​Whether it's the comforting hug of a loved one, or the absence of anxiety, happy people understand that the key to happiness lies in people. Emotional and physical intimacy are critical to overall happiness. But there are also certain other factors that contribute to happiness. In a recent study, researchers found that people who reported being happy more often reported lower heart rates than those who were not happy.

Having positive emotions increases your satisfaction with life and helps you develop stronger coping skills and emotional resources. The longer you experience positive emotions, the less likely you are to be prone to stress and setbacks. Happier people tend to have lower levels of cortisol, which is a stress hormone. Positive emotions are linked to better health and a longer life. It has been shown that positive emotions have many health benefits and reduce the risk of heart disease.

While happy people do feel the plethora of human emotions, including sad emotions, their moods and outlooks are generally more positive. The basic definition of happiness is the same for everyone, but psychologists have found two aspects that define it as a positive state of mind. 

Aristotle distinguished between two kinds of happiness. One being theoretical and the other which is more practical. IN fact there is a famous quote by Aristotle which says- "Happiness is the meaning and purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." He gives the concept of hedonia, which simply defines 'Happiness as Pleasure', which involves satisfying our desires and self-care. According to Aristotle, 'Happiness' is not a state of constant euphoria; but it is a balance of positive and negative emotions.

Another way we can identify happiness is by a healthy immune system. Studies have shown that happy people have a stronger immune system than non-happy people. Their immune system also tends to be more resilient. A study was conducted to understand the connection between having a positive state of mind, being happy and getting infections! Researchers found that participants who reported feeling more positive emotions were found to have significantly lower chances of contracting the cold.

People who are happy often have higher quality sleep. A study conducted by Cornell University found that people who have a positive outlook on life have a better quality of sleep than those with a negative one. People who suffer from a low mood have difficulty sleeping at night. If you're not happy, you'll find yourself prone to depression and other negative emotions.

Positive social support is another important factor. While people can be happy in an unhappiness-inducing environment, the support of close friends and family members has been seen to play a very important role in how finally feel about their situation. Supportive and understanding family and friends will increase a person's happiness level. Conversely, an overtly critical, worrying, depressive or simply a very negative mindset of family and friends, can make a person feel miserable. And the key part is, we don't even need to interact with such negative people to being impacted by their sad mood. Just having negative people in our environment can seep out our energy and make us feel drained, unenergetic and miserable!

Lastly, a sense of purpose is a vital factor for happiness. People with a sense of purpose in life are happier in the long run and are more likely to experience happiness and longevity.

So now, if you are to consider your own emotional state, what is your answer to the questions- Are you happy?? Not the kind of happiness that is dependent on reaching a goal or achieving a certain target, but just happy? Do you have a positive mindset which welcomes each day as an opportunity to live and experience the grandeur of life. If yes, then great… you are walking the right path. Congratulations!! … and if not, then what can you do… what concrete steps can you take to turn around your emotional state of being- from sadness to happiness?

Sometimes people confuse between Joy and Happiness… Joy is an inner feeling. Happiness can be expressed in the external world. Joy is a way to internally connect with purpose and meaning. Once we deeply connect with our inner core, then we feel joyful, though our external situation or circumstances could be full of strife and challenges! On the other hand, Happiness usually involves pursuit of ‘something’! This is the real reason why most people define Happiness by saying things like ‘I will be happy when I accomplish this or become that’ and so on…

Joy requires some initial work towards living a ‘Conscious and Connected Life’! It requires us to be mindful, live consciously and connect with our inner being- but once we connect with our higher self, it allows us to endure hardships and trials.

Happiness on the other hand is a choice people make by the other choices they make in their life. Every choice we make is inadvertently linked to our beliefs, ideals, and values! People make a choice to be happy by making purposeful and meaningful choices in their life! Because of this, what can make one person happy is not the same for another people. But where joy is concerned- that is not the case… when we are in-sync with our authentic self, we feel Joyful…

Happiness is often viewed as the opposite to sadness. Though this can be misleading since it is very much possible to feel both ‘happy and sad’ at the same time and many a times, about the same thing! For e.g. you get an exciting new job offer in another state and are happy about leaving the next and exploring the greater outside world… BUT at the same time, you know that you will miss the safety, support and cocoon of being at home with parents. So, in this case, you will be feeling happy and sad about the same topic of taking up a new job away from home.

Joy on the other hand does not have any opposite per se! It springs forth in our mind and heart as pleasant feelings and sensations because of our connection with our true self, making us do activities that are in-sync and in accordance with our genuine authentic self!
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Every person has the ability to establish such a deep connection and feel profound joy in their life!

Conscious living is very much essential in today’s fast moving world. Whenever one starts living consciously, one becomes more aware about one’s own self and being.  

One starts observing situations and analyses the information gathered by the senses. Taking the right decisions at the right situations with right attitude, etc is the outcome of conscious living. The thoughts which were directed towards external objects are diverted inwards. The scattered mind becomes focused mind thus improves the productivity in professional life. 
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Once there is proper intellectual understanding about one’s own mind and being, the fear is driven out from the mind.  The doubts arising out of fear vanishes and the confidence level increases. It happens with both the personal and professional life.  One becomes more aware about the social and family responsibilities. 

The mind automatically starts managing the emotions, expectations, desires. One gets an understanding that he is not limited to this body. It is possible to understand one’s own nature and thus possible to overcome his own limitations and constraints in the character. The level of concentration increases, and one can focus on any aspect according to the situation, without any distraction. 

Conscious living is again a transformation of one’s basic nature and quality of mind. One starts experiencing that the events in the life as just natural happenings and realizes that the body and mind are only the instruments to perform the actions.  Rather than expectations driving the mind, self confidence increases through this process and the individual is driven by confidence and faith.  

Conscious Living must start by synchronizing the body and the mind by being aware on each and every action performed by the body.   This is because, whatever the thoughts arise in the mind, the intellect analyses it and executes through the sense of organs in the body.  Through increased awareness, one thinks a before performing any action thus the intellectual discrimination starts. 

Let it be any situation in the life, one who is sharp only can win the adverse situations by overcoming the difficulties.  The individual is aware about what to talk, when and where.  

Basically, one starts facing the situations wisely. One can use this awareness to increase productivity so as to manage multiple jobs and responsibilities.  The mind becomes free from fear and is equipped to grasp new ideas and concepts.  One starts accepting the situations with the understanding that with the help of the effort put forth, the success comes naturally. One starts accepting failures also by realizing the fact that it is natural and keeps trying for the next chance of success.  

A selfless attitude starts developing internally and a good relationship is established with the fellow beings. One becomes broad minded and is capable of accepting limitations of other individuals. 

Since there is no fear, worries and tensions, there is no mental stress or struggle.  This attitude keeps the diseases away and helps to manage the health in a good way.

​Categories: 
Conscious Living,   Journey To Oneness, Joy And Happiness,   and   Tools And Techniques

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#journeytooneness #artofhappiness #spirituallessons #findinghappiness #happiness #becomminghappy  #ascension  #joyandhappiness #joy #happy #walkingthepath #consciousliving #workingwithenergy  #empowerment   #divine  #quantumliving  #spiritualjourney #universalenergy #energymodulation

It seems like slowly travel is opening. Particularly as spring approaches and snow starts to melt, it gives us a great opportunity to explore our neighboring areas. Ofcourse this is in the northern hemisphere. But even in the southern experience, as they experience fall, it is a great time to see nature transform and change color!

​If you are able to travel internationally then that ofcourse is an amazing away to explore life experiences. But even taking local road trips can help to open your heart with the exhilarating experience of travel- it will open your heart to fun, thrill, and joy.

Travel has a way of opening us up to the grandeur of life!! It is not just about getting exposure to various people and cultures, their foods and way of life; but the very act of venturing out into the big world, without the comfort of home and the familiarity of known people, has a way of opening up our hearts to trust and surrender- two important states to initiate any kind of spiritual ascension...

Ever looked at a star-studded sky? There is something extremely profound and yet very endearing about it.

It not only conjures up images of love and romance but has the ability of making us feel connected to the Universe- as if, the dots in the sky are a reflection of the dots (situations and events) in our life.

Looking up at the stars inevitably makes us reflect on the grandeur of this Universe and contemplate on who created this vast expanse!!

​We all tend to look at travel brochures and wish that we could take some time off and go somewhere exotic. Travelling has a wonderful way of opening our senses. And particularly after having been couped up for most of last year, people are getting ready to explore more… not just places that are far and wide but also typically ignored places in their neighborhood, in this city or state. 
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There is something very powerful about travelling. It makes us forget the drudgery of our day-to-day existence and takes us beyond all the humdrum of daily life to the vast expansiveness of nature’s creation. When we travel to some place amazing, we cannot but admire how our majestic earth must have been created all those millions… billions… gazillions of years ago. 

We cannot help our self but wonder on how all the rocks must have come together to form giant mountains and how all the water vapors must have condensed to form our huge oceans. 

​Machu Picchu is one such amazing place. Located in Peru, it was home to the Incas. At one time they were very wise and powerful and now they are no more. All that remains are merely structures, trails and archaeological evidence of their once grand existence!

There are many such places, for e.g. Rishikesh in India or the great pyramids where we can almost sense all those people who walked this earth before us.

The grandeur of the structure along with the stories of the rise and fall of various tribes and nations, helps us to recognize not just our mortality, but also realize that ultimately all our strivings, all our achievements are one day going to return to dust from where we came!!
 
Seeing this bigger picture, helps us to view our life in the bigger context- i.e the bigger scheme of things. It is great to work hard and strive for that promotion or want to make that extra money so you can afford a bigger house or that Ferrari, but we realize that ultimately these are all short-lived.

Our world exists, because of 'us'… and it is important to recognize this importance of the 'I' not in terms of egoistic demands as we usually do with a false sense of our own importance, but in terms of our deep and complete existence. And needless to say, our total existence is about our connection with each other- i.e. our consciousness with and within the collective consciousness.

As you are probably getting ready to plan your next vacation in spring, try to visit some place amazing. In fact, why wait till then, if you are not being locked down and if you live close to any magnificent park, mountains, oceans or any place beautiful and natural, then plan to go there over the weekend and just sit back and reflect… on how you fit within the grand scheme of things. How your wants and wishes… your aspirations and ambitions fit into the bigger context of your life on this earth and also how your very existence plays its own role, fits within the grand scheme and context of our collective existence on this planet…

Categories: 
Joy And Happiness ,   Life Adventures   and   Tools And Techniques

Keywords and Tags:
#journeytooneness #artofhappiness #spirituallessons #findinghappiness #happiness #becomminghappy #joyandhappiness #joy #happy #consciousliving  #wholisticlifestyle #naturalliving #tipsforconsciousliving #collectiveconsciousness #consciousness #gaia    #motherearth   #maitreyiparadigm

​History can not only teach us about the past, but also enliven our living experience in the present.  We have all heard about how “history repeats itself” and that the best way to find a way out of our current difficulties is to understand and learn from our past. 

We may think that our ‘current’ is very different from all these people who lived before us! People from the past who rode on horses does not seem relatable when we are worried about making our monthly car-payments!! 

​We may wonder- how can history teach us about the pressures of living up to the whim of our social circle- in the increasing presence of social media, when there was no Twitter, Facebook or fast communications in ancient times!

BUT they had their own situations and scenarios- taking on debt and/or living beyond one’s means, trying to live up to the social norms (true or dogmatic) is not new or limited to our times. 

History has a way to teach us- not just about what has happened in the past but also how it can help us to resolve our problems and issues in the present. What is needed of us, is an ability to look beyond the external dissimilarities and to find to the underlying common thread of human life- this has and will continue to stay the same…
 
Even though it is great to immerse oneself in such history places. It is not always convenient or possible for people- particularly in today’s times- where travel itself has its own challenges!!

Here is a way that you can still benefit from this idea- visit a historic part of your town/city. Every city, every town, every village has its own historic district- how the early settlers got there. How the place developed over the years and how it has transformed itself over time- all these things will help you to immerse not just in your local history, but also help you to feel an essential part of the current community. 

And if nothing else- visit the local museum and get a feel for the past. Look at the various artifacts and get to know the chronicle of events in that area- try this out!! 

Many a times, when we know the history and truly understand the morphosis, transformation of that region over the years- it helps one to feel a deeper connection with all those who have lived there in the past and also a deep connection with all the residents who are now that community.

You will be amazed at the profound way in which you will start to re-see your own local region- ‘as if with a set of new pair of eyes’!!

​#history #travel #historicdistrict #historicplaces #historictravel #museums #community #region #localdistrict #localcommunity #historicevents #journeytooneness #artofhappiness #spirituallessons #findinghappiness #happiness #becomminghappy #joyandhappiness #joy #happy #consciousliving #tipsforconsciousliving

No matter, how bad or distressing we may feel our situation Is- we need to take comfort in the knowledge that ultimately this material creation is limited in what it can provide us. 
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It is true that we need to feel certain level of physical comfort to pursue spiritual aspirations, but we need to always remember that ultimate joy and satisfaction can only be obtained when we are at a higher level of consciousness. i.e. we are able to be in this world, to live it fully with total engagement, but at the same time, not be of this world, i.e. maintain a certain distance (gap) between our inner self and our life situation.

So, do the required actions that you need to conduct to the best of your ability- but at the same time, make sure you set aside some time each day to re-focus and center yourself. 
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Get in touch with the divine within, your own true (higher) self. This in turn will give you the required determination and grit to get thru the toughest of challenges!!

Remember- ​Mind over Matter!! Do not let negative situations deter your sense of inner joy and happiness. In fact, make a determined effort to rise above all the turmoil around and within you- make a decision to approach each moment of your life with hope and purpose. 

And finally, let your actions follow your thoughts. This way, your actions will be strategically designed to have the power of your dreams and vision and be in alignment of your long-term goals and plans.

​#lifemanagement #mindovermattter #findinginspiration #innerpeace #soulcalling #centeringyourself #distressingtimes #lifechallenges #dealingwithissues #findinghope 

Birds chirping happily- that is a sound which brings joy to our ears and hearts- at any time of the day. But there is something special about waking up to the sound of birds singing happily at the crack of dawn.
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Those of us who live in cities typically do not get to experience the joy of waking up to chirping birds. I remember couple of years ago when I was visiting Costa Rica- the first thing that I heard when I woke up are birds chirping away happily.

It was as if they were heralding the start of bright new day that was mine to ‘conquer’!! I could make it what I wanted of it… and somewhere they showed what is meant to just be joyful and enjoy the goodness around us. 

After that, the rest of the day, was incredibly joyful. I remember spending the greater part of the day riding an ATV (all-terrain-vehicle) - something I had never done in my life and it was a thoroughly happy experience- going thru various terrains and seeing very obscure places and being in absolute presence and in-sync with nature.

Today, I woke up to the sound of birds and it brought back many joyful memories of the fun time spent to Costa Rica and even before that as a young kid in Mumbai- back then Mumbai (called Bombay at that time) was not as polluted and as we lived closed to the coastline, every morning, we would hear sparrows chirping away joyfully.

How can you bring this joy into your life? Something to reflect on as we start a new week…. 

We all are seeking ‘Happiness’ and it is not some object to be bought or a state to be achieved. Happiness is a process, where we experience life and its beauty as well as bounty with a sense of joy and presence.

​#birdssinging #greenliving #sustainablelifestyle #tipforhappiness #joyfulliving