Most all my life I've been a positive, upbeat person; you could say I always see my proverbial glass of water as half full (an optimist) versus someone whose same glass of water appears half empty to them (a pessimist).
Now it appears that you can train yourself to be happy. A former French biochemist turned Buddhist Monk says he has taught himself to be happy
"Now Matthieu Ricard, 60, a French academic-turned-Buddhist monk, is to share his secrets to make the world a happier place. The trick, he reckons, is to put some effort into it. In essence, happiness is a "skill" to be learned."
Cool, where do I sign up?
Mr. Ricard apparently makes himself happy by meditating, managing his thoughts, and how he perceives the world. He was a canditate for a PhD in biochemistry in the 60s but chucked it all to head for the hills of Tibet and study Buddhism.
I can see where sitting around all day in a temple contemplating the meaning of life would tend to make one happier than doing logarithims in some classroom. ;-)
Mr. Ricard also says: ""The mind is malleable," Mr Ricard told The Independent on Sunday yesterday. "Our life can be greatly transformed by even a minimal change in how we manage our thoughts and perceive and interpret the world. Happiness is a skill. It requires effort and time.""
And of course he's written a book appropriately titled "Happiness"; available in bookstores next month.
How's your glass of water? Is it half full or half empty?
"Don't worry, be happy", it is a better way to live.
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