It’s always, always worth questioning assumptions.

They’re built into our society and embedded into the human psyche more than is healthy and taking the time to step back and ask ‘is that really true?’ is an essential step to take if we’re to move forward as a flourishing species.

A fascinating study looked at the levels of happiness amongst a group of people deemed by their surroundings, as well as ours, to work in a trade of disgust and low class. The members of this study live under persistent cultural stigma.

They are trash pickers. They live in extreme poverty, sometimes not having enough to meet the basic human needs.

The surprise? They aren’t unhappy. Quite the opposite. And the reason why is most definitely a wake up call. [Read more…]

Here are 6 phenomenally created videos I’ve stumbled across over the past year or so.

I decided to create this post as a sort of reference page if you ever have a day where you feel like giving up, lose all hope or just need a lift.

Of course these inspiring videos are not the end all and be all. But every little helps.

I hope it proves useful.

1. “Why Do We Fall”

[Read more…]

Arguably one of the only ‘days’ worth recognising, celebrating and taking part in.

Today is the second official International Day of Happiness.

On June 28th, 2012 it was announced that March 20th would mark a day that recognises “happiness as a fundamental human goal”, and equally important, to recognise;

the need for a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes sustainable development, poverty eradication, happiness and well-being of all peoples…

It’s a day to value the notion of happiness as a primal human desire and to reflect, educate and promote happiness as a valuable aspect of a flourishing society.

Maybe the most beautiful thing about this day is the inspiration behind it all: Bhutan.

Yeah, I hadn’t heard of it before either. Bhutan is a tiny country of only 700,000 people, 23% of which live under the poverty line. What’s so wonderful about them is [Read more…]

Here are 4 things to remember when you’re having a bad day. It’s worth starting by admitting:

1. It’s bad.

Don’t kid yourself. It’s worthless trying to justify why it is infact a good day. It’s not. You know it’s a bad day. Owning and accepting it, in itself, allows for the possibility of turning things around.

The truth is it’s a bad day. That’s just fact. The deeper question is, why?

For this day to be bad you must have had an expectation of how the day was supposed to go, and it evidently did not pan out that way.

It’s natural in today society to have a certain level of expectation, unconsciously or consciously. And, for whatever reason, it’s gone all wrong.

That was not under your control. What is, however, is how you react, and what you do from here on.

There are two questions you could proceed with when you are fully aware you’re having a bad day:

“Why has this happened to me?”

or  [Read more…]

Is it only food? And drink?

Where do you get your energy from?

Yes, we have the privilege of food sources. Our body requires it.

But where does our energy come from on the nights we’re up until 7am, talking with friends?

What about the times we are taken back by an idea which is nothing less than awe-inspiring.

Do you remember when you heard such shocking news on the media or by word. Do you remember forgetting it was late… Forgetting you were ‘supposed’ to be tired?  [Read more…]