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By: Sohana Farhin/SHEC

An experiment conducted at the University of Pennsylvania concluded that the single biggest contribution to leading a happy life is showing gratitude to yourself and others in life. Being present in your experiences, taking in all the moments and pausing to show thanks is a significant factor in what makes life worth living. Keeping a gratitude journal to write down what you are thankful for each day is one of the ways in which you can show what you appreciate in life. This finding reflects many of the principles of positive psychology, which is a way of controlling your outlooks, perspectives, reactions and expectations in order to achieve happiness.

Buddhism has greatly inspired the field of positive psychology in western countries, including Canada. Central to Buddhism and positive psychology is the Eightfold Path, also referred to as the Middle Way or the Middle Path. It is an approach that proposes that nothing should be deprived, or taken in excess, but rather that we should strive to maintain a middle ground. Maintaining this “golden mean” is said to be the root of all happiness.

The Eightfold Path consists of eight interconnected “right” elements: view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and contemplation. Right view is a way of seeing things for what they are, and not for what you hope they would be. With right intention, one consciously attempts to get rid of negative qualities. Similarly, by working towards abandoning hurtful thoughts and habits, one is embracing the pillar of right effort. Right speech and action refer to speaking the truth with compassion and engaging in respectful actions while refraining from harmful actions, respectively. Engaging in a career that is virtuous reflects the principle of right livelihood. Right mindfulness is a mental state of presence and awareness of your body and environment. Complementarily, right contemplation is being able to fully concentrate your attention towards something. Much research supports many of these elements as integral to health and happiness. For example, a recent study from Harvard found that relaxation-response techniques, such as meditation reduced the need for health care services by 43%. We can employ elements of the Eightfold Path to live life with a positive attitude.

As we grow weary of winter, let’s do our best to remain positive and keep the hearts of others and ourselves warm during this cold month of February. Certainly we can take a tip or two from the field of positive psychology to practice positivity in our daily lives.

Photo Credit: Burnjo

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J.J. Bardoel
Silhouette Intern

The teacher puts the paper on my desk. I have a pen in one hand and the other is clenched because I can’t remember anything I studied.  The same pessimistic mantra repeated over and over in my head as my eyes flicker through the questions, “I can’t do this, I can’t do this.” This is the most common scenario I’ve experienced during my time as a student. I have always had self-doubt; if I could do anything well, it was criticize myself. No matter what it is I do, the idea that the paper I just handed in is unreadable, or the job interview I gave wasn’t sufficient enough, negativity is something that constantly lingers with me. I’ve not only worried about others’ critiques, but often my own.

I am my own biggest critic, and although some call it being a perfectionist, it borders on insanity. I’ve never had a problem telling someone else how there paper was, in fact I feel obligated to compliment other people. However, no matter what my fingers pound on the keyboard it doesn’t suffice. It is only in the last couple of months, as I take the steps closer to my impending graduation, that I’ve realized how big of a problem it’s been. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it, it’s that I wouldn’t let myself do it. Why is it that I tear myself apart like I do?

For much of what I do my inner thoughts are negative, and it took a long time to realize why. I’ve never been one for self-analysis, mainly because I wasn’t sure what I would find (or if I wanted to know).  I needed to understand why I kept putting myself in this cynical bubble and got deflated when I didn’t do as well as I wanted to.

My self-doubt wasn’t because I was as useless as I thought I was (thank god), or I wasn’t capable of being successful, but because I was so busy comparing myself to others. I was making a false image of what I was supposed to be, and when I didn’t match up, I didn’t feel the need to try. It didn’t matter how much studying I did, I was doomed to fail before the pen hit the paper.

It’s completely normal to make expectations for ourselves. It gives us a goal to reach for. But before you start that assignment or cram your last bit of studying before exams, don’t tell yourself what you can’t do, because you may believe it. If you think about the reason you’re studying and apply a little positive reassurance to that knowledge, you may be that much closer to achieving that goal.

Self-doubt is a big problem for some. Don’t doubt your abilities. Next time you find yourself struggling, analyze the problem, and don’t critique it. Self-improvement is always important, not self-deprecation.

You can do it.