Sunday, December 30, 2018

Happiness is a chemical reaction

It is very important to understand that our experiences are not only associated with the events of life but to the reactions we give during those events. These reactions are not completely under our control and neither are they rational all the time. We have prejudices, past experiences, societal expectations etc that decide how we react. Most importantly, our body produces hormones to make us feel a certain way. This is why the knowledge of chakras and feelings associated with them is important. Once you understand how focusing on different parts of body, opens up a set of feelings and reactions in the body; you begin to understand that feelings can be manipulated and induced.
A feeling of happiness has nothing to do with the new things that you acquire. It's merely a learnt behaviour. That's why such happiness is not long lasting. We constantly need stimulus to continue the happy feeling.
The biggest complaint people have amidst a very busy life is that they are bored or they don't have time to do the things they love. This means that it's not the acquiring of new goods but the freshness of the experience that brings happiness. Meditation is one activity that some people choose as a time to regulate their emotions. Experience says that people are adventurous by nature. Gaining new experiences doesn't always mean changing location, travelling, having a different job or a new relationship or new addition to the possessions. The cheapest way to gain new experiences is by meditation.
Focus on your breath. Feel the sensation around your nostrils, the most sensitive part that also carries the smell and can monitor the temperature of the breath.
Just like in a science experiment, the right apparatus is important. Similarly, it's important to maintain the right head posture while you are focusing during meditation. Wrong head position means wrong chemical reaction. Especially be aware of not holding your head low while meditating, it can induce depression. It's not just during meditation, this applies to any activity that you do for a period of time. Have you noticed your head position when you scroll the facebook or any other site? Do you know that the rate of depression has risen tremendously in recent years?  Be mindful of your posture and your moods.
You would have heard that a smile is contagious. It's a good habit to notice your own facial expression. Put on a smile, just as you mindfully put on the cream or makeup on your face each day because you are aware that people will be watching your face. It's not just your face that's on display, it's also your emotions. You can fake your smile until it becomes a habit. It only takes 21 days to change a habit. Have you seen how you look when you are watching a show? Not the reaction but the general facial expression when you are waiting for the next exciting thing to happen in it? You might be surprised at how tense you look when you think that you are engaging in a relaxing activity.

Relaxing is an art. it's not the activity but your mindfulness that brings relaxation. Like you have to consciously remind yourself to make sure you drink 3 litres of water each day, motivate your self to exercise; similarly, you need to set aside 20 minutes for mindfulness each day. Mindfulness is a time to watch yourself, your breath, your posture, the tension in your facial muscles, in your hands, arms and shoulders, in your back, in your vital organs, in your thighs, legs and feet and consciously directing your body parts to relax. Connect with your body each day in this manner. Contraction and expansion is the law of nature. One doesn't happen without the other. When you are not relaxed, you have not expanded enough. You have constricted your body. It has limited its ability to expand and contract. Consciously manoeuvre your body, so the posture is relaxing and you are breathing deeply enough for maximum relaxation. You deserve a reward before starting your big day and at the end of the day. Giving yourself time for mindful relaxation is the reward your body deserves. You deprive your body of the reward and it will retaliate and give you dis-ease later on. You choose today what will grow inside your body tomorrow - ease or disease.


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