Hi, I’m back!
I am currently enrolled for a Master’s in English. I aim to do some further studies in speech-language pathology. As such, I am borrowing three psychology courses. Don’t get me started about the stares and numerous,
“Are you in our class?”, “We have a class now.”, “Wow, what department are you from?”, “English! Why are you now taking this course?”
I find all the questions delightful, though, and am always ready to answer to reduce the mystery.
“Yes, I am taking this course.”, “Yea, I know. I’m here for Psychobiology/Child Development/Physiological Psychology too.”, “I’m from English.”, “I need the knowledge for my plans to switch to SLP and also for my thesis on language disorders.”
Then we both nod and smile.
I have been attending these classes since the beginning of the semester. As much as possible, I try to learn and absorb every new information that I most definitely hear in every single class. It has been fascinating. I try not to speak as much. Why? I truly can’t say. Yesterday, uncharacteristically, I answered a question in class…. and got a round of applause. I explained my answer… and got another resounding round of applause. I couldn’t help but smile (and laugh in delight a little). It was one of the high points of yesterday for me. I’ll also feel more comfortable talking in class in the future.
Right now, it makes me think of how little it takes for me to be happy. Is this true, though? Can delight cost so little? To be honest, I am not quite sure. Taking lessons from the web, I summed up 7 things (the number of perfection) that can make you happy in a day.
- Smile and laugh. Science shows that there are psychological and physical benefits to smiling and laughing. For one, those actions result in the release of hormones like dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. These, “feel good” hormones tell your body that you are happy and make you happier. Smiling and laughing may also help you relieve stress, making you more productive. But, how do you make yourself laugh? Try to observe people. Someone is definitely doing something cute or endearing that may trigger a smile from you. You could even seek out memes or comedy videos on the Internet.
- Render some service. Among all the benefits of helping others – such as longer life, reduced blood pressure, and a sense of purpose – is happiness. You get joy when you help others find joy
- Be thankful. It is pretty easy to think about all the things not going well. Don’t let me get started, I could list a hundred horrible things right now. But, a deep search would lead you down the paths of all the good things that exist, both in your life and in the entire world. Be thankful for food, family, friends, and so on.
- Entertain yourself. Music and podcasts work for me. Dance may work for you, reading may be your forte. Do you.
- Start something new. If you have an idea, go for it. Don’t wait till “the perfect time”. It may never come, leaving you feeling frustrated that you couldn’t get your dream started.
- Continue something old. Big joy comes with consistency. When you look back to see how far you’ve come, you feel a sense of pride that makes you want to do more. Keep on keeping on.
- Think positively. Sadly, life is not like a fairy tale. Bad, atrocious things happen in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Guess what? Wonderful things also happen in situations where you least expect them. Either way, life will go on. Allow yourself time to grief a sadness, but don’t let it be the hallmark of your existence. Consume your mind with the good things that will surely happen. This will leave you with hope and positive anticipation about what the future holds. In my opinion, it makes you think more clearly.
Do some self-assessment. Try to find the things that bring you joy. Write them on a list, and seek them out often.
This is 500 words (or more ?)! Talk to you tomorrow!