Window Seat | Mrinal Chatterjee
Eight Steps for a More Satisfying Life
We
live in a peculiar time. Comfort levels have increased but happiness is hard to
find and harder to sustain. Market
forces are hell bent to brain wash us to believe that happiness lies in buying
stuff. The next pair of jeans, or next level of motor car or mobile- will make
us happy, they entice. We buy and as soon as we begin thinking so we are now
happy- the market says, no no, you are happy yet, unless you buy these. The
game continues.
Want
to lift your level of happiness without the help of the Market? Here are some
practical suggestions from University of California psychologist Sonja
Lyubomirsky, based on research findings by her and others. Satisfaction (at least a temporary boost)
guaranteed.
1. Count your blessings.
One way to do this is with a "gratitude
journal" in which you write down three to five things for which you are
currently thankful – from the mundane (your peonies are in bloom) to the
magnificent (a child's first steps). Do this once a week, say, on Sunday night.
Keep it fresh by varying your entries as much as possible.
2. Practice acts of kindness.
These should be both random (let that harried
mom go ahead of you in the checkout line) and systematic (bring Sunday supper
to an elderly neighbor). Being kind to others, whether friends or strangers,
triggers a cascade of positive effects – it makes you feel generous and
capable, gives ou a greater sense of connection with others and wins you
smiles, approval and reciprocated kindness – all happiness boosters.
3. Savor life's joys.
Pay close attention to momentary pleasures and
wonders. Focus on the sweetness of a ripe strawberry or the warmth of the sun
when you step out from the shade. Some psychologists suggest taking
"mental photographs" of pleasurable moments to review in less happy
times.
4. Thank a mentor.
If there's someone whom you owe a debt of
gratitude for guiding you at one of life's crossroads, don't wait to express
your appreciation-=in detail and, if possible, in person.
5. Learn to forgive
Let go of anger and resentment by writing a letter
of forgiveness to a person who has hurt or wronged you. Inability to forgive is
associated with persistent rumination or dwelling on revenge, while forgiving
allows you to move on.
6. Invest time and energy in friends and family.
Where you live, how much money you make, your
job title and even your health have surprisingly small effects on your
satisfaction with life. The biggest factor appears to be strong personal
relationships.
7. Take care of your body.
Getting plenty of sleep, exercising,
stretching, smiling and laughing can all enhance your mood in the short term. Practiced regularly, they can help make
your daily life more satisfying.
8. Develop strategies for coping with stress and
hardships.
There is no avoiding hard times. Religious
faith has been shown to help people cope, but so do the secular beliefs
enshrined in axioms like "This too
shall pass" and "That which doesn't kill me makes me stronger."
The trick is that you have to believe them.
Problem of our country
BN Neelima, who
teaches mass communication and paints and clicks photographs whenever she finds
time, writes in her social media post: My
dhobi is an expert on all things. He tells me how Abhinandan case should have
been dealt by the government, how we should deal with Pakistan, what should be
our retaliation strategy, how Modi should run the govt, why Imran Khan became
popular now, how people should vote in elections....he is an expert on all
things. The only thing he can't do is iron clothes properly!
Our country now
is full of such dhobis, who are very good at dispensing advices but very bad
when it comes to doing what they are supposed to do. That precisely is the
problem of our country.
Rajdhani Express turns 50
On 3 March
2019, the country’s first Rajdhani Express, which revolutionized train travel
in India by way of speed and luxury turned 50. It was on 3 March 1969 that the
first Rajdhani Express train embarked on its first journey from Howrah to
Delhi. It was the country’s first fully air-conditioned high speed train. It
covered the 1450 km stretch in 17 hours and 20 minutes. On its first run it had
nine coaches, two power cars, five AC chair cars one AC dining car and one AC
first class coach.
In the last 50
years much water has flowed in the Ganges and the Yamuna. More number of
Rajdhani Express trains was introduced to connect state capitals with national
capitals. Subsequently Satabdi Express trains were introduced to connect
important cities of the country.
With the air travels
becoming cheap and convenient, and air connectivity improving, people prefer
air travel over slow and time consuming train travel. .
However,
Rajdhani still retains its mystique.
Try Baby Neem Fry
Have you ever
tasted baby neem leaves fry with brinjal- a delicacy that true blue Bengalis
relish. If you have not- this is the time to do that. For you get baby neem
leaves only as the spring season comes, which is now.
Get baby neem
leaves, which have just sprouted and looks copper coloured or at best with just a streak of green. Fry it with
brinjal and eat with rice. Bitter it is. But you’ll love it.
About a
fortnight or so- the leaves will turn green and you will not be able to eat it
as it will be very bitter. In that case eat the buds. Again fry with brinjal
and eat with rice.
Tailpiece Gurugyan
Both optimists
and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the
pessimist the parachute.
(Courtesy:
social Media)
***
The author, a journalist turned media academician
lives in Central Odisha town of Dhenkanal. An anthology of his weekly column
Window Seat has been published as a book. Write to him to get a free e-copy.
No comments:
Post a Comment