The song Stand By Me performed by many artists in different countries. From Bill Moyers Journal on PBS. Official web site: http://www.playingforchange…
The Playing For Change Foundation (PFCF) is dedicated to connecting the world through music by providing resources (including, but not limited to facilities, supplies, and educational programs) to musicians and their communities around the world. click here for more info
In this rare interview Trent Rezner of Nine Inch Nails talks about how to use the internet to fortify your brand, and solidify relationships with your fans Thanks to Culture Labs for the article
by Rebecca Ruiz, 01.07.09, 05:30 PM EST Forbes
1. Be at the Center of Your NetworkIn a recently released study of the social networks of more than 4,700 subjects who had been tracked for 20 years, researchers found that happy people tend to be linked to each other through relationships with family, friends and neighbors. Not only were there clusters of happy and unhappy people, those at the center of their networks seemed more likely to be joyful, whereas those on the fringes were more likely to be melancholic.
The same study also demonstrated that happiness is contagious–you can even catch it from a friend of a friend. The researchers found that happiness removed by three degrees can make you more content than an extra $5,000. The same domino effect is true for unhappiness, as well, though the researchers believe negative feelings spread more slowly than positive ones.
A recent analysis of time-use data from the General Social Survey showed that while Americans enjoy watching television, doing it too often may lead to unhappiness. Dr. John P. Robinson, a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland who conducted the research, found that unhappy people watch over 30% more TV per day than very happy people. No similar disparity was found in comparing all other activities, including sports, churchgoing and socializing.
Not only do happy people watch less TV, according to a recent study, they also spend more time socializing with relatives and friends, attending church, reading the newspaper, working and even having sex. It’s difficult to tell whether or not these activities are a function of happiness or if the activities lead to happiness, but the study’s author, Dr. Robinson, says contentment is definitely linked to an active lifestyle
Surprisingly, research shows that Americans don’t feel any more stressed or rushed than they did in the 1980s, according to Dr. Robinson. But using time unwisely–having too much of it or not enough–was recently correlated with increased levels of unhappiness. Robinson, who conducted the study, found that 51% of unhappy respondents felt they had too much time, compared with 19% of those who felt very happy.
Unfortunate things happen in life, but that doesn’t mean they have to permanently diminish your mood. Dr. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, has studied happiness extensively and has found that developing an effective coping strategy is key to overcoming most troubles. There’s also no single way to cope, though she recommends trying to develop strengths you didn’t know you had–like the ability to manage a household budget in the midst of a financial crisis.
Goal-setting has many benefits, says Dr. Lyubomirsky, also the author of The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want. First, goals give us a sense of purpose. Second, they tend to cultivate self-esteem, since the sense of accomplishment can segue to feelings of confidence. Finally, they add structure to the daily routine of life, which Dr. Robinson’s findings on time-use revealed can be an important component of long-term happiness
In her research on happiness, Dr. Lyubomirsky often encounters a behavior known as self-focused rumination (in other words, obsessing over the unknown), which many people believe might lead them to clarity or resolution. But according to studies conducted in the past 20 years, such behavior actually fosters biased thinking, impedes concentration and diminishes a person’s ability to solve problems. Breaking this habit can be tough, but Lyubomirsky recommends distracting yourself with engrossing activities.
It sounds like a New Age mantra that has little grounding in science, but being grateful can change one’s mood, habits and health. A study conducted by Dr. Lyubomirsky required a group of 57 participants to write down five things for which they were grateful once a week. A second group of the same size did so three times a week. A third control group of 32 did nothing. Six weeks later, participants in the first group were happier, healthier and exercising more.
If the so-called secrets to contentment don’t exactly work for you, try another version or interpretation of the guidelines. You may not have the same success with a particular strategy as others do, says Dr. Lyubomirsky, because achieving happiness doesn’t happen in a uniform way. Instead, think of it as a sliding scale on which some methods work better, while others make little or no difference.
Tried-and-True Strategies
Dr. Lyubomirsky, who is also the author of The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want, has spent much of her career trying to translate findings like ones above into reliable guidelines for those who want to enjoy the benefits of happiness, which have been shown to include increased productivity at work, higher incomes, stronger immune systems and even popularity. Read full article
In this vintage clip Malcolm holds his own, what amazes me is how he so comfortably responds to the barrage of questions without letting them get under his skin
the epitome of cool
In the next half hour, tackle as many of the following suggestions as possible. Not only will these tasks themselves increase your happiness, but the mere fact that you’ve achieved some concrete goals will boost your mood. Jay Gosney
1. Raise your activity level to pump up your energy. If you’re on the phone, stand up and pace. Walk to a coworker’s office instead of sending an e-mail. Put more energy into your voice. Take a brisk 10-minute walk. Even better…
2. Take a walk outside. Research suggests that light stimulates brain chemicals that improve mood. For an extra boost, get your sunlight first thing in the morning. Find the best walking workout for your exercise style.
3. Reach out. Send an e-mail to a friend you haven’t seen in a while, or reach out to someone new. Having close bonds with other people is one of the most important keys to happiness. When you act in a friendly way, not only will others feel more friendly toward you, but you’ll also strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.
4. Rid yourself of a nagging task. Deal with that insurance problem, purchase something you need, or make that long-postponed appointment with the dentist. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a rush of elation.
5. Create a more serene environment. Outer order contributes to inner peace, so spend some time organizing bills and tackling the piles in the kitchen. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizable dent. Set the timer for 10 minutes and see what you can do. In that time, take a quick look around the house and see how to get organized using everyday items.
6. Do a good deed. Introduce two people by e-mail, take a minute to pass along useful information, or deliver some gratifying praise. In fact, you can also…
7. Save someone’s life. Sign up to be an organ donor, and remember to tell your family about your decision. Do good, feel good―it really works!
8. Act happy. Fake it ’til you feel it. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile boosts your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable. There’s no need to walk around in a constant state of worry. After all, what’s the worst that can happen if you bounce a check or leave wet clothes in the dryer?
9. Learn something new. Think of a subject that you wish you knew more about and spend 15 minutes on the Internet reading about it, or go to a bookstore and buy a book about it. But be honest! Pick a topic that really interests you, not something you think you “should” or “need to” learn about. Keep reading: Get happy on the cheap. How to improve (almost) everything in your life, from your dinner order to your career. Learn 60-second relaxation tricks.
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/9-ways-to-get-happy-in-the-next-30-minutes-444895/
taken from Dumb Little Man Tips for Life
I don’t know about you, but in my own professional life I often get so bogged down with the details of my daily work that I forget – or I ‘don’t have time’ – to sit back and widen my vision, to fly up and take a bird’s eye view of the whole landscape. Being in the thick of it all, I often don’t see the wood for the trees. In fact, the very idea of ‘sitting back’ and looking at the bigger picture somehow seems like laziness – shouldn’t I be working, doing something, being productive, not just floating around watching while everyone else gets on with things? I am going to suggest that this attitude is quite wrong and that we should, in fact, be habitually taking in the bigger view, surveying the entire terrain of our lives and our world. If we don’t do this, we run the risk of being reduced to machines, trudging along, doing what we do without really thinking about why. I suggest that coming up with a mission statement can, as part of a package of changes, be a very effective way of bringing more meaning and happiness into your life. Most individuals don’t have a mission statement. They don’t have a clear idea of where they are going in life; they don’t know what they want to achieve. They just drift along, year after year, decade after decade. Most people live like that and they die like that. Napoleon Hill, in his famous book Think and Grow Rich, wrote that most people did not have a goal, did not now where they were going. He also presented a six step plan by which anyone could achieve financial success. If you want to find out about the plan, it’s presented in chapter 2 of the book, but the key element in the plan is that a clear statement of purpose, and a mission statement, can be a powerful way of achieving this. A mission statement, however, cannot just be thrown together. It needs to be carefully crafted. Here are the elements of a good mission statement.
* Your goals should be specific and clear What are your values? What do you stand for? What are you going to achieve? What are you going to contribute to the world? This isn’t about what you want to achieve – it’s not a wish list; it’s a definite statement of intent, it’s your ‘order’ from the menu of the universe, it’s what is going to happen. When you start to get bogged down in the details of daily life, think back to your mission statement – it will act as a compass to keep you on track; your decisions and actions will be guided by it. In this sense, it provides you with a wide angle lens through which you can keep the bigger picture in view.
* Your goals do not need to be (SHOULD not be) ‘realistic’ or ‘attainable’ We’ve all heard about ‘SMART’ targets which have to be measurable, realistic etc., etc. The point here is that the universe can do anything, however unbelievable or ‘unrealistic’ it is.
It should indicate how you are going to achieve your goals – this does not contradict the previous statement.
You must not include a specific, detailed plan, but a statement about what you are going to offer in exchange for meeting your goal. For example, your goal is to be the best sales person in your company – you will achieve this goal by giving outstanding service to every customer. There’s nothing here about sales targets, how many clients you need to see, how many sales you need to make etc. Once you have written down the ‘how’ in general terms, the universe will do the rest. * It should be short Some organizations produce long rambling mission statements which nobody ever reads! Napoleon Hill suggests you read through your ‘mission statement’ every morning and evening; you’re not going to do this if it’s going to take twenty minutes. And the ideas aren’t going to be as powerful if they’re not focused. So keep it short, focused and powerful, like a laser beam.
* It should make you feel good If you know where you’re going, you’ll live a life of eager anticipation and joy. Just as if you are sailing somewhere on a ship – you know you’ll get to your destination and in the meantime you’re enjoying the view. This attitude of anticipating a future you have already chosen (you bought the ticket, you got on the ship, the ship’s moving) whilst living in the present moment (you’re looking out at a wonderful sunrise, enjoying the view) is, to me, the only sensible way to live. Taking time to write and regularly review your mission statement is one of the most important things you can do in life. Next time you get bogged down in the day-to-day detail of life, stop and think about your mission statement. It will keep things in perspective; it will clarify your vision and it will keep you moving on the right course. Your life is like a ship – of course, you need a crew, busily working away to keep afloat and keep moving, but even more importantly, you need a map, you need a compass and you need a captain. Without them, your ship just won’t get anywhere
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Written on 2/10/2009 by Michael Miles. Michael writes about personal growth, communication, and increasing personal wealth at Effortless Abundance. You can download his book, Thirty Days to Change Your Life, for free. |
Education is a terrible way to find out what you’re good at. Sound strange, right? But think about this; how many of you are currently working in the subject you liked most in school. Not the one In our very streamlined public education system, children around the world are taught the maths and sciences, but how many of them are taught art, painting or dance with the same vigour?
In our very streamlined public education system, children around the world are taught the maths and sciences, but how many of them are taught art, painting or dance with the same vigour?
Riz speaks with world renowned creativity and education expert Ken Robinson who strongly believes the current state of education may begin holistically but progressively focuses “on the head, and then just to one side.”
