In lockdown mode, transform yourself into a blissologist and banish the blues
Are you in control of your emotions? In a lockdown, it’s easy to be on the edge. One minute, you could have been in a good mood because you’ve just finished an important project, cooked a delicious meal, or had fun with your friends or family. But as you turn to your online news feed, does your mood suddenly take a nosedive? Does the global gloom get to you?
You can stay in your own joy and happiness even when there’s depressing news all around. A cup of warm coffee with friends, singing along with your favourite song, or eating your favourite chocolate can take you to Bliss Point. There’s a slow movement around the wellness industry, where people are becoming collectors of their bliss moments―it’s called blissology. A blissologist does deliberate acts of happiness to find joy in daily life. Wellness guru Eoin Finn, who founded the term ‘Blissology’ believes it is the science and art of happiness.
The truth is inner bliss doesn’t come with a shelf life. Andy Baggott in his book, Blissology: The Art and Science of Happiness writes how you become the master of your own life and destiny. Every human holds within (the power) to change sadness into joy, fear into trust, anxiety into hope. You have the power to choose a better mood for yourself even in troubled times.
Humourist and Youtube sensation, Canada-based Tarlok Chugh agrees. He says, (his YouTube channel has 63,500 subscribers, and has 20 million views), “I look for bliss moments through my day by trying to make people laugh through my jokes…I believe there’s no better time than now to be happy. We must seek the lighter side of life….and indulge in something that makes the entire body and mind vibrate with lightness. Telling jokes, making people laugh, I help people find that happy space. Life should be a series of joyful moments. Even in a lockdown, I try to make people see the humorous side of life.”
In a newly published paper, Harvard University’s Amit Goldenberg and Stanford University’s James Gross examine the phenomenon of “digital emotion contagion”―defined as “the process by which the emotions of a perceiver become more similar to those of others as a result of exposure to these emotions.”
If there are gloomy messages that you are reading on your phone, you will end up being depressed. It is, therefore, imperative to keep your joy in the middle of a pandemic. Life has become so stressful and overwhelming. With corporate politics, constant pressure to perform, finding moments of bliss in everyday life connects us back to our true nature of peace. Take a few minutes to spend in stillness with yourself. Feel your breath. Observe your own thoughts and feelings. Notice small moments of joy whether it’s in savouring your tea, enjoying time in nature or playing with your child. Mindfulness and presence can help us become aware of our bliss point. The more mindful and present we are during any activity whether it’s our work, or food or a conversation, the more we enjoy and feel satisfied. Finally, here is the key message: remember, we can be in bliss in unhappiness also, because bliss lies in accepting situations as they are.
Nona Walia is a Lifestyle Journalist and Wellness Blogger. She runs her Wellness Channel on YouTube. Click on the link below