Hey everyone

I thought it was a really thought provoking video on "What makes you really happy?" by Dan Gilbert

Seems like wally's "truth versus appearance" is a lot deeper than what I thought

Can we ever really know the truth unless we know everything there is to know?

Unless we get a glimpse of God's mind, the truth is that ALL of us, need only to TRUST that the many facets of truth are simply reflecting a part of what we see in our reality. We choose what we want to see, essentially. We choose our reality so to speak.

So, to be happy, we simply choose how we see so that we see a happy reality, which is no more difficult than seeing the world as unhappy. When "bad" things happen, good things usually follow, because the apparently "bad" things was actually bringing you better things! Like the fascinating story of Steve jobs' apparent failures becoming even greater successes.

Happiness is more than just a state of mind, it's our reality when we choose it to be so.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevsky:

quote:

So Kevin, have you imagined that already???

Yes! I have , though what I imagine could very well be some place in Europe that I would very much like to visit, you know, France is well known for their vine yards. Somehow i always see pictures of French countryside in magazines,and in movies, it's fascinating to me.

Hi Kevin,

Great job! You just keep those pictures in your mind and you are already there

Caroline
Have You Watched The Video?

quote:

So Kevin, have you imagined that already???

Hi Caroline,

Yes! I have , though what I imagine could very well be some place in Europe that I would very much like to visit, you know, France is well known for their vine yards. Somehow i always see pictures of French countryside in magazines,and in movies, it's fascinating to me.

quote:

Dan's video highlighted for me how the mind actually works against us.

Angelo, I had a similar thought but I would put it in other words:

Dan's video reminded me of how my mind can work against me because it is genetically programmed for living in caves. I am grateful that I am not living in caves anymore. I am grateful that I am living in a world of abundance. And I am grateful that I can simplify my choices and increase my happiness at the same time

Caroline
Have You Watched The Video?

quote:

Originally posted by Kevsky:
Imagining you walking across southern france always bring a smile to my face! It's something I really like to do at some point!

So Kevin, have you imagined that already???

Caroline
Have You Watched The Video?

I have the audio and will start listening to it today... thanks for sharing this Rebecca.

I really found the video inspiring and Dan is an entertaining speaker. It is pretty fascinating to see some of the things I have understood as articles of faith have basis in well crafted studies, and to learn more about the nature of choice.

The part about how our frontal brain works was really intersting - how we can envision things we have not experienced yet, something evolving in us - (liver and onion ice cream! LOL)

These are things in my nature: I've always savored delayed gratification because it is so fun to to appreciate things. And I've always had a nature that did better with limited choices - how to explain this - I'm good at making a silk purse out of a sow's ear if you know that old saying. It's easier to have some elements in place than a blank canvas yawning before me. With better understanding I can move forward and have more for a fuller life. I can have that feeling and skip the delay, and I'm working on keeping that feeling going and keep learning more here.

I found this quote: Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out. I don't discount the "specific CMI" idea (at all!)but there is a lot to be said for relaxing and seeing what delightful thing will happen next. You know when you find a penny on the ground so you have the childhood superstition, something good will happen today, I wonder what it is! - I am trying to cultivate that in myself, let every day be like a found penny and I sure feel happy most of the time. This in the rainiest,grayest summer in recent memory! I'm not perfect at it, but it's happening and making a difference.

Another thing I like about the video is the research that I can share with my (teenaged) kids about happiness. I want them to have happiness skills as they enter the world. There it is, hard data, not mom being pollyanna!

For some reason learning all this made me think of my favorite film of all time, Babette's Feast. It's a wonderful story and illustrates so beautifully many of the principles we talk about here and that were in the video. Does anyone else love that film as I do?

Juno

quote:

Dan's video highlighted for me how the mind actually works against us.

Hmm. That's an interesting take on it. I found it to be just the OPPOSITE. Here we can have something happen that most people would find absolutely HORRENDOUS and yet we can be happy anyway. To me that's a huge gift.

quote:

Is this the section where we shall discuss what we think of the videos??

Did I get different ones?? I downloaded 6 videos called MindMovies and a fellow named Ryan was listed on the confirmation email.

I tried a couple of them and like them.

Totally different subject, Jim. Kevin's talking about the video of a talk on happiness by Dan Gilbert, a professor at Harvard. It's featured this month on the Update Page.

If you haven't seen it yet, I think you'll find it entertaining and thought-provoking. (He's no stodgy professor; he's funny.)

The videos you're talking about are the gifts from Ryan Higgins -- Mind Movies -- that were mentioned in yesterday's "Extra." I'm glad you like them. (Seems like a LOT of readers are enjoying them.) It's going to be interesting to see how USEFUL they turn out to be.

We seem to have a video theme going on this month -- two Updates and one "Extra" all featuring videos. I kind of think we'll be seeing more and more of them now. Fun!

Hi all,

Is this the section where we shall discuss what we think of the videos??

Did I get different ones?? I downloaded 6 videos called MindMovies and a fellow named Ryan was listed on the confirmation email.

I tried a couple of them and like them.

I will read the site and look at the other links tomorrow. I am pooped from doing EFT today by tapping along with the dvd. Its a cmi of mine to finish that and have it as another tool to stay positive and on track.

Things are shifting for the better as I am meeting nicer people.

Thanks,
Jim

Hey Rebecca

Imagining you walking across southern france always bring a smile to my face! It's something I really like to do at some point!

Yes Dan Gilbert's video really got my juices going, his video has already brought a big shift in my thinking, wonder what the book would do??

Hi Kevin,

Dan's video highlighted for me how the mind actually works against us.
It seems the mind is a lot like a 5 year old child, when it has choices, it agonises on whether the "right" choice is being/has been made by always thinking about what it doesn't have, whereas when no choice is given, it's happy with what it has!

To me, this is where consciousness steps in, when we are conscious, we can have choices and accept responsibility for whatever flows from there (and find enjoyment in what is) because we are rooted in self (not the ego). The ego isn't equipped to succcessfully run our life, and yet that's what we hope for!

Seeing the Truth vs the appearance of truth can only happen when we step back and put a gap between us and the ego (I find the best way to do this is by focusing on the breath).

Cheers,
Angelo
http://www.studentisready.com

Try reading Dan's book, Stumbling on Happiness, Kevin. That'll REALLY get you going.

(I just realized it was the book I was reading last summer as I set out to walk across southern France. Had to wait 'til later to finish it as I QUICKLY gave away everything not necessary -- book, clothing, binoculars, etc.

I found myself much happier(!) WITHOUT the stuff I'd previously thought necessary. It's amazing how much less stuff you really "need" when you're CARRYING it on your back up and down mountains!)

BTW, if you missed the video Kevin's referring to, it's right there on the Update Page. (Depending on when you read this, you may need to scroll down a way to find it. Look for "What REALLY makes you happy?")