As part of my nutrition B.Sc., I am currently studying NLP ( Neuro Linguistic Programming) , which is largely about changing the way we see and feel about ourselves and our environment to produce healthy happy outcomes. Not always an easy task I'm sure, because the way we see and feel about these things is deeply ingrained in who we are.
The more sceptical amongst us might ask whether a simple smile = success + happiness. I think yes, to a large degree, it does. But for those of you who have heard the new age mind-over-matter-chatter, and turned a deaf ear to the motivational hype, this is for you.
Research shows that certain happy hormones are increased when people merely anticipate laughter. In NLP we are taught to focus on positive mental imagery to get a similar effect. Psychologist Suzanne Seggerstrom says that “negative thoughts and feelings increase vulnerability to stress”. There is also research to show that immune responses, notably killer T cells, are lower in those who tend to engage in depressive behaviour or negative thought processes.
In terms of this article, a happy person is someone who copes well with stress, who recognises their strengths, and has a sense of self worth. According to Mayo Clinic, happy people take the cake with the following benefits; “ Increased life span, lower levels of distress , greater resistance to the common cold, better psychological and physical well-being, reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and better coping skills during hardships and times of stress”. And with better coping skills comes productivity and general achievements.
So no wonder happiness has become the holy grail in today's society!
The good news is that many specialists in the field of positive psychology also agree that one CAN change their patterns of thinking, to re-habituate gloomy thought processes into happy thought processes.
Some simple tools that are effectively used to do this:
* Turn negative self chatter into positive thoughts. “I can't make it on my own”, can be better translated as “I continue with every effort to make it, knowing that I have people in my life I can talk to, and who support me”
* Reflect on achievements and prior positive experiences and stop harping on negative experiences. Try a daily gratitude journal.
* Focus on your strengths, and incorporate work and activities into your life whereby you can capitalize on such strengths.
Positive thinking does not mean lying to yourself – For example, if you don't have the tools to achieve something particular, don't soldier on towards sure disappointment by convincing yourself that you do. And instead of succumbing to negative self talk that will keep you from ever attempting to achieve something in the first place, tell yourself that you can gain the tools or develop the skills needed to achieve this certain something.
The holy grail of happiness is not a one size fits all and is not an over night success. Many people might agree that it takes time and personal awareness to attain and maintain.
It is good to know that with a little patience and personal observation, happiness, with all its physiological benefits, is within our reach.
My interesting resources:
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web3/Bibbo.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/19/1
http://legacy.lclark.edu/dept/chron/positives03.html
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/health/HealthRepublish_1607865.htm
Friday, August 27, 2010
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