What’s your take on the news this August?
We are currently experiencing worrying times as the global economy lurches from one financial crisis to another, threatening our livelihoods, investments and our sense of security. On top of that the home news this week focuses on the devastating riots across our country. Rocking the foundations of the communities involved, leaving the majority of us saddened, appalled and full of questions and opinions on the state of the nation.
My impression of the media is that they love a good opportunity to focus on the doom and negative aspects of any current situation. Stirring up readers and viewers, increasing fear and hysteria. For that reason I limit how much of the news I expose myself to.
How I deal with unsettling news is to acquaint myself with the bare facts, reading opinion and comment on Google news, choosing what I want to read to get a balanced view from the broadsheets. To achieve a sense of perspective I limit myself to the news just once a day. An essential is also to practice meditation on a regular basis, helping me to keep a sense of proportion of the bigger picture, avoiding sliding into a state of pessimistic despair.
Optimistic types fare better than pessimists
Current scientific research shows that optimists fare better than pessimists. Optimistic types respond better to stress, they are healthier and are more confident, succeed better at work and achieve more of their personal goals and are happier. Optimistic types have a tendency to be more creative turning events presented to them as beneficial opportunities.
I am not advocating the “ fake it until you make it” mentality, or always looking on the bright side of life. To face our darkness sometimes is fundamental to enable us to see the light. Experiencing challenging times is part of life, it plays a vital part of finding and moving forwards to becoming stronger and wiser.
Clients work with me because they want to take more control of their lives, to be and feel happier. A key factor is how they view themselves. Many people lack a sense of optimism and feel that life runs them rather than the other way around. Optimistic happy people tend to have more control over their lives rather than coming from a passive place of victim. There is much written about the sought after state of happiness in fact there was even a BBC series several years back which you may recall “ Making Slough Happy”.
The Happiness prescription
Happiness is part of the human condition that we all strive for, when we are happy we feel younger, healthier, sexier, more confident, and more successful. We cope better in any given situation. It is our ultimate goal; to be happy is to enjoy peace of mind and freedom from want and distress, ultimately a preferred state of mind than being unhappy.
I have practiced meditation and self-hypnosis for nearly a decade, along with countless others I recognise the benefits these practices bring, rather than relying on other people or material goods to bring about this internal state of happiness. Self Hypnosis, meditation and mindfulness are ever-increasing tools that people are turning to, to help them to stay calm, feel at peace and stay in control of changing times.
Internationally renowned writer, doctor and scientist, Deepak Chopra says in the Happiness Prescription:
“ Meditation is simply a practice to allow the mind to quieten down – to get to a place of inner silence. The practice isn’t just about relaxing, it is to be mentally alert. Meditation is a way to tune into our intentions, our goals to get in touch with our inner essence.”
By changing our mental state we become more conscious of the now, helping us feel more in control which in turn affects our personal happiness. By focusing on the now we are centered in the present moment, why worry about the “what if’s” and dwell on the past? For now is a given, we are experiencing this moment. Too many people live their lives and gallop ahead worrying about what might happen, in many instances it doesn’t happen. All that we achieve is that we become anxious, unsettled and unhappy.
When we are happy we are more able to deal with situations quicker and easier and stay calm and feel in control in uncertain times.
For more information about how you can achieve greater balance and happiness in your life register now for my free Power Up Your Happiness programme including regular articles, meditations and downloads. Simply type the word Happiness into the message box.
Nicola Menage's Blog 