Think yourself happy: Why it’s all in the mind
How to be happy: Blitz your brain with positive quotes, metacognition and let the good times roll
Text: Lewee Hoi Han
Whether we agree with it or not, we’re all aware of the “5 Cs of Singapore”. Cash, car, credit card, condominium and a country club membership are the things we were told make us feel successful and happy. This belief may feel a little antiquated now, but whatever our generation we’re all conscious of it. The thing is, today most of us know that money can’t buy us real bliss. But then … what can? How to be happy starts in the mind.
Yes, happiness is a mindset and a habit we can cultivate. Thanks to evolution, the human brain is designed to pay more attention to negative thoughts than positive ones, but according to Tchiki Davis, PhD, a consultant and expert on happiness technology, we all have the power to choose what thoughts we pay attention to. “It may sound unlikely, but simply memorising lists of words associated with happiness is enough to make you happier,” she says.
This is due to a phenomenon called metacognition, a fancy phrase for thinking about thinking. “When you force your brain to use positive words frequently, you make these words (and their basic meaning) more accessible, more connected, and more easily activated in your brain. So, when you go to retrieve a word or idea from your memory, positive quotes can appear more easily,” Tchiki says on psychologytoday.com
This is perhaps why positive quotes are so popular on Instagram. Every thought you think, every word you speak is an affirmation. All of our internal dialogue is a stream of affirmations. The magic is that the act of repeating positive affirmations, mentally or aloud attracts opportunities for improvement and success. It programmes your mind (metacognition) to act according to the repeated words in your brain, and triggers your subconscious to make the positive statements come true.
Thinking positively though? Like, now? Living through such an unpredictable time is making the good vibes a little less easy to access. And while there are myriad ways to boost your mood, such as all-out exercise or purposeful meditation, there are simpler ways of generating a little inner-delight (that don’t include push-ups).
See the silver linings
As a certified Life & Happiness Coach, Shireena Shroff Manchharam realised that the fundamental wish of her global clientele is to become happier every day. This inspired her to launch the Getting To Happy™️ movement, an online newsletter community with the aim of building a happier Singapore through four key pillars: Mindfulness, Positive Mindset, Prioritise You and Happy Community. She believes that actively practising these four pillars will not only ignite personal growth, but will show you how to be happy.
As part of her online community, Shireena created a boxset of 31 cards — 31 Ways To Bring Happiness Into Your Life — stylishly designed to act as visual aids to help you fill your happiness cup. Every card features powerful nuggets of knowledge, science-backed tips or activities to help you feel, think and live with blissful intention. Some of the suggestions are Shireena’s own personal habits. “My favourite cards include practices that I have carried out for years,” she says. “Ideas such as practicing mindfulness and gratitude, being organised, setting goals, having a morning and evening routine ... they just require effort and consistency.”
Each card has a dual personality to cater for your mood. So the top face of every card features a short but poignant reminder on how to keep your spirits up — perfect for the busy of us bolting out the front door. But if you’re having a particularly crap day, flip the card over for a lengthier read on how to stay upbeat and positive affirmations despite challenges.
Shireena points out that true happiness comes when you see the silver lining in every situation and are grateful for the lessons learnt. Being happy doesn’t only make us feel good; being in a positive state of mind physically transforms us into more productive individuals who bring joy to those around us.
So, whether you’re in need of daily motivation, positive affirmation or just need to brighten up your house 31 Ways To Bring Happiness Into Your Life is a winner. We have our cards by our bed so they’re the first thing we look at in the morning. As Shireena says: “All you need are a few minutes per day to see a gradual shift towards a more positive you.”
The boxsets can be bought online here priced at SGD 50
