Ron Gutman reviews a raft of studies about smiling, and reveals some surprising results. Did you know your smile can be a predictor of how long you’ll live – and that a simple smile has a measurable effect on your overall well-being? Prepare to flex a few facial muscles as you learn more about this evolutionarily contagious behavior.
Posts Tagged ‘Happiness’
Ron Gutman: The hidden power of smiling
Posted by Mush Panjwani on May 26, 2011
Posted in Happiness | Tagged: Happiness, mush, Mush Panjwani, smiling, TED video | 2 Comments »
37 things we take for granted, every day!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on April 9, 2011
‘Take for granted’ in the sense that we don’t notice, acknowledge, enjoy these things fully, and even complain about sometimes…
- Waking up alive in the morning – thousands die every day
- Seeing everyone else in the family also waking up alive and safe – no disasters
- Having running water for brushing, shave and shower – millions in the world don’t
- Having a choice of hot or cold or warm water for shower
- Wearing nice clothes, with lots of choices and matching shoes and bag and jewelry
- Eating breakfast and other meals – millions are starving to death
- A job to go to – how many are jobless in your city/country?
- A car, or other means of transport that allows you to get to work on time
- Traffic that keeps moving
- Weather that’s live-able – would you rather be at the poles or Sahara?
- People trusting you with their problems at work
- Appliances and technology that (seem to) make life easier – imagine life without a microwave, washing machine, mobile phone, computer…
- Stable electricity – many places have daily power cuts
- Getting paid on time
- Our ability to see, hear, taste, touch, read, write, think, walk, talk, work, pray, love…
- Our education, knowledge, skills, experience, values…
- Having a home with furnishing and comforts
- Someone waiting for you at home, someone to wait for
- Someone that loves you, someone you love
- Kids – so what if they are not like us
- Friends, and people who care about you, people you care about
- Home-cooked meal
- Enough clothes to change a couple of times within a day
- The air we breathe, water we drink, the variety of food we eat
- Money in the pocket, money in the bank, credit cards – millions live under $1 per day
- Newspapers, magazines and books to read
- TV with 100 channels, and movies to watch
- Games to play
- Clubhouse or gym to workout
- Parents – they are the reason for our being
- Good health and fitness – thousands of hospitals in the world full of millions of sick
- Functioning government
- Good school for kids
- Weekends, public holidays
- Faith, religion, beliefs and values
- Nice bed to sleep in, pillows, blankets, reading lamp, alarm clock…
- Trees, flowers, sunrise, sunset, stars, moon, sea, mountain, rivers, breeze…
How different would our days (and therefore life) be if we noticed, acknowledged, enjoyed and were grateful for even half the things we take for granted every day? Would we be happier, more cheerful and have more enthusiasm? Would we complain less? You bet.
Right now, I am grateful for the long battery life on my mac, the comfortable sofa, the cushion on my lap absorbing the heat from the notebook, the lamp, the cool breeze from the window, the family sleeping quietly, the calm of the morning (4 AM), WordPress, Facebook, people who ask me when they don’t see a new post on my blog… a fridge full of stuff, mostly healthy!
Please share through comments (here or on my Facebook page) what else we usually take for granted, every day. Thanks for reading and sharing.
[Self photography during a beautiful drive in Surabaya yesterday, feeling the rain and breeze]
Posted in Happiness, Life, Motivation, Relationships | Tagged: gratefulness, Happiness, mush, Mush Panjwani, things we take for granted | 5 Comments »
Trick your brain into happiness
Posted by Mush Panjwani on March 6, 2011
It’s not often that I get a forwarded email with good content. This came from a friend yesterday, without the name of the author or the source. And I am copying it as is, because I believe this is true. I have been practicing and preaching this concept for many years. Try it…
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Did you know that you can actually “trick” your brain into thinking you’re happy? Dr. David Lykken, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at theUniversity of Minnesota says, “Emotions are a combination of internal feelings and physical responses that provide feedback to your brain.” In effect, you can consciously initiate or provide the mental and physical conditions that your brain will naturally translate into feelings and emotions — you basically have the power to influence your mood. Try it for yourself. Smile even when you don’t feel like it. You’ll think it’s silly but studies have shown that people who force themselves to smile eventually develop a more positive attitude towards challenges and setbacks. Smile the moment you wake up. Smile as you put yourself to sleep. Smile at everyone you meet. Laugh at the pettiest things. Get some air into those lungs! More oxygen, more energy, brighter day! Ten minutes of laughter a day –- that’s all you need to ensure a life of contentment. You’ll be surprised that in Asia, some companies have employed a daily “laughter break”. Employees have to walk to a park, form a circle, and force themselves to laugh non-stop for 15 minutes. Company executives swear that this relaxation break has caused worker enthusiasm and productivity to soar! Stand tall and walk fast. Remember your teacher in second grade? She tapped you with a ruler, screaming, “No slouching! Chin up! Walk tall!” You had no idea that she wasn’t just insisting on good posture, she was also making sure you developed a bright and confident outlook in life! Stretch – better yet, exercise! Don’t “think” about your workout, just do it! If you pause, to think about the sweat, the pain, the monotony and the time, you’ll find one excuse or other not to do it. So, don’t rationalize. Just get up and do it. You know that at the end of the workout, you’ll feel good you did it. And if you’re not exactly the workout kind, try dancing! Think only positive thoughts, speak only positive words. Every time you start to think or say something negative, stop. Change your sentences into the positive. Pessimists complain about their problems; optimists think of solutions. Advise, rather than criticize. Encourage, inspire, motivate –- yourself and others. Pick up a lesson, rather than blame. And always count your blessings. These are just a few of the many ways you can jumpstart an overall feeling of happiness and contentment. Remember that your emotions are dictated by your perception of the world around you. And your reactions are a product of choice — you can “choose” to be happy, angry or sad. As Ecrivain Lesage wrote in “Histoire de Gil Blas” in 1735, “I am happy and content because I think I am.” [Photo from the window seat while flying from Dubai to Colombo] |
Posted in Happiness, Life | Tagged: Happiness, Life, mush, Mush Panjwani, trick your brain | 16 Comments »
Why not a “Happy New Day”?
Posted by Mush Panjwani on January 1, 2011
It’s wonderful to see most people getting excited about the new year – the greetings, fireworks, cheer, and most importantly, the optimism for the year ahead.
I wonder why can’t we greet each new day with the same cheer and optimism. Isn’t waking up each morning a reason to be grateful and happy? Isn’t every day a chance to celebrate life and everything it has to offer? If that seems a bit too extreme, then how about ‘happy new week’? Could we not be as excited about the challenges and surprises that each new week brings?
This year try new month resolutions at the start of every new month. I can tell you from experience, they work much better than new year resolutions.
Next time you get a ‘happy new day’ or a ‘happy new week’ greeting from me, you’ll know why 
PS. I started a Mush’s Page on Facebook to spread the ideas about enhancing life further. It also makes it easier for you to ‘like’, ‘comment’ or ‘share’ with just one click. Check it out.
[Photo of sunrise this morning by Sara]
Posted in Happiness, Life | Tagged: gratefulness, Happiness, happy new day, happy new month, happy new week, happy new year | 6 Comments »
Happiness, Health and Productivity – best of 2010
Posted by Mush Panjwani on December 27, 2010
Here’s a collection of links to some of the most popular posts on my blog during the last 12 months. I hope you find them useful and consider sharing with friends. These may have some ideas for your New Year Resolutions too:
On Happiness:
- It starts with gratefulness
- Your happiness, in your hands
- 3 more happiness tips
- 5 attitudes of happy people
- Make the right choice
On Health and Nutrition:
- How to lose 3 kg in three weeks
- 11 benefits of eating fruit
- Importance of drinking enough water
- Causes, symptoms and management of stress
- Sleeping problems? Read this
On Productivity:
- Why and how to be punctual
- How not to use your mobile device
- 6 most common email mistakes
- Efficiency vs. effectiveness
- “I just don’t have the time!“
Please let me know which ones did you find most useful.
[Photo taken during a hike in Rotorua, NZ - Nov. 2010]
Posted in Happiness, Health, Life, Motivation, Productivity | Tagged: best of 2010, Happiness, Health, Productivity | 2 Comments »
35 Steps to an Enhanced Life
Posted by Mush Panjwani on February 20, 2010
We all want more happiness, better health, increased productivity and improved relationships. We want to be able to motivate ourselves to do the things we know we should do to enhance our lives. I try to help myself and others to achieve all that through this blog.
Here’s a collection of posts from the last couple of years that I consider to be the best, considering the popularity and comments from the readers. Most articles are short, and take only a few minutes to read. Please let me know through your comments if this collection could form a useful ebook…
Happiness:
- It all starts with gratefulness
- 4 tips for instant happiness
- Quotes on relaxing and beating stress
- The weird idea of ‘happy new day’
- Unhappiness comes from unrealistic expectations
- Controlling anger
- How to deal with negative people
- Thinking about the past, present and future
Health:
- Your health is up to you
- How to sleep well and wake up recharged
- The power of breathing
- Say ‘no’ to Diet Coke
- Negative emotions can cause heart disease
- How much sugar are you consuming?
- Causes, symptoms and management of stress
- 10 benefits of swimming
Productivity:
- The 4 D’s of time management
- 7 tips for a clean desk
- Take time to read
- Un-clutter now
- 5 benefits of rising early
- The best kept secret
- Avoid these email mistakes
Relationships:
- #1 source of happiness
- Listening with your eyes
- Tips for a happy marriage
- What do you expect?
- The power of ‘thank-you’
Motivation:
- Why most people don’t achieve their goals?
- Patience, persistence and positive attitude
- What’s true success?
- 3-part method of overcoming challenges
- Be the best you can
- Life – destiny or choice?
- Change anything
Please take a few minutes to tell me about your most favorite articles, through comments below. Thanks.
[Photo of Kuk Po hike near Tai Po in Hong Kong, taken last week]
Posted in Happiness, Health, Life, Motivation, Productivity, Relationships | Tagged: ebook, Happiness, Health, Life, Motivation, Productivity, Relationships | 12 Comments »
Be The Best You Can!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on January 20, 2010
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’” (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
“Do the best you can, where you are, with what you have, now.” (African-American proverb)
“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” (Leonardo da Vinci)
“Make the most of yourself, for that’s all there is of you.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
“Doing the best at this moment, puts you in the best place for the next moment.” (Oprah Winfrey)
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Posted in Happiness, Life, Motivation | Tagged: favorite quotes, Happiness, Motivation | 5 Comments »
4 Tips for Instant Happiness!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on November 16, 2009
“If you want to be happy, be.” Leo Tolstoy
Feeling sad, depressed or unhappy? Does life look gloomy, and the world seems dreary? Try one of the following tested and proven tips to achieve an instant shift in your emotions and feelings:
1. Be grateful for the things you usually take for granted…
- Being alive and healthy
- For the basic stuff: food, water, clothes, shelter, electricity…
- Your skills: reading, writing, thinking, driving, writing, and other
- People in your life: family, friends, people you love, people who love you, those who had a positive influence in your life
2. Make someone happy…
- Compliment people: for their appearance, intelligence, skills…
- Appreciate others: for what they do for you, for their helpfulness… your family, co-workers and others; say ‘thank you’
- Listen without interrupting, without offering advice, without judging Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Happiness, Life, Motivation | Tagged: Happiness, Inspiration, Life | 6 Comments »
Dan Gilbert asks: Why Are We Happy?
Posted by Mush Panjwani on October 20, 2009
Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert says our beliefs about what will make us happy are often wrong — a premise he supports with intriguing research, and explains in his accessible and unexpectedly funny book, Stumbling on Happiness.
It is wonderful that a modern philosopher can come to the same conclusions as the Buddha 2,500 years ago. He said that when we learn to accept things as they are we find happiness. When we cease to strive for happiness in the future we find it in this moment. Getting what we want doesn’t make us happy, being happy with what we have does. Craving causes misery, acceptance and peace makes us happy.
Posted in Happiness, Life | Tagged: dan gilbert, Happiness, TED video | 2 Comments »
Beware: Happiness is Contagious!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on August 9, 2009
After seeing Dan Ariely’s video on TED, I started reading his blog and found the following post really interesting:
Social scientists used to have a straightforward, if tongue-in-cheek, answer to the question of how to become happy: Surround yourself with people who are uglier, poorer and shorter than you are – and who are unhappily married and have annoying kids. You will compare yourself with these people, and the contrast will cheer you up.
Nicholas Christakis, 47, a physician and sociologist at Harvard University, challenges this idea. Using data from a study that tracked about 5,000 people over 20 years, he suggests that happiness, like the flu, can spread from person to person. When people who are close to us, both in terms of social ties (friends or relatives) and physical proximity, become happier, we do too. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Happiness, Life | Tagged: Dan Ariely, Happiness | 2 Comments »
Man with no limbs – very inspiring video!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on May 31, 2009
If Nick can be happy, anyone can…
Posted in Happiness, Life, Motivation | Tagged: Happiness, Life, Motivation, Videos | 5 Comments »
Relationships Make Us Happy!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on May 7, 2009
Our poll on What Makes You Happy? has got over 200 votes so far. And ‘relationships’ has continued to be the winner, followed by health and career. Interesting, isn’t it? Question is, why most of us don’t spend most of our time, energy and money trying to enhance our relationships?
Posted in Happiness, Relationships | Tagged: Career, Contribution, Happiness, Health, money, Relationships, Religion | Leave a Comment »
What makes you happy? Preliminary results!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on April 23, 2009
Here’s what it looks like, so far:
But that’s just based on 81 votes! Do you think the results would change much if we had 800 votes instead? Please help get some more votes, and let’s find out.
A respected friend of mine asked me the purpose of this survey, and whether I guarantee confidentiality. Yes, absolutely. I can only see this chart – no names or anything else. And the purposes of the survey are a) personal curiosity and b) obtain interesting statistics to share with my readers. Fair enough?
Posted in Happiness, Health, Relationships | Tagged: Career, Contribution, Happiness, Health, money, Relationships, Religion | 3 Comments »
Six things for happiness!
Posted by Mush Panjwani on April 22, 2009
What do you think really makes people happy? I have wondered this question for years. Is it money that allows you to buy the things and do the things that you like? Or is it strong relationships – people you love, and people who love you? Or is it success in your chosen career and the recognition that comes with it? Or optimum health, fitness and energy to enjoy life to the fullest? Or a religion that connects you to a higher being and guides you to do right? Or does it come from contribution to community or society or mankind or other life or our planet earth?
What makes you happy? Please take this poll and tell us. Please limit to three of the six choices. Get your friends to take this poll too. The more participants, the clearer the answer.
Posted in Happiness, Health, Life, Relationships | Tagged: Career, Contribution, Happiness, Health, money, Relationship, Religion | 8 Comments »
