With the advent of technology and widespread use of the internet. Information in now in our fingertips. No more queing in the library to borrow books to read, we just need to sit back and relax in front of our computers or even mobile phones and get the information, on demand.

It is certainly beneficial and very useful for us who live in a fast paced, result-oriented world. Things we can’t do five years ago is now a matter of minutes to finish.  But as with all good things come the opposite effect. Technology brought us to think factually. It is something that we live in a world that needs constant confirmation in science. We learned not to listen to our hearts. We lost our instinct.

Science is attacking itself!

There were numerous scientific studies that show not believing in scientific facts makes for better happiness!

Here are some examples that further illustrates why science do not mix with happiness:

Spirituality.

Believing in God is very different in the factual and truthful world of science. While science is very specific, religion is very vague and is open to interpretations. That’s why different kinds of religious denominations exists today. But even so, it is proven ’scientifically’ that having a faithful trust in the creator of heaven and earth is much happier than their religion less counterparts.

United Kingdom’s Royal Economic Society has done a research on this, they found out that Christians have significantly higher levels of happiness in the areas of life satisfaction and quality of living. Meanwhile, their faith serves as a cushion, absorbing the letdowns in life.

Let us consider the happiest country on earth, Israel. This predominantly Jewish country, sandwiched between Muslim nations has a different, positive way of thinking. Their religion made them optimistic as they do not believe they will die and suffer the eternal flames of hell.

Medicine.

The Buddhist believes that everything is controlled by the mind. Whatever sufferings we inflict in our lives is the effect of our actions, choices which are subliminally created by our minds.

Today, psychological assessment of patient is necessary when taking medicines. The reason? Many patients just wanted what they think will make them better without going through the facts. It may be the because of the influence that pharmaceutical drugs causes instant relief – because the doctors told them so.

Most of these patients – who wishes to get ‘cured’ instantly – just needed some advice that can make them feel better. Unfortunately, many of them do not believe as they prioritize the scientific facts than the doctors diagnosis.

Here comes the Placebo effect, a treatment for patients who does not really need medications. What this treatment does is by giving the patient what they want, albeit it really has no effect on them. For example, a person who believes he has migraine may want to take medications and will insist on a doctor to give him. The doctor – who knew that he is not really suffering from migraine – will give him fake medicines that looks like the real thing but without any effect whatsoever. The outcome? A better patient and a happier life.

Harvard Medical School professor Ted Kaptchuck has a word in this:

“Scientific perspective is so rational that it forgets that the passion and foibles of human beings are part of the dialogue and discourse of all ages. I don’t mean to say science is bad, but there’s a hubris there that science has all the answers and you’ve just got to get rid of all the superstitious stuff and then we’d have a great world.”

On the other hand, science is still important to us. We cannot discover the importance of happiness without the help of the largely organized and specific science.

Israel is now the happiest country in the world. But how did they do it? Let’s find the answers.Even though sandwiched between Muslim nations – their enemy for so many years – they are still happier and more peaceful than their counterparts.

Israel is a country in Western Asia. It has a total area of about 20 thousand square kilometers with more than seven million people. It is the 33rd richest country in the world in per capita GDP and has a parliamentary government system.

One thing that makes Israel the happiest is their spirituality. Almost two-thirds of the population are Jews and believe in God. As a matter of fact, 12 years of Bible schooling is mandatory.

They also love the Bible. For them, Bible is a word of hope in time of difficulties. There is an old Jewish joke that reinstates this:

Two elderly Jewish ladies are sitting on a park bench in St Petersburg, Florida. “Mrs Levy,” asks the first, “what do you hear from your son Isaac in Detroit?” “It’s just awful,” Mrs Levy replies. “His wife died a year ago and left him with two little girls. Now he’s lost his job as an accountant with an auto-parts company, and his health insurance will lapse in a few weeks. With the real estate market the way it is, he can’t even sell his

house. And the baby has come down with leukemia and needs expensive treatment. He’s beside himself, and doesn’t know what to do. But does he write a beautiful Hebrew letter – it’s a pleasure to read.”

Also, with their spirituality comes their fertility. Israel is one of the most productive countries in the world in terms of babies. In fact, the most religious Israelis are the most productive, producing nine kids averagely. Compare it to other Christian countries like Poland – who has the highest attendance at mass – possess the lowest birthrate in all of Europe.

Lastly, Israelis has a different and somewhat inspiring way of thinking. They do not think of death often or God’s judgement as they are sure they will live eternally and will never extinct. Moreover, it so easy for them
to talk about the wonders of life. It is like it is part of their tounges that speaking in a positive way seem so normal.

Julian Roseus was diagnosed 2 years ago with renal cell carcinoma, a rare type of cancer of the kidney that affects only three percent of the population. He was given a short time to live yet he was on “overtime,” a term coined by his friends as he is now part of the elite five percent who outlived the life expectancy of five years with this kind of cancer. “For me, it’s a miracle that he is still alive. It’s also a miracle how we are surviving,” his wife said.Friends describe him as funny, always laughing and has an infectious smile. “No one would think he has cancer,” his doctor, Efren Capistrano, also a grade school and high-school classmate said. “He has the uncanny ability to crack jokes about his condition.” He even joked about his death: “A wake is fun because it’s like a reunion. But the departed cannot attend. So I said, we should celebrate now so I can participate,” he said in Filipino.

“His condition, however, is serious. His right kidney removed, Roseus is currently taking a drug which has so far reduced the size of tumors that have metastasized in his lungs. But the medication produces a side effect which requires him to undergo minor surgery on a delicate part of his body once or twice a week.”

Despite this, he maintains a normal and productive life He works as a consultant for overseas Filipino workers, goes out with friends, does household chores and even goes on a weekend excursions to Cavite.

He drew his strength by his faith.

“Sometimes, help is short and transient. So faith is the only way to go. Once we are properly disposed [toward faith], it becomes a source of grace.”

He believes God gave him the disease as a gift to find lasting happiness which is in heaven. “Recognizing my mortality made it easier for me to accept my fate,” he said.

Currently, he is undergoing treatment and so far, his body is cooperating with it. He looks forward to his 50th wedding even though they just celebrated their silver wedding last January.

Source: www.inquirer.net

Survey after survey shows that people with strong religious faith – of any religion or denomination – are happier than those who are irreligious. David Myers, a social psychologist at Michigan’s Hope College, says that faith provides social support, a sense of purpose and a reason to focus beyond the self, all of which help root people in their communities. That seems reason enough to get more involved at the local church, temple or mosque. For the more inwardly focused, deep breathing during meditation and prayer can slow down the body and reduce stress, anxiety and physical tension to allow better emotions and energy to come forward.

Source: Time.com

Everybody is looking for a little happiness so we at UpBe compiled a list of proven tips from the experts on how to Be and Stay Happy! Since everything must be taken one step at a time, the 30 tips will be posted once a day starting today. Let’s be happy!

Tip # 01 – Count Your Blessings

Count your blessings — but not everyday. Sonja Lyubomirsky, an experimental psychologist at UC Riverside, found that people who once a week wrote down five things they were grateful for were happier than those who did it three times a week. “It’s an issue of timing or frequency,” says Lyubomirsky, “When people do anything too often it loses the freshness and meaning. You need to have optimal timing.” Lyubomirsky added that it has to feel right. She tried to count her blessings and hated it. “I found it hokey. It didn’t work for me. Just like a diet program, what you do has to fit your lifestyle, personality and goals.” In essence, gratitude might not be for everyone. But if it is, another exercise is to think of a person who has been kind to you that you’ve wanted to thank – a teacher, mentor or parent – and write a letter, once a week to different individuals over two months. You don’t even have to send it to feel happier.

Source: www.time.com

In response to our previous article Children’s happiness linked to spirituality, here’s a story of John Jost, a chef looking for employment in a hotel but ended up in a church where he found his happiness. Please follow the link to Baptist Standard to read.

We are annoyed when children play inside the church in the middle of the service. They seem to be happy doing it. Just because they are fussing around doesn’t mean they dislike faith. A new study reveals a link on children’s happiness and spirituality.

Psychologist Mark Holder and graduate student Judi Wallace from the University of British Columbia, Canada studied 315 children aged nine to ten from public and private schools ”measuring spirituality and other factors such as temperament and social relations that can affect an individual’s sense of happiness.” What they found out was surprising: spirituality contributes 6.5 to 16.5% of a child’s happiness. ”From our perspective, it’s a whopping big effect,” said Holder. “I expected it to be much less – I thought their spirituality would be too immature to account for their well-being.” In contrast, adults only account four or five percent of their happiness.

”Spirituality is not the same thing as religion, Mr. Holder and Ms. Wallace were careful to point out. While religion is usually affiliated with an institution, spirituality is related to an inner set of beliefs that guide you in life.”

Spiritually produces a sense of hope and meaning and can provide a social network.

According to Victor Chan, a friend of the Dalai Lama and founding director of the Dalai Lama Centre for Peace and Education in Vancouver

”…spirituality (in children) is simply a way in which they’re more grounded internally and less dependent on external factors for their well-being.”

The children in the study were asked questions such as:

“How often do you pray or meditate privately outside of church or other places of worship?” and to rate the importance of statements such as I feel a higher power’s presence and “developing meaning in my life.”

Also, the children’s parents and teachers were asked to describe each child’s level of happiness.

(Read usatoday.com, canada.com, image courtesy of jameshew)