“Dieter, you always seem to be in such a good mood. How come?” people asked me several times during the last couple of months. Well, there is no easy and general answer to that, actually I don´t even think to have the insight and competence to write about the exact “how”.
However, I myself try to apply the following guidelines, each day, in every situation:
1. I can choose whether I want to be happy or sad, put myself on a positive or negative attitude towards life / topics / situations. I want to think positive!
2. Moaning about something doesn´t count. If I am not pleased with a situation, it is me who can do something about it – either I try to change it or I leave it and look for something else. I am in charge of myself!
3. Destiny exists and most things happen for a reason. Sometimes it is very hard, even impossible, to see the “why” behind it, it may even never be revealed during the time of life. But as long as I can honestly tell myself to do everything as best as possible, I know that I will be guided to a direction I will be happy with. I have faith!
To some this may sound weird, but up to now, learning to stick with those guidelines and apply them over and over again, served me very well and turned out to be very enriching. And during my MBA experience I had the chance to think of this topic a lot. I would like to share with you some of those experiences that gave me new brain food and kept me getting to see things from new points of view. To do so, I want to recommend you some videos I had been shown during several MBA classes.
First, let me introduce you to one of the most fascinating and inspiring speeches I´ve ever seen so far in my life. It can be viewed (as well as some of the other recommendations to follow) on a platform called “Ted.com“. I highly encourage you to have a stopover and spend some time there. Fascinating!
About the talk:
Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-awareness — shut down one by one.
About the speaker:
Brain researcher Jill Bolte Taylor studied her own stroke as it happened — and has become a powerful voice for brain recovery.
The Link:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
I also highly recommend the following talks:
Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert asks “Why are we happy?”:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/dan_gilbert_asks_why_are_we_happy.html
Barry Schwartz talks about “The paradox of choice”:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html
And finally, the French Bhuddist monk Matthieu Ricard talks about “Habits of Happiness”:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/matthieu_ricard_on_the_habits_of_happiness.html
Try them, I´m pretty sure you won´t be disappointed!
More to come with the next blogs!
So, if not started yet, go for the quest for happiness. I wish you all the best that you find your very personal one!
Best,
Dieter
