Raj Persaud on Happiness

Raj PersaudI recently came across a series of video clips from a lecture by Raj Persaud about Happiness and How to Be Happy.  He has some interesting things to say about the topics of Type 1 (Hedonistic happiness) and Type 2 (Cognitive happiness). For instance: happiness is biologically wired into our brains to be a reward mechanism for activities that have an evolutionary purpose (think sex). He also says that the secret to happiness is pursuing mild contentment and that the pursuit of intense happiness experiences can actually be the source of a lot of unhappiness. Also the “close shave” theory or “what might have been” thinking.  I have not heard of Raj until today but I am glad I spent the time to watch his entire lecture. Some great food for thought and worth watching.

The Four Agreements

The Four Agreements by don Miguel RuizA friend of mine recently shared a book with me called “The Four Agreements” by don Miguel Ruiz. It is a very quick read that has the potential to change your life just by adapting to four simple behavioral changes: being impeccable with your word; not taking anything personally, not making assumptions, and always doing your best. Very simple yet totally challenging given how we are brought up in this world of fear, distrust, and victimization. I am so fortunate to have friends that care enough about me to share such insights, and now I am sharing with you.

Collaborative and Benign

I’m one of those people who firmly believe man is ultimately good and kindhearted. It does mean going against the mainstream of consumerist thought that man is inherently self interested and presently hedonistic. I smiled when I heard the phrase “collaborative and benign” to describe man. Plenty of folks will call you mad, but I for one prefer man as a positive being. Many have still not found enlightenment, yet here we are in the post-enlightenment period trying to become The Empathetic Civilization.

Exercise…In The Morning

Life is full of simple things that make us happy. Exercise is one of those. Few things can clear you head and make you feel good all over than a good sweat from physical activity. Getting into a exercise regimen helps your body but also all other aspects of your life as you begin to feel better and get into a baseline level of fitness.

Even if you have not worked up a sweat from exercise since your freshman PE class you can start exercising today. Start off with small defined goals such as walking 1 mile 3 days a week for a month. Once you have attained that goal create another such as walking 2 miles twice a week and jogging 1 mile once a week for a month. You will be surprised how quickly your body responds, and as a result your mind,  spirit, and energy level will improve as well. If you are severely out of shape, you’ll want to consult your doctor before starting out to make sure you don’t hurt yourself.

Many things compete for your time throughout the day. No matter your well made plans, things always come up to change them. That is why you must condition your mind to wake your body up early and exercise when nothing else can drag you away.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

Early bird gets the worm.

No matter where you go, there you are

I love this article “6 Travel Truths You’ll Never Escape” By Jennifer Miller. Especially the first Truth of  “No matter where you go, there you are.”

She writes:

“Your basic character, your strengths, your flaws, these all go with you, for better or for worse. You cannot escape yourself, no matter how far you walk. To try is folly.”

http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-10/6-travel-truths-youll-never-escape.html