The Happy Factor
If you were to ask a group of Americans what they want most in this lifetime, chances are that a significant percentage might respond that the thing they most desire is true happiness. What does this mean? What is true happiness after all? Is happiness the mere absence of sadness? Is it inner peace? Is it wealth? Health? Balance? Attaining a certain goal? The truth is, happiness is difficult to quantify and define in a strict sense. In Buddhism, happiness is achieved by overcoming desire in all forms. In psychology, happiness relates to positive emotions such as optimism, contentment, self-esteem and serenity. Happiness connotes a state of pleasure and satisfaction. It is a state that many Americans are struggling for and willing to pay big bucks to attain.
Americans spend billions of dollars each year on antidepressant medication. Too often we limit ourselves to being happy when the right conditions or circumstances prevail. For example, we’re happy on Friday since it’s the “end” of our work week; or we’re happy when a certain person does something just the way we think they should; or we’re happy when we have a certain amount of money. When things happen just the way we want them to, then we will be happy. Right now let’s redefine irrevocable happiness for ourselves. Irrevocable happiness is the kind of happiness that is unconditional; it does not depend on anything going on outside of us. Instead it is the kind of happiness that is always present, regardless of any “other stuff”. When we clearly define what brings us happiness no matter what the outside circumstances look like, we always have a place to go for peace and love.
America is not the only country obsessed with being happy. In Bhutan, a nation landlocked between India and China in the Himalaya Mountains, happiness is more important than gross national product. So much so, that the former King of Bhutan, His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, coined the term Gross National Happiness, which is a concept ingrained in the Buddhist notion that happiness is the ultimate purpose of life. This ideology reflects that ideal that it is more important to develop a country based on the happiness of its people rather than in terms of economics alone. This philosophy alone combined with the knowing that the entire country is cheering us on could certainly help bring a person out of a funk, wouldn’t you think?
When we find ourselves in that stuck place, we can think about moving to Bhutan (or Denmark, which also ranks at the top of happy nations), or we can actively choose another path. Yes, for some people with serious depression, medication may provide the necessary relief. For others, a daily exercise routine can help us get emerge from a funk. Removing junk food from our diets and replacing it with whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables can also help us feel better about ourselves.
In terms of natural therapeutics, forgotten but not gone is St. John’s Wort, still topping the list as one of the most researched natural medicines for depressive mood disorders. As with any supplement or medication, it is best to consult your primary care doctor prior to self medicating, no matter how minor you may feel your condition is. St. John’s wort is a plant medicine that has been used for centuries for mood-related disorders including depression and anxiety. Some of the current science surround its use is inconclusive, however empirical evidence suggests that it is effective for mild to moderate depression. A suggested dose is 450 milligrams twice daily of a standardized extract.
S-adenosylmethionine (aka SAMe), produced in the body from the amino acid methionine, is another natural medicine that has long been used by doctors in Europe to treat depression and is catching on in America. It is recommended that SAMe be taken in conjunction with a B-complex supplement to avoid build up of homocysteine, which forms when SAMe breaks down in the body. A recommended dose of SAMe is 400 millgrams two to three times daily.
Adding foods that are rich in magnesium (spinach, nuts and seeds, avocados, quinoa), folic acid (green leafy veggies, asparagus, lentils, turkey, soybeans), and omega -3 fatty acids (fish, flax seeds, hemp seeds) and a high antioxidant diet with fresh berries, prunes and legumes like black beans will help keep the body healthy and happy.
Keeping a journal of emotions and progress along with your daily food and exercise log can help identify areas of attention. Keeping a gratitude journal where you record at least one thing that you are grateful for each day is another way to keep looking at the bright side of things. Trust in yourself and maintain the attitude of an optimist. If you have to fake it for a while then fake it – your brain will respond by believing you to be that person and before you know it, you will become that happy person!
January 18, 2011
by Optimum WellnessComments
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