The science of happiness

While happiness itself is sought for its own sake, every other goal — health, beauty, money, or power — is valued only because we expect that it will make us happy. — Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

What exactly is happiness? Does money make one happy? Power... Pleasure...? And if money isn’t the key to true happiness, what is?

It has been found  that people are the happiest...not when they’re sitting mindlessly in front of the television for hours on end (even if it is a 62" LED)...but when they’re making mental or physical efforts that engage them in a challenging activity that requires skill. An activity that isn’t too easy (which would get boring) or too difficult (which would cause anxiety or frustration). An activity which offers scope for growth and improvement.

 According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi  “Contrary to what we usually believe . . . the best moments in our lives are not the passive, receptive, relaxing times — although such experiences can also be enjoyable — the best moments usually occur when a person’s body or mind is stretched to its limits in a voluntary effort to accomplish something difficult and worthwhile.”

During activities such as these, you achieve a state  in which your attention is so totally absorbed by what you’re doing there is no room in your consciousness for fear or worry. In fact, you become completely unselfconscious; for once not caring about such trifles as your appearance, what others think of you, possible outcomes (phal ki itchaa)...!!!

So to experience true bliss..be prepared to get completely lost in the moment...(jo bhi hai, bas ek yahi pal hai...)