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No one life ever was a piece of cake! by daisy torson
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No one life ever was a piece of cake! |
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Self Improvement
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Listen, no one ever said existence was a piece of cake. We may want happiness more than anything, but studies show we’re bad at knowing (and predicting) how to get it. Well, is not the kind of man who tolerates the mysteries of life very well? He was determined to crack that coveted Lightness of Being code. Armed with data from world surveys – and there are many – on places where people report the greatest levels of emotional well-being, he set off to discover the reasons. Appreciate your freedom. By most measures, Mexico should be unhappy. Taking into account levels of income, education and health care, the human development index – a widely accepted measure of objective well-being – puts Mexico at 53rd. About 60 per cent of the population is poor. Corruption is widespread. But in terms of happiness, Mexico ranks second in the World Values Survey. Which flies in the face of findings that suggest that, on the average, happiness comes from having a decent income, a trustworthy government, good health care and higher education. So what’s cooking in Mexico aside from tamales? It has something to do with a sense of freedom that increased after the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) lost its 80-year hold on the presidency. Political freedom doesn’t always factor significantly into happiness in other countries – economic freedom to get loans and start a business often counts for more – but it’s worth noting. Get out and vote. Support bike lanes and walk ability. Cities that are easy to get around on foot and bike promote greater well-being because healthy people are happier. And people report greater satisfaction if they live closer to their workplace. Light candles. Winters are long in Denmark. Darkness falls before 5 p.m. during the short days of the year. Sound familiar? The Danes have a concept for how to cope. Called hygge, it means the “art of relaxing in a warm and cozy environment.” In Canada – which is tied with Israel, Australia and Switzerland for eighth happiest place in the Gallup World Poll survey – this could be called voluntary hibernation. Prohibit drive-through restaurants. Such restriction may seem a little contradictory, given the item about having a sense of personal freedom and choices, but, hey, happiness can be more complex than dating. Since the 1980s, there has been a ban on drive-through restaurants in San Luis Obispo. Initially, it was done to control car culture in the small town. But it has had an effect on obesity levels, promoting greater health. Limit shopping hours. This idea is like the last one – obviously not one that any politician, at least one seeking re-election, would suggest, but interesting, nonetheless. You can get an “acquisition high” from making purchases, but it doesn’t last long. Why not limit shopping options so there’s more time and resources for other pursuits known to create lasting pleasure such as volunteering, exercising and involvement in the arts? Denmark and the Netherlands, two of the world’s happiest countries, set the maximum shop opening hours at 155 and 96 hours a week respectively, reports. Live in a neighborhood where it’s quiet and you feel safe. Research shows that the biggest deterrent to exercise for many is perceived danger. And while humans can acclimatize to many things – cold temperatures and ugly surroundings – we don’t adapt well to noise. Your daily happiness can be chipped away by something as simple as the jerk in condo 310 with the loud music. Call a friend or two and invite them over for a glass of wine. Let’s face it. Research results and utopian constructs can be overwhelming and undoable. Thankfully, some happiness tips are simple. Dr. Robert Puff, Ph.D. is a meditation expert, international speaker, and avid blogger who’s wisdom can be found on http://www.Meditation-Enlightenment.com. Dr. Puff is the creator of the weekly Meditation for Health Podcast, available at http://www.MeditationForHealthPodcast.com. Additionally, he has a weekly podcast that explores the world of Happiness, available at http://www.happinesspodcast.org
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Happiness, what is happiness, how to be happy, ways to be happy, how to be happy in life, how to live a happy life,
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