At our latest Social Wellness Club event, our esteemed speakers, David Gibbs and Jessie Grant, delved into the theme of "Finding Happiness." Here are some key insights and takeaways from their enlightening talks.
David Gibbs: What is happiness and how do we find it?
David introduced us to three pathways to happiness:
1. Pathway of Pleasure
Sensory Pleasures: Enjoyment and positive affect through everything that feels good (food, drink, sex, good weather etc
These things all have in common that they are temporary and not to be overindulged.
The pathway of pleasure is an important part of your happiness journey, but not the full picture as you need the other pathways to find that deeper sense of meaning.
Cultivation Tips:
Savouring: Spend 15 minutes reflecting on a positive experience to appreciate and enhance it.
Three Good Things: Write down and reflect on three positive events each day.
Positive Focus: Slow down and take a 20-minute walk to truly notice and appreciate life.
2. Pathway of Engagement
Cultivation of Purpose: Connect with your strengths and experience flow, even during difficult times.
This is about identifying what your highest strengths are and where the most enjoyment lies for you, then figuring out how you can allocate as much time as possible to these actions.
Cultivation Tips: Ask yourself...
When do you feel most connected?
What am I doing/ how am I being when I feel most authentic?
What values do I want to live by?
3. Pathway of Meaning
Serving others: Use your strengths to serve something greater than yourself.
Pursue something of importance, that matters.
This is the pathway of service and self-sacrifice, and finding the joy in helping others.
“Meaning gives us a why which gets us through the darker days”
Cultivation Tips:
Live for more than just yourself; offer your experiences to benefit others.
Ask yourself: What do I have to give to the world?
David summarised that to be happy, we must cultivate pleasure, engage with life, and find meaning by savouring the good, connecting with purpose, and offering our gifts to the world.
Jessie Grant: Why is the World F*cked Up?
Jessie explored the challenges of finding happiness in a fast-paced world driven by instant gratification, which distorts our perspective on time and happiness.
About Jessie
Transitioned from a sales career, dealing with personal loss and familial mental illness, to founding WOGA, a wellness business promoting yoga in workplaces.
Positivity Deficiency
Emphasised that we are all deficient in positivity, and the importance of positivity in our everyday lives to overcoming our evolutionary predisposition to focus on danger.
We are designed to notice threats and negative emotions from our past, as as a cave person, we needed to be constantly on alert for tigers so we didn't get eaten.
Now, in our modern day world, tigers are emails, whatsapp, constant communication and information overload, so our body is constantly in a stressed state trying to process all this information.
Jessie shares tips below on how we can navigate this world.
Key Concepts:
Neuroplasticity: We can create new neural pathways to improve our mindset.
Three tips to rewire your brain
Power of Words: Focus on positive self-talk.
Power of Perception: Small shifts in how we view things can lead to significant changes.
Power of Breath: Use breathwork and meditation to connect with a sense of purpose.
Q&A Highlights
Slowing Down in a Busy City: Identify what speeds you up and schedule personal time.
Rewiring Our Brains: Bring awareness to unconscious patterns and adopt a positive mindset.
Finding Purpose Without Chasing It: Practice mindfulness, observe what energizes you, and listen to the natural pulls and pushes in your life.
This event underscored the importance of finding pleasure, engagement, and meaning in our lives.