you are ignoring them or being aloof at times when this not appropriate (i.e., they expect you to be engaged) you might be viewed in a negative light.

The key is determining the context of the situation before wandering off to your island forsaking humanity for long enough to recharge.  Think it through, will your period of isolation disaffect others, probably something to be avoided.

Don’t Overstay

Time spent on your personal virtual island can be relaxing and fulfilling.    For some, it is a preferred location.  It’s important to remember we (humans) are inherently a social animal and staying on the island too long is not a good plan.

As Donne observed we are members of a group whether we like it or not and participation is really not optional.  We need others and they need us.

Balancing alone time with people time is a critical skill in managing and ensuring you maintain an even keel and maximize your life happiness and enjoyment.

 

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

Success

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Your accomplishments are a key part of what defines you, both to yourself and to others.   These successes are dependent on your belief the purpose or aim has been accomplished.

To be successful begins with understanding what success looks like (i.e., your purpose or aim).  If you are not perfectly clear on the goal or objective (what you are trying to achieve) how will you know if you achieved it?

In Isolation

In reality, however, if your only measure of success is personal and subjective without considering the views of others, you might not be as successful as you think.

Taken in isolation believing in the achievement of personal success can still be of value to you, however, it might not be a singularly defining factor from another perspective.

That is you may consider your achievements as important and valuable.  This can be personally motivating and lead to self-aggrandizement.

Unfortunately, if it is not a common view.  This leads to the question, “Have you been successful if it is not validated by others and from alternate perspectives?”

Your Happiness

Is success what you define it to be or is it defined by those around you?  Perhaps this is best answered by the rhetorical question,  “Who is in charge of your happiness?”

Remember those around you do not define your goals, they may influence them but you own them.  Living within the context of others approval might be needed to supplement your personal success but it should not be over powering.

 

Random thoughts – keeping you on your toes

It begins with you

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Happiness begins with you.  Happiness, pleasure, joy, etc are all emotions which belong to you and you decide when and if they apply to you. 

The state of your mind is under your control, albeit influenced by other people and things.  We often say something brings us joy or makes us feel pleasure. 

In reality we choose to feel joy or pleasure, the influencing factors definitely have an impact on this choice but no matter what the circumstances it is still ultimately a personal choice. 

Success is a Choice

If your goal is to win a high jump competition, the objective is to jump higher than anyone else.  Alternately your goal might to be just to participate in the competition and have fun.

The bar you set for success belongs to you.  It is not cast in stone.  Your may set your goal low or high and after making the attempt you might accept the lesser achievement.  It is your choice.

Your happiness is what you choose it to be.  Everything begins and ends with you.  Others cannot decide how you choose to feel, influence it – yes, decide – no.

Choose Enjoyment

I start each day with a shower.  While shower I set the tone for my day.  I decide to be happy and content.  By the time I am drying myself with the towel I am a happy and content person, because I choose to be.

This simple technique makes ever day of my life a joy.  My pleasure cannot be undermined by the external events of the day  because I have protected myself with a happy attitude from the beginning.