59 seconds

Synchronicity. A friend told me about it and then on Friday I bumped into the book and I couldn't resist to buy it: 59 seconds by Richard Wiseman

Today I  regain something about emotional writing from the first chapter on Happiness:

To help incorporate effective writing techniques for your life, prepare a new kind of journal. Instead of recording the past, this journal encourages writing about subjects that help create a happier future. The paper should be completed 5 days a week, spending only a few minutes on each entry.

Monday: Give thanks. There are many things in your life for which to give thanks. These include friends, family, an apartment, your health, a job you love, the smile of a stranger, a big meal or a moment when you stood to smell the flowers. Think about the last week and write three of these things.

Tuesday. The time of your life. Think of one of the most wonderful experiences of your life. Perhaps a time when suddenly you felt happy or in love, heard amazing music, saw an incredible performance, and have it beautifully spent with friends. Choose only one experience and imagine it. Now spend a few moments to describe the experience and how you felt.

Wednesday. A fantastic future. Take some time to write about your life in the future. Imagine that everything went as best as possible. Be realistic, but imagine if you worked hard and have achieved your goals. Imagine that you have become the person you really want to be, and that your personal and professional life is a dream come true. While all this may not bring you closer to your goals, it may help you feel better and make you smile.

Thursday. Dear ... Think of someone in your life that is very important to you. It may be your partner, a close friend or relative. Imagine you only have one chance to tell that person how important it is for you. Now write a letter brief in which he describes how much you care and the impact it has had on your life.

Friday. Reviving the situation. Think about the last 7 days and take note of 3 things you have done very well. It may be trivial things, like finding parking, or more important, been offered a new job or a good opportunity.

I like the book, Wiseman sounds witty, critical and creative. Or, you can view it as simplistic, naive and empty it all depends on your perspective.

If you understand Spanish, I encourage you to have a look to Punset's interview  to Wiseman in Redes.

The absolute present

Today I read here a reflection on the absolute present that I loved, and I quote:

When you live in the absolute present, the past ceases to affect you... is present ... is absolute... nothing of what happened to me long ago will again happen to me with the same circumstances, contexts, characters, and so therefore ceases to affect me today, determine anything, frighten or slow any action.

Thinking that if I had done X, Y would have happened has no sense. Nor can I go back in time to redo the opportunity to decide, nor do I know the possibility that the outcome Y would have resulted from that decision.

I decided at that moment as best as I could with the skills and knowledge in the situation I had. 

And that is freedom, isn't it?

learning basics in the University?

I was happy to read the enormous success that Tal Ben-Shahar achieved in 2006. You can read more about it here: The most popular course at Harvard this semester teaches happiness

I think that the idea of teaching hapiness is interesting and I was wondering, if it is possible and demonstrated, as it is, that hapiness rarely depends on external stimuli, how is it that we don't get such education early in life?

Here Ben-Shahar's 6 tips to reach Happiness, they seem basic, easy, but do we really consider them?

1. Give yourself permission to be human. When we accept emotions — such as fear, sadness, or anxiety — as natural, we are more likely to overcome them. Rejecting our emotions, positive or negative, leads to frustration and unhappiness.
2. Happiness lies at the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Whether at work or at home, the goal is to engage in activities that are both personally significant and enjoyable. When this is not feasible, make sure you have happiness boosters, moments throughout the week that provide you with both pleasure and meaning.
3. Keep in mind that happiness is mostly dependent on our state of mind, not on our status or the state of our bank account. Barring extreme circumstances, our level of well being is determined by what we choose to focus on (the full or the empty part of the glass) and by our interpretation of external events. For example, do we view failure as catastrophic, or do we see it as a learning opportunity?
4. Simplify! We are, generally, too busy, trying to squeeze in more and more activities into less and less time. Quantity influences quality, and we compromise on our happiness by trying to do too much.
5. Remember the mind-body connection. What we do — or don't do — with our bodies influences our mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and healthy eating habits lead to both physical and mental health.
6. Express gratitude, whenever possible. We too often take our lives for granted. Learn to appreciate and savor the wonderful things in life, from people to food, from nature to a smile.