Archive for the 'happiness' Category
Dimanche dernier en écrivant mon blog, pour un moment j’étais presque au paradis. Pour exprimer cette joie profonde ressentie, le terme « (je suis) aux anges » m’est venu à la tête. Ce terme est souvent utilisé dans notre langue.
Pourquoi cette expression ? Bien sur être au paradis serait être parmi les anges : c’est très imaginable. Dès que nous créeons (fictivement) cette situation par un acte de visualisation, nous pourrons tout de suite être envahi par cette émotion intense de joie et de bonheur qui y correspond. Ainsi, le ressenti de l’émotion similaire s’exprimerait en mots par «être aux anges ».
Par définition les anges sont ni masculins ou féminins. S.Gregoire de Nysse, théologien du 4eme siècle écrit « semblables aux anges » en commentaires à l’Evangile de dimanche dernier : où il était question de savoir dans le paradis qui serait l’époux de la femme qui s’est marié à plusieurs frères successivement ?
Citation
Nous ne trouvons nullement nécessaire de voir en ceux que la résurrection aura transformes la différence sexuelle qu’a présent la nature comporte nécessairement ; néanmoins que tous forment un seul genre, lorsque tous seront ‘un seul corps dans le christ’, conformes a un seul caractère, nous n’en doutons pas,car sur tous l’image divine resplendira également ; mais ce qui remplacera de telles propriétés lors de la transformation de notre nature, nous affirmons que ce sera mieux que tout ce qu’on peut imaginer par la pensée…
Peut-être, si l’on dit que la qualité propre des traits moraux est la forme sous laquelle chacun sera reconnaissable, ne sera-t-on pas complètement dans le faux…Dans la vie présente, l’expression du visage révèle celle, secrète, de l’âme…, de même une fois la nature passé à une condition plus divine, l’homme prend la forme que lui donnent ses traits moraux, sans que son essence soit différente de son apparence, mais il est connu tel qu’il est…
Une seule et unique grâce se manifestera en tous, de sorte que chacun rende grâce à son voisin de la même joie, et qu’ainsi chacun se réjouisse en voyant la beauté de l’autre et le réjouisse à son tour.
Fin de citation
Transformé , illuminé, resplendissant et réfléchissant la Gloire de Dieu, nourri tous comme un seul, de la source d’UN, Dieu notre créateur ; être dans UN dans UN temps, car le passé, le présent et le futur n’est plus qu’UN. ‘To fuse to the oneness.’ La rencontre ou la reconstitution du BiG Bang!
Serait cela le paradis et le bonheur eternel ?
In a few days time, more precisely next Friday, it will be Diwali again, the festival of light. Year in, year out, we celebrate the victory of Light over Darkness, justice over injustice; we wish our Mauritian brothers and sisters of Indian culture a happy Diwali and much rejoicing. We shall receive Diwali cakes and reciprocate with good wishes.
I would like to dwell on two aspects: 1. Why is it necessary to have the celebration every year? 2. Why do we need to wish happy Diwali?
If it was natural that Light is always victorious over Darkness, then to make out a day of celebration for it could be wasteful. Just like a living person rejoices that he is breathing yet he does not need to celebrate once a year that he is breathing. He would rather rejoice every instant of his life.
Is possible that Light is not always victorious over Darkness and injustice rides on justice? Let us look around us, do we see more evil than good in the media, newspapers and television? Is the amount of evil that matters? Would it be possible that only one act of goodness, in one go, overshines all the evils of the world? Is it possible that the celebration of Diwali is to remind us that Light can overcome Darkness and that we are asked to make it happen?
In this line of this thinking “wishing Diwali”takes a refreshed meaning for me. When I offer my wishes what I really mean to the other party: ‘Thank you for making possible the victory of Light over Darkness, the triumph of Justice over injustice, the reign of peace over war and division.’
Happy Diwali to all of you.
La semaine dernière j’ai passé du bon temps à écouter et à assister à des conférences et causeries sur la prospective et l’évolution de la societe. Alain Comte Sponville entre autres renforce mes convictions à l’effet que nous avançons à fond la caisse vers cette societe du désir et plaisir. Maurice Lévy, sommité du monde de publicité en France, patron du Groupe Publicis parle de plaisir en tout et avant tout en toute chose. La publicité s’attelle de captiver le public qu’en proposant le plaisir pour créer le désir. Prend on plaisir a savourer la pub ? Le génie serait il donc d’acheter tel papier « Q » plus pour le plaisir que pour son utilité ? Est-ce que nous perdons vue de l’essentiel, l’utilité de notre achat ? La réponse est non. Un ajustement de pensée semble être nécessaire. Ce n’est pas que le plaisir sans l’essentiel, ils ne sont pas en opposition. Tout au contraire il faut trouver l’essentiel et le plaisir conjugués au pluriel. Le progrès et le génie du futur c’est justement semble t il de réconcilier les impossibilités de jadis. L’absurde serait il de réconcilier le masculin au féminin ? Le sel sans sel ! La viande végétale ! Le sucre sans sucre ! Les calories amaigrissant !Gin sans alcool!Paie sans travail!
En effet, réconcilier l’utile, l’essentiel à l’agréable est envisageable. Mais ce culte d’une quête permanente du plaisir me trouble. Déjà que nous savons que par définition l’homme est avant tout un paresseux. La dernière en date pour moi : La Cité des sciences a inauguré mardi 16 «Zizi sexuel l’expo», parcours didactique et ludique consacré à la sexualité et destiné aux 9-14 ans. Avec Titeuf pour guide.
Some of you may be wondering what has happened to me and my blog. Silence Radio! Turned sour since the last blog? True! I have been silent since the 22nd September. I even got a call from Nazlee a regular reader of my blog, who inquired about my absence on the web and my blog. As a matter of fact, the sourness mellowed as prior to my departure I had an apology from the person mentioned in my last posting. Great it was a good omen for my holiday.
I have been on holiday, may be. I have been through a period of‘re-creation’ as we use to call similar break period during my primary school days. “Recreation” is a lovely word. Indeed all the homosapiens of this world need breaks to recreate themselves. We do indeed recreate ourselves each time we go back to sleep, our nightly break. Our medical FRCP doctor could explain to us: ‘How much our body needs to repair itself during our daily sleep of some 6-8 hours of apparently inactive period.’ Our brain specialist would tell you how important this apparent inactive period of our body is active to our brain and allows us, so to say in computer language, to reset the programmes and sort out the memory files to get ourselves ready for the next reboot.
Viva my recreation period! I had a span of physical regeneration with sessions of laser poncture @ La Chapelle Montlinard. For a week we were in a French gite in company of my wife, daughter Stephane and grandson Jake who both flew from Montreal for our family reunion holiday and my wife’s brother, Clement and his son Nicolas. With the gathering it was Fiesta.We had excellent weather, Indian summer, every meal mouth watering french food, and tasty French wine of the region, Pouilly Fume. I gave a break to my usual fat controlled diet, Ahoy charcuterie! Ahoy fromage de chevre!Oh la la Crotin de Chavinol from the region of Cher! We collected fresh walnuts and enjoyed their freshness. I basked in bliss.
The second week was an intellectual regeneration week. First I met with one of the official of ‘La Caisse des depots et des consignations’ who was involved with studies of “La Prospective des entreprises”. We spent time discussing about the future of entreprises and the world. Pure joy! One of my favorite topics! He gave me his working document. I was again basking in bliss. The week carried on with a conference with Alain Comte Sponville: “Le Sens du Travail” with my friends from APM Reunion and Mauritius. The crowning of the week was the 20th celebration of APM at a cocktail to meet all the friends of APM and a convention of the clubs of APM with an attendance of 2200 entrepreneurs magnificently organised at Le Palais des Congres. The speeches and forums were music to my ears. I basked in bliss.
Wow! I had such an eventful day yesterday that I did not have the time to log in my blog. It all started in the morning when I could not log in my website in spite of several attempts. Luckily I could retrieve my mail from my .mu address. Was it something wrong with the international network as it sometimes happens? I gave up for the moment hoping to go back later.
To my surprise, I learned from the mail of the demise of Carol, my cousin’s wife and read through the eulogy written by my cousin Molly for the Requiem mass in East London, South Africa, for her life celebration. Two earthly departures in the span of three months in the same Chock family, I thought. I took a good half hour backtracking in my mind the good times I had in the company of our South African folks, both in the days I visited them in East London, and whilst they were in Mauritius. May God receive them in His eternal love.
The 23rd August is a very special day for my family, not only because it is the crossing day between the Leo to the Virgo, more importantly, it is the day to feast with long life noodles for my wife’s birthday. Damn me if I had forgotten this august day! Olivier, very late in the night from Toronto, graced her Mom with a Happy Birthday song in his hoarse voice. Stephane also conveyed her best wishes through the mail. That made her day!
She had for this special day, arranged for her friends to gather home for a mah-jong party and lunch. The banging of the mah-jong on the table and the laughter created indeed a rejoicing atmosphere which added to the sound of oldies music of the 60’s and 70’s.
Kristel called in with a lovely birthday cake and her good wishes. Her presence and irresistible smile conquered my wife’s cronies.
The day followed with few more visits from a neighbour, Sabine, who presented her with a beautiful flower arrangement in vase. Marie Helene surprised her with gifts and a lively bouquet of white roses.
In the evening we set off for dinner at Hoy foong restaurant for a typical Chinese birthday dinner with Popo, the close relatives and friends. I was very contented for my day before Mr. Sandman took me to my dreams.
For years now I have been signing off my emails with “Be Happy”. This morning I was thinking how the pursuit of happiness and fulfillment has been an essential driver through out my working life. Book Author Roderick Gilkey is of opinion that Executives can find happiness by cultivating perspective, balance, resilience and a sense of humour. I concur with Roderick Gilkey views on the subject and was lucky to have with the Covey leadership courses attended, been able to build up on the four characteristics mentioned by him.
Roderick Gilkey in article he wrote in 1986, which I found still very much relevant today, stated:
While many of today’s corporate fast-trackers may be too immersed in the day-to-day grind to reflect on their levels of happiness, such reflection is legitimate and even constructive. Studies from The Center for Creative Leadership describe an ideal corporate performer as one whose strivings are based on a healthy, even passionate, drive to achieve a form of success that includes both measurable results and personal well-being. Such individuals thrive in work environments where people participate on the basis of desire more than duty, and where creativity is more valued than compliance.
The executive who is motivated by corporate incentives is being replaced by the executive whose contribution is based on a personal quest for fulfillment and happiness. For example, at one point in its history, IBM expected executives to relocate when offered a promotion in the corporate hierarchy and an increase in salary of at least six percent. In contrast, IBM now gives its managers a questionnaire to take to their families. It helps them to consider all possible pros and cons associated with making a move to anticipate the impact of relocation on family health and happiness, and to avoid adverse outcomes. (Incidentally, the questionnaire is not returned to IBM; it stays with the family and is used only as a tool to help them make an informed and optimal decision.) This practice suggests that while the search for happiness may not be publicly acknowledged, the best corporations are aware that it is a primary motivator for many executives who are balancing individual, family, and corporate interests in an attempt to achieve a more broadly defined form of success.
Moreover, there is evidence to suggest that the more individualistic search for happiness is not only a legitimate source of motivation, but that it also promotes higher levels of contribution to the corporation. Dr. George Vaillant found strong correlation between high levels of achievement in the workplace and personal happiness in the marital and family life of his Harvard subjects. Happiness, then, strengthens other capacities that ultimately increase an individual’s ability to make significant contributions to the workplace and develop the potential in others to do the same.
Through my clinical work with executives and my consulting activities with a variety of organizations, I have observed a number of executives who have achieved exceptional levels of success and happiness. While there are no easily grasped universal truths that can be learned from their examples, there are four characteristics these exceptional executives share.
1. Perspective. A consistent capacity to keep ultimate goals and objectives in view, especially when the level of stress and demand is high. Such perspective contributes to the ability to evaluate complex, and even turbulent, situations and make optimal decisions. One high-ranking executive in the airline industry is affectionately referred to by his subordinates as “the Zen Master.” When asked to explain, one of his subordinates commented, “I guess we call him that because in spite of all the chaos around here, he never seems to lose his cool. It’s not just imperturbability, though. He keeps his sense of purpose; he knows why he is here and what he wants to accomplish; and he seems to be able to do it no matter what.”
2. Balance. The ability to prioritize the demands of work and family so that the most important tasks get done at the right time. Executives who are “balanced” avoid problems that are not theirs to solve, dilemmas that will not change, and virtually all unnecessary commitments. They also make appropriate trade-offs between present and future demands and between work and recreation, thus gaining both immediate and long-term gratification.
A prime example of balance is seen in the life of a very effective executive, Paul, who successfully developed a new marketing campaign for his corporation while taking several afternoons to go to his daughters’ ballet recitals. Known for his capacity to be self-sacrificing, Paul had attained a balance between narcissism and altruism. He was able to serve his own needs for advancement in the corporation and still have time to devote to family interests and community service.
3. Resilience. The ability to rebound from failure. Many very successful executives have experienced major setbacks in their careers. The Center for Creative Leadership found that what separates the “arrivers” from the “derailed” is, in part, the capacity to rebound from failure without losing confidence and motivation. The fact that there are significant failures among the most successful executives is not surprising, since these individuals have the courage and vision to set extremely high goals for themselves. Having the strength of character to deal with the inevitable disappointments associated with high standards and expectations is a cornerstone of the successful executive’s personality.
4. Humor. A lively sense of humor appears to be both a prerequisite for psychological health and an outcome of it. Good humor is a sign of perspective, balance, and many other qualities associated with the highest levels of personal and professional achievement. And yet amid the seriousness of boardrooms and stockholder meetings, executive humor can be as elusive as happiness itself. Oscar Wilde’s dictum that, “life is much too important to be taken seriously,” may well describe a form of constructive detachment that allows the best executives to maintain purpose and perspective through turbulent times.
Other Common Characteristics
There are many other more specific characteristics shared by executives who have attained personal success. I would include among them:
- The ability to take genuine pleasure from the accomplishments of others, both superiors and subordinates.
- The desire to serve, mentor and develop others.
- The strength to compete effectively and derive appropriate pleasure from winning.
- The energy to maintain a broad range of interests despite the pressure to narrow one’s focus in response to the demands of the workplace.
- The capacity to take interesting vacations that provide periodic renewal.
- The ability to maintain rewarding marital and family relationships.
While it is not in the power of organizations to grant happiness, the best executives recognize the legitimacy of the quest for personal happiness and respect it as a laudable endeavor with several side benefits to the organization.
This year 2007,today we celebrate at the same time the Chinese Lantern festival and the Indian Holi Festival.In Beau Bassin,this afternoon, I could continuously hear the drumming of the Chinese Lion dances and the firing of the crackers.
Whilst the meanings and traditions of these festivities abound on the web, I would like to highlight what aroused me on the Holi festivities:
Social Significance
Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colourful and joyous festival.
Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and forget any feeling of hardship that may be present. Besides, on this day people do not differentiate between the rich and poor and everybody celebrate the festival together with a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood.
In the evening people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revitalizing relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people.
Biological Significance
It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun.
We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time. And, also for incorporating so much fun in the festival.
As Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.
Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.
There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.
The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.
Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.
People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive energies.
I have the feeling that our dear country needs to live more of the spirit of the Holi Festivities…..more so within the goverment majority.
“Where the east meets the west” is perhaps an overused slogan. Mauritius lives it in its reality.The metissage has given us a new breed of people and a somewhat strange and confusing culture.
Are we Mauritians real Chinese or real Indians or real French, Europeans or Africans? Through the years and living in an environment off the mother base, we have evolved into a new hybrid. We have become Mauritians.
Would a Singaporean be a Chinese on asking any one in Singapore? He would bluntly reply , I guess I am a Singaporean. Same for a Thai!
This confirms my thesis the metissage has produced a new hybrid. Let us be proud of our Mauritian upbringing. I used to qualify myself to people who inquired about me, during my extensive traveling days, as someone who would : firstly speak English with a French residual accent and speak French using English idioms yet be proud of the fusion;secondly look Asian from my features yet almost westernized in my education; thirdly lives on a continent which is neither Europe nor Asia. The person who I would be talking to would be in confusion.
You will recall that the color green comes from the mixing of the yellow and blue colors.
A proud “Green” happy fusion Mauritian, I am and pray that we all were.
I recommend you to read Sanderson Beck from where I regular source for a wealth of knowledge at no cost.
The number of times I heard the word “Happiness or Happy” to wish our friends the Chinese Newyear moved me today. The same thing happens on most feasts isn’t it? Happy Newyear; Happy Divali; Happy Easter; Happy Sankranti or Merry Xmas
I had earlier written a blog on Happiness and had brought to contribution one of my favourite mystics:
Happiness is our natural state. Happiness is the natural state of little children, to whom the kingdom belongs until they have been polluted and contaminated by the stupidity of society and culture. To acquire happiness you don’t have to do anything, because happiness cannot be acquired.
You don’t have to add anything in order to be happy; you’ve got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It’s only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, and your cravings.
Today on reading Guy Kawasaki’s blog, I was again awakened to the question of “Happiness.” He quoted:
Andrian White, a University of Leicester Psychologist who wrote on Self Well Being ( SWB) Factor of nations wherein Mauritius would rank 73th on the World Map of Happiness. I would only wish that we climb the ladder of the ranking!
Whilst the interest in SWB within positive psychology is to be welcomed it is interesting to note that the commercial development of the subject is in the very countries where SWB is highest. This leaves positive psychology open to the accusation of selling self-help to the worried well. The current lack of positive psychological studies in countries where levels of SWB are low does nothing to assuage this concern. It is worth asking where are the positive psychological studies exploring the effects on SWB of providing healthcare and education to communities that have never before has access to such resources? An approach that explored these questions really could be called positive psychology.
EXTRACT FROM THE PAPER OF Andrian WHITE
I wonder: how is it possible that the inhabitants of Paradise Island have such a low SWB ranking? It is worth noting that Denmark is at the top of the heap whilst our neighbour Paradise Island Seychelles is ranked 20th. Why?
My meager contribution to the positive psychology to increase in our country is to offer to you and your friend the location of a free e-book of 90 pages: How to Be Happy and Have Fun changing the world.
Be Happy!