Spiritual Wellbeing

Journey to Inner Peace: Monk's Quest for Ultimate Happiness

January 26, 2023
The Wellness Tribe Team

The quest for happiness is one that has captivated our hearts and minds for centuries. From the musings of ancient philosophers to the studies of modern scientists, the human desire for contentment is eternal. Some seek happiness in material possessions, others in fame and success, while some embark on a journey of spirituality and self-discovery. 

But what if the key to happiness lies not in external pursuits but within ourselves? Meet Matthieu Ricard, a French scientist-turned-Buddhist monk who was deemed the "happiest person alive" by a study conducted by the University of Wisconsin. 

His remarkable journey from the lab to the Himalayas and his unique perspective on the art of living offer valuable insights on the path to true and enduring happiness.

Unlocking the Secrets of Bliss

Journey to Inner Peace: Monk's Quest for Ultimate Happiness
Credits: media.gq.com

The quest for happiness has been perennial, with many people searching for the key to unlocking the secrets of contentment. But it wasn't until a groundbreaking study by the University of Wisconsin that the world saw the mystery behind true and unyielding joy. 

The study centered on Matthieu Ricard, a French scientist-turned-Buddhist monk who had devoted his life to practicing meditation and pursuing inner peace. By hooking up his skull to 256 sensors, the study revealed that while Ricard meditated, his brain produced gamma waves linked to consciousness, attention, learning, and memory at levels that had never been reported before. The scans revealed a brain that was lit up with activity in the left prefrontal cortex, in comparison to the right one, suggesting an extraordinary ability to experience happiness and a minimal tendency towards negativity.

This study confirmed the connection between meditation and happiness and provided a deeper understanding of the neuroscience of happiness. The results of the study showed that through regular meditation and mental training, it is possible to increase our level of satisfaction and improve our overall wellbeing. The study also highlighted the role of the prefrontal cortex in regulating emotions and showed that we could change how we process and experience emotions through mental training.

Happiness is not something ready-made. It comes from your own actions." - Dalai Lama.

The Key to Joy

In the quest for happiness, Matthieu Ricard, the "happiest man alive," discovered that the key to true joy lies not in external pursuits but instead in the cultivation of a benevolent mindset and the training of the mind. He emphasizes the power of benevolence, passion, and solidarity in fostering a healthy state of mind that leads to flourishing. He also believes that just like physical training improves our physical health, mental training can improve our mental and emotional well-being.

To aid individuals on this path, Ricard suggests a simple yet powerful technique that can be done in 10-15 minutes daily. He advises spending this time thinking of doing something nice for others or remembering a joyful moment from the past. Dwelling on these positive emotions for more than a few seconds will provide mental benefits in the long run and can even deliver results in as little as two weeks.

Navigating the Roadblocks to Happiness

Society, especially in the Western world, heavily emphasizes individualism. This mindset, however, can often work against our well-being. For example, the constant pressure to achieve success and attain material possessions can lead to a constant state of wanting more, never feeling satisfied, and ultimately leading to feelings of inadequacy and unhappiness. Additionally, this pressure to constantly strive for more can lead to an unhealthy focus on the self, causing us to view the world as a threat or as something to be used for our own gain.

It's important to note that happiness and inner peace may be unattainable for some individuals without professional help. Those struggling with issues such as depression and anxiety may find it difficult to achieve happiness without seeking the help of a professional. It is essential for these individuals to reach out for help and to understand that seeking professional help is not a sign of weakness but rather a step towards a healthier and happier life.

Conclusion

The journey to true happiness and inner peace is not an easy one, but it is a journey worth undertaking. The teachings of Matthieu Ricard, the "happiest man alive," have shown that it is possible to elevate our level of happiness through mental training and the cultivation of a benevolent mindset. The potential of mental training to improve our mental and emotional well-being has been scientifically proven, and the rewards of a benevolent attitude have been described as a healthy state of mind that leads to flourishing.

It's important to remember that happiness and serenity require practice and effort, but it is accessible to all. The path to inner peace may not be a straight one, but with the right tools and support, it is possible to navigate through the obstacles and find true inner peace. The journey to inner peace and happiness is worth journey undertaking, and the rewards are immeasurable.

Emotional Wellness

The Mindful Journey: Exploring the Art of Meditation

November 4, 2022
The Wellness Tribe Team

You are here means you are ready to embark on this journey. The best way of experiencing meditation is actually to do it, not just talk about it. Meditation isn't always easy; some days, it's going to feel easy, while others might feel hard. But, no matter how uncomfortable it feels, you just need to stay with it every time. 

Your emotional wellbeing and overall health can benefit from meditation. It can bring you calm, peace, and balance. As a relaxation tool, you can refocus your attention on something calming when you're stressed. Mediation can also help you stay centred and find inner peace. Meditation might help you find the perfect work life balance if you work continuously. 

The most important thing is that you set yourself up in a place where you will be comfortable. You can either lie down or sit up. You definitely don't have to be sitting cross-legged on the floor. 

Let's Begin

The Mindful Journey: Exploring the Art of Meditation
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk

We're going to open our eyes and keep their gaze soft, just aware of the space around us. Now that you have your eyes softly focused, take a few deep breaths through your nose and out through your mouth. As you breathe in, notice how the lungs fill with air, and the body expands.

As you exhale, notice that your body softens. Inhale through your nose one more time. And this time, as you breathe out through the mouth, if you'd like to, just gently close the eyes. Let's just enjoy and appreciate the feeling that we've stopped and have nothing to do, nowhere to go.

Take a Moment to Feel Changes in Your Body

Notice the feeling of weight—the weight of the body pressing down against the seat or the floor beneath you. And take a moment as well just to notice your surroundings without looking around, just noticing the different sounds, not trying to shut them out. 

And use this opportunity as well just to notice how the body feels. We rarely pay attention to how our bodies feel. So is there a feeling of heaviness or lightness in the body? Is there a feeling of restlessness?

And as you bring your attention to the body, just starting to become more aware of that feeling, that movement of breath in the body. So, therefore, there is no need to breathe in any particular way.

Just allow the body to do its own thing. Some people feel the movement of breath in their chest, their shoulders. For some, it's in the diaphragm, and for some, it's in the stomach. Put your hand gently on your belly to feel that rising and falling sensation. Because you can't feel anything, you can't feel any movement.

"Meditation is not a way of making your mind peaceful. It is a way of seeing the peace that is already there." - Vimala Thakar

Put an End to Your Wanderings

The Mindful Journey: Exploring the Art of Meditation
Photo by Jens Johnsson

Again, thoughts are going to pop into your mind. The mind's going to wander. Just notice when the mind's wandered off, and just gently come back to the breath. To begin with, we're just noticing the breath in a very general way and perhaps starting to notice whether the breaths are long or short, deep or shallow. And we might find ourselves thinking either about the exercise or other things, just realising when that's happened, let those thoughts go, and come back to the breath again.

The body knows how to breathe—not getting involved in any thinking, just allowing the thoughts to come and go. If you notice your mind has wandered and you want to bring it back to the breath, gently bring it back.

So we'll stay with that feeling, a rising and falling sensation, for a few moments longer. And then, just for a moment now, let go of any focus, even of the breath now, and for a few seconds, let your mind wander.

Put Your Mind at Ease

The Mindful Journey: Exploring the Art of Meditation
Photo by Cup of  Couple

So your mind’s been wanting to think, you can let it think now. Just allow it to do whatever it wants to do. And now, just gently bring the attention back to the body. Just coming back now to that feeling of weight, that feeling of contact against the seat or the floor beneath you.

Perhaps noticing the sounds around you again. And whenever you feel ready, you can just gently open your eyes again. But before you move, just take a moment to notice how you feel in your mind body soul. The more often we do this after meditation, the more we're reminded of how much we need to pause in our life to take this time out for ourselves.

One Final Piece of Advice

If you can resist any temptation to analyse what's happened, the benefits, or anything else, just know that taking the time it's making a difference. But remember, before you get up, just remind yourself to take this satisfaction and sense of well-being with you into your life.

It is important to take time out, be still, and be silent to live a happy healthy life. And there are real benefits to that, but what really makes meditation valuable is how it influences our everyday life, relationships, and experiences.

Personal Wellbeing

Bouncing Back Better: Embracing Resilience in the Workplace

December 28, 2022
The Wellness Tribe Team

What does it mean to be resilient in the workplace? Why is it important to be resilient at work? How can you boost employee resilience? The following article will provide you with all the information you need.

The last three years have seen organisations and employees become more flexible and adaptive. However, the epidemic has caused many people to feel more stressed and worried because of the changing workplace dynamics and widespread remote work.

The way individuals respond to change has a significant impact on their personal and professional lives. Therefore, organisations should prioritise employee wellness initiatives that assist their employees in developing a resilient mindset.

Resilience in the Workplace: What Does It Mean?

Bouncing Back Better: Embracing Resilience in the Workplace
Photo by Arlington Research on Unsplash

As organisations evolve, everyone must adapt to changes and difficulties. Resilience should therefore be one of the top strategic objectives. People capable of adjusting to changes and staying productive will be better equipped to meet the organisation's needs.

Regardless of employee loyalty, health issues, current events, or personal obstacles will always affect them. In addition, employee wellbeing is affected by changes at work, such as new technologies and interpersonal conflicts. Therefore, employers must show compassion and support to assist their employees in coping with stress and overwhelm.

Here are few tips to build resilience in the workplace.

Identify Employee Workloads

Employees being given too many tasks can lead to stress and worry. Therefore, managers and supervisors should keep an eye on their employees' workload. 

Employees can prioritise their activities based on deadlines and expectations using project management tools that provide an overview of what each team member is working on. Additionally, learning time management skills will help people avoid being overwhelmed and respond effectively to new challenges.

Develop a Culture of Compassion

An organisation can cultivate a culture of compassion for its employees and others, and the results will always be worth it. Developing strong work connections and increasing collaboration between coworkers fosters employee engagement and performance while decreasing turnover.

The company will benefit from building workplace resilience in today's rapidly changing business climate. Assess your organisation's resilience and health at work. 

Promote Mindfulness Exercises

Bouncing Back Better: Embracing Resilience in the Workplace
Photo by Shashi Chaturvedula on Unsplash

Individual resilience is a personal trait. Mindfulness is one mental training technique that can be quite beneficial as it helps a person improve their ability to see their surroundings because how they think significantly impacts how they perceive their surroundings.

Mindfulness training enhances cognitive flexibility, which helps people perform better at work. Empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence can all be enhanced by mindfulness activities. These characteristics lower employee stress, stimulate employee creativity and engagement and foster resiliency, all of which can help organisations perform better.

Set a Good Example.

Strong leaders who can exhibit resilience to their employees may benefit from a workplace that supports resilience. An employee who regularly sees this attribute may benefit from this good example. Consequently, individuals may feel more driven to improve their workplace resilience. 

You may display great leadership abilities and resilience while leading or working with others by creating workplace objectives, tackling problems confidently, and managing stress constructively.

Consider Resilience Training.

Offering resilience training in the workplace through an employee wellness program can educate you and your team on how to manage stress healthily, tackle obstacles professionally, and return to work after a difficult period. 

Look for expert speakers who can inspire and educate your team about resilience, or have your colleagues and team members prepare presentations on how they employ this talent at work. Make sure to highlight the resilience, its importance at work, and how team members may develop it throughout the training.

Identify Your Employees’ Needs.

When managers recognise their team members' needs and challenges, they can assist them in developing resilience. It is important to learn about these experiences because resilience aims to help people overcome adversity. 

Managers can help their employees overcome barriers, distractions, or difficulties when they're aware of them. Ask your workers about their problems in questionnaires, and you'll better understand their needs. By gathering the essential facts, you can begin developing strategies for building resilience within the team and maintaining a healthy work environment.

Identify and Accept Flaws.

It is possible for managers to help their teams recognise and accept mistakes and challenges in the workplace by admitting shortcomings. As a result of this strategy, workers may be able to develop resilience during times of difficulty

Employees can be motivated by their dissatisfaction when managers encourage them to learn from their mistakes. It allows people to learn from their failures and grow so they can succeed in the future. Self-resilience can also be developed in the workplace through employee wellness initiative.

Incentivise Volunteers

People are able to stretch themselves and reach beyond their comfort zones by volunteering at work. In order to build resilience, individuals might take on new initiatives or jobs that are challenging. 

Managers and team leaders may be more willing to encourage employees to take advantage of changes when they offer incentives. It may be appropriate for managers to give volunteers an extra day of paid time off so they can take charge of a project and create a schedule.

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This month we are focusing on food and how it affects your mental health. Join us as we bring in the most relevant interesting content from across the wellness segment.

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