100 Lessons on Happiness - White Water Group

What’s your mission?

Natasha Lancaster — Wed, 19 Apr 2017 08:00:00 +0000

Who are you? What difference can you make? Why are you here? Some people just know. Others are on a voyage of discovery. Open-minded exploration is fundamental to happiness. Pay attention and see patterns in your life. What central themes recur? When you pursue a purpose, you have a sense of control, even in times of chaos. It often doesn’t feel like much of an effort to work hard at what you care about. Don’t settle for a job or an OK relationship. Make it your mission to find and pursue a purposeful life and do it with a smile.

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The Happiness Formula

Natasha Lancaster — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 23:00:00 +0000

A bit of science: Happiness = S+C+V. S is your set range: the way you were born. Some of us are born a bit more grumpy, some a bit more cheerful. It maybe counts for 50% of your long term happiness. C is for circumstances, i.e. climate, wealth, health, marital status, and doesn’t actually account for more than 10%. V represents what is under your voluntary control and contributes at least 40% to your happiness. So, even if you are set quite low on the scale, you can find ways to become happier. Changing ‘C’, living in a warm climate, earning more money or buying the latest handbag probably won’t do much, at least in the short term. ‘V’ is where you should focus daily. It all comes down to your take on life, so keep reading…

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Happiness & long life: wishful thinking or reality?

Natasha Lancaster — Fri, 19 Aug 2016 23:00:00 +0000

Wanting to improve your happiness may seem self-indulgent. Actually it’s a life saver. Studies show that happiness has a strong impact on how long you live, it could be 8 years more, and protects you against illness. This is comparable to the benefits of not smoking. No wonder governments are looking at happiness now! A public policy which takes account of the greater amount of happiness for the greater number of people, isn’t just a fanciful indulgence. It could save hugely on healthcare costs. So there is very real motivation to raise your happiness levels.

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100 Lessons on Happiness in 100 words or less

Averil Leimon — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 23:00:00 +0000

How happy would you say you were yesterday? How happy do you want to be tomorrow? How can you work to be happier in life and work? Good positive emotions like happiness are important because they increase our chances of being more successful and healthy. Happiness! People tend to think Happiness is a very big and complicated topic. In fact, science shows that it is often the seemingly little things that make a huge difference to people’s well – being and sense of contentment. White Water Women wants to take you on a journey over 100 days to show you how happiness can be increased in 100 easy little lessons from Positive Psychology. 100 Lessons on Happiness in 100 words or less was born in 2011 as an Ebook. If you are in a hurry or too curious to wait until the end of the summer to reach the happiness inside you, you are welcome to download the Kindle Edition from Amazon. If you are patient, every day White Water Women will delight your summer with a new post on Happiness. Build hope, believe in yourself and discover the ‘Happiness Formula’.

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15 pieces of cake? Averil debates happiness on Radio Five Live…

Natasha Lancaster — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 23:00:00 +0000

Averil on Radio 5 Live…

http://whitewatergroup.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Averil-R-5-Live-Happy-20-Aug-2015.mp3

Do we live on a ‘happiness scale’? Averil was recently a guest on Radio 5 Live, debating on happiness and well-being. With her Leadership hat on, she makes the point that people who are fortunate enough to be able to play to their strengths at work are often the most happy – and how some of the people we work with in the Corporate World are unaware ( until working with White Water, of course ) of how to deploy these individual strengths to their – and colleagues – best advantage. Savour the moment with Averil and Mike Newby, the happiest man in Harrogate, and in fact the UK!

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Cultivate cheerfulness

Natasha Lancaster — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 23:00:00 +0000

“Cheerfulness is like money well expended in charity; the more we dispense of it, the greater our possessions” Victor Hugo. Misery and cynicism can suck you in with little effort. It takes real determination to be cheerful. Make the choice every day about the emotions you experience. It is good exercise. Do not join in the moaning and push aside negativity, maybe many times each day. Don’t try and force everyone to be the same. Just radiate delight and pleasure in your life and notice the impact you have on those you encounter.

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Born yesterday

Natasha Lancaster — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 23:00:00 +0000

Positive Psychology developed this question: If you were born yesterday, what would you choose as habits, hang-ups or rituals? Would you continue your old pattern of worries or still be afraid of your own shadow, spiders, public speaking or commitment? Or would you choose what is life affirming? Don’t perpetuate old habits that drive you batty and limit your happiness. Whatever you blame in your past for the way you are, it is you who decides now. Choose constructive ways of living and positive attitudes if you really want to be happy. Repeat as necessary.

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See a bright future

Natasha Lancaster — Sat, 14 Sep 2013 23:00:00 +0000

The slogan, ‘things can only get better’ was hijacked by politicians, but what other way is there to see life? Embrace the possible. Be interested rather than daunted by new developments in technology, science and food. Imagine the possible. Of course we have problems in our societies and economies but the human condition thrives on challenges, even if we caused them ourselves in the first place. Have faith in humanity. Look forward. See what you can make better in order to pass on something amazing to the next generation.

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Pass the laugh

Natasha Lancaster — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 23:00:00 +0000

A group exercise: the first person laughs, the next person has to laugh bigger, the next bigger still, pass the laugh on and on. Even though it starts off fake, in no time people are weeping and holding their sides, cackling like banshees. Anyone watching is caught up in the laughter too. Sharing laughter is really good for you – and exercises your abdominals without all those sit ups. Don’t be the person who stops the laugh by telling others to grow up. Find people with infectious laughs. Go see a farce. Just remember to breathe.

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