Hope/Optimism What Media Can Learn From Trump

Hope is for a better future; we create goals & motivate ourselves to walk the path. Make changes as necessary, keep options open & keep up the motivation levels during the journey. Hope is emotion driven, goal directed & forward looking. You can’t hope that you did your best in the past.

Optimism/ Pessimism is the expectation for the future. Herein an interesting thing, if we explain any past, present or future event optimistically we change our angle of attack – the focus shifts from us to the problem. #Trump is a master of such ceremonies wherein the naive media calls him a liar. It’s plain & simple Optimism without trying to brush away the problems. So it would be good if we all tried to learn the Trump way of explaining things….even to ourselves. Be Optimistic about the explanations you give yourself without denying the underlying problem. This will improve problem solving, decision-making & choosing goals.

We are passing through a phase of vicarious helplessness; wherein all seem helpless during the tough #Coronavirus #COVID times. This too shall pass- let us make the best out of these times

The wise say that positive explanatory styles help during such times in instilling optimism. This positive explanatory style is a trainable skill. Media may do well to learn it & apply/ show some optimism in its news because Pessimism is a stronger predictor of suicide than Depression.

We individually can self help using our repository of previous wins, incremental successes, copying role models, imagining behaving effectively, positive talk by self or others & Meditation to enhance our beliefs in ourselves.

Persevere Don’t Quit “BE+AT” it that’s it

Do the theories work in times of COVID/ CORONA: CORONA EMOTIONS

Copy paste job on emotions management (from reliable sources); own thoughts/views are in italics; will be happiest if the message is taken even if the italics part is not viewed

Best is to form your own individualized affirmations/ actionables which can be utilized in daily life

Effective emotion management is the key to effective social functioning in modern times. The following tips might prove useful to you for achieving the desired balance of emotions:

  • Enhance self-awareness: Be aware of your own emotions and feelings. Try to gain insight into the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of your feelings.

Sane advise, ‘how’ is interesting- is it chemicals/ hormones or they come out from the depths of our consciousness or is it a preprogrammed response; ‘why’ is easy- always someone/ something outside to lay it on

  • Appraise the situation objectively: It has been proposed that emotion is preceded by evaluation of the event. If the event is experienced as disturbing, your sympathetic nervous system is activated and you feel stressed. If you do not experience the event as disturbing, then there is no stress. Hence, you decide whether to feel sad and anxious or happy and relaxed.

You who decide- couldn’t be more flattering/ demeaning at the same time- just when we had the universe to lay the blame on & self to take the plaudits

  • Do some self-monitoring: This involves constant or periodic evaluation of your accomplishments, emotional and physical states, real and vicarious experiences. A positive appraisal would enhance your faith in yourself and lead to enhanced feeling of wellness and contentment.

OK got this: start a diary & keep at it- it does help when you review after a few months- experienced it

  • Engage in self-modelling: Be the ideal for yourself. Repeatedly observe the best parts of your past performance and use them as an inspiration and motivation to perform better in the future.

Being own hero; Tricky – easier to look up to those on the outside; Sounds like a lot of thinking rather than emotions- reviewing & developing the strengths, need good memory

  • Perceptual reorganisation and cognitive restructuring: Try viewing the events differently and visualise the other side of the coin. Restructure your thoughts to enhance positive and reassuring feelings and eliminate negative thoughts.

Just when you feel happy to feel the victim/ play the underdog/ empathising with all in the dumps together; but worth emulating

  • Be creative: Find and develop an interest or a hobby. Engage in an activity that interests and amuses you.

All in good taste/ Draw a line… somewhere/ writing on the wall/ it’s not gonna be over till the (fat/slim) lady/ gentleman sings

  • Develop and nurture good relationships: Choose your friends carefully. In the company of happy and cheerful friends, you will feel happy in general.

Hold on to the ones we have… carefully

  • Have empathy: Try understanding other’s feelings too. Make your relationships meaningful and valuable. Seek as well as provide support mutually.

Can’t add much to this… You are better than you think

  • Participate in community service: Help yourself by helping others. By doing community service (for example, helping an intellectually challenged child learn an adaptive skill), you will gain important insights about your own difficulties.

Have seen it work miracles… community service, even with reward seeking motives, is powerful tool to a better you. But in times of #coronavirus better to do it while wearing required protective equipment & maintaining physical distancing

 Various ways of enhancing positive emotions are given below:

• Personality traits of optimism, hopefulness, happiness and a positive self-regard.

Keep at developing it enthusiastically; it works

• Finding positive meaning in dire circumstances.

Can’t honestly say anything… difficult to rationally agree… If the wise say so it must be true

• Having quality connections with others, and supportive network of close relationships.

Keep at developing it enthusiastically; it works

• Being engaged in work and gaining mastery.

Keep at developing it enthusiastically; it works

• A faith that embodies social support, purpose and hope, leading a life of purpose.

Keep at developing it enthusiastically; it works

• Positive interpretations of most daily events.

Can’t honestly say anything… difficult to rationally agree… If the wise say so it must be true

Happy 50th #EarthDay #EarthDay2020

Cynosure of all eyes now…smiling a little

The Earth looks beautiful in her new avatar, when in fact this is not even her pristine form.

Billions of years worth of her adornments were being lost, a small virus saved her skin …literally.

Sad moment for many, having to lose loved ones, but Mother Earth will provide succor & rejuvenation by touching us with Clean Air, Clean Water, Animals roaming free, Natural rhythms lost to the urbanized human again being recognized: Chirping of birds, Clarity of skies, regaining the wonder that is Sunrise & Sunset

If only these had been better times we would have recognized our guest status & vowed not to offend/ hurt the host again… something we have in common with the virus

One Mother Earth we all have & she has us in her safe lap

Ode to Happiness

Its #Internationalhappinessday

#Happiness strengthens confidence, optimism, sociability, resilience, creativity, lifestyle & these in turn make us more happy. Agreed.

Better being happy than stressed/ negative or neutral. Agreed.

Happiness has different meaning for different people, but generally we are happier if we think that other think we are happy

So like most of things we have outsourced our happiness also ( crowd sourcing/validation by social media), nothing wrong if it makes you happy, but the benchmark is still self validated happiness (I am also seeking your validation of whatever i write- it shall make me happy- as making others happy makes one happy you should like & spread the good word to make yourself happy…phew…its a vicious circle )

Ability to be happy & make others happy is the ideal state & a rare thing now but we all had that ability in our childhood.

Is being happy a necessary condition of a good life? Yes/ No/ Maybe ( i guess Yes: we all ultimately want to be happy)

Is being happy a sufficient condition of a good life? Yes/ No/ Maybe ( i guess No: we all have other needs- physical/ emotional/ relationships) Sometimes/ mostly disappointments are a wake up call

We need to strive for worthwhile goals/ necessities of life/ social status/ better relationships/ physical & mental health which shall make us successful & consequently happy. Agreed.

How much happiness shall suffice? Is it measurable & applicable to all? Are all successful people happy? Maybe Not

Wise people say thus

  • We tend to be more happy when we make others happy/are kind to others/ help others (true that)
  • Work hard/keenly for worthwhile goals/ interests without the expectations (easier said than done)
  • Present moment to be cherished more than past brooding & future anxieties (ha ha ha)
  • Practice meditation/ nurture spiritual self (Coronavirus is a meditation/ spiritual enforcer)
  • Write about positive experiences/ gratitude journal/ diary (true that)
  • Be Positive/ Think of a positive future (OK )
  • Acting like a happy person (?)
  • Happiness is a process not a destination (so.. i want it now)
  • Time management helps us lead happier lives (will try)
  • Maintain physical health (true that)
  • Sleep tight (true that)
  • Good quality social connections (virtually… impossible)
  • Leisure & work that engages one fully (sure whatever you say)
  • All in the mind; when feeling down, think of past good experience/ something else ( easier said than done)
  • superficial success of stuff & status vs deep & lasting happiness of being connected with inner selves ( give me superficial boss)

But all such theories don’t survive when the question is of survival: just hang in there till the tough times due to #COVID #CORONAVIRUS pass & we shall laugh (&be happy)at the theories together

Laughter is the best medicine- it does make us happy- try it every few hours – smile in between.

Solving the equation

Doing the one thing which gives you joy or doing everything joyfully?

Ancients point towards the latter- Moderns point to the former

One definition of Yoga is “doing everything Joyfully & with full Concentration”

I guess the middle path is to identify core interests/strengths/ gifts from god & then go full joy full & concentrated & keeping it all in the bounds of social good/ offerings to God

The biggest wonder ?

Our Indian mythology ( Mahabharat) tells us the answer

Here it goes:

We see everyone is dying or shall die but still we consider ourselves immortal

That has its benefits we are spared the dread of dying but say we remembered death – would it help us live more in tune with the divine

Happy Holi

May the fire burn away the negativity & the colors fill your life with positivity

Carrying the safety net

What is right about life & how can we replicate it?

Some Inputs: Honesty, spirit to outshine one’s present abilities, doing your duty bravely while enjoying it, open mindedness, interacting with people, promptness, hope, perseverance, humility, creativity

This concoction makes something happen inside us

Output: antidote to mental illnesses

So the focus on the light rather than than the darkness & lo & behold we have our own safety net

The Aims not to be missed

This were the original aims of psychology prior to WWII- Then after the war only one took precedence

To cure mental illness

To makes lives happier & fulfilling

Identify & nurture high talent & genius

Light at end of tunnel or carry your own light

Indian philosophy has talked about it for a long time; A light brought into a room which has been dark for ages will just remove the darkness immediately.

Similarly, whatsoever we may be our darkness, if we can learn to carry our own light we need not worry about it

[Meditation, positiveness, helping others, forgiveness, “this too shall pass”] ALL HELP