Come January
and our world – virtual and otherwise is filled with wishes for a happy new
year! But the irony, my dear friends, is that our year will only be as happy as
we decide to be! Here are 4 steps to a happier you:
THE BRIDGE:
Psychology
and Eastern philosophy, regardless of their myriad differences, agree on this
profound truth – the body and mind are closely connected at a very deep level!
The secret to a happier mind then, is a happier body!
Countless
researches in the last decade declare that exercise releases a specific hormone
dubbed ‘happy hormones’. Exercising regularly would lead to a happier you!
Likewise,
smile is a sms from your facial muscles to your brain that you are happy! The
more you smile, the happier you will be. Remind yourself each morning the wise
words “smile is a curve that sets all problems straight”.
DON’T KILL YOUR CHILD:
The lyric of
a Rajinikanth movie states that happiness is the prerogative of the children
and saints! Sainthood may be an unattainable dream, but there is a child within
each one of us! - the one that pops up when you chill out with friends, urges
you to learn new things, prods you to be yourself rather than trying to imitate
others, and pleads you to live your life according to your terms!
Have you
ever met a child that yearns to be someone else? Have you come across a child
that doesn’t celebrate itself? Have you ever seen a child that brushes away its
inner voice?
The reason
most of us are unhappy or aren’t consistently happy is that – in our quest for
wealth, fame and power – we’ve killed our inner child! Resurrect your inner
child; do something you enjoyed doing as a kid: be it playing on the swing or
eating that occasional lollipop! Keep your inner child alive and happy, and
your life will turn into a fairytale!
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS:
“If you can
make a man happy for a moment, that my dear brother is true religion. All else
is farce!” said Swami Vivekananda. Once in a while, do something nice and don’t
tell anyone about it! That would increase your sense of self-worth and in turn
make you a happy being; nothing can give you greater happiness than knowing
that you are goodness personified!
Shantideva,
the 8th century Indian Buddhist monk penned it beautifully “All the
suffering in the world arises from wanting happiness for oneself. All the
happiness in the world comes from wanting happiness for others”
Try helping
an old lady or gentleman cross the road, feed a stray dog, donate blood – when
it comes to helping people, sky is the limit! The next time you see small
children running after you trying to sell kerchiefs or stickers, whether you
buy their goodies or not, gift them a candy or ice-cream and watch their faces
brighten up!
SILENCE PLEASE:
Lord Buddha
attained Jnana when he was seated quietly beneath the Bodhi tree. Archimedes,
the celebrated mathematician had his eureka moment when he was relaxing in
silence in his bathtub! Had the apple fallen on Newton’s head while gossiping,
he would have simply munched it and continued yapping and wouldn’t have
uncovered the law of gravity!
It is in
moments of absolute stillness that life reveals its deepest truths and truth
alone can take us to the destination called lasting happiness! So resolve to spend
a few moments in absolute stillness, dive deep within and discover the hidden
pearls of joy!
Friends, the
above 4 are the magic wands that would open the gates of joy for you! Focus on
a happy new you and every year will indeed be a happy new year! Wish you all a
happy new you!!!
