While I ate Nasi Goreng Ibunda (the 2nd time in 3 evenings), and a bowl of Mushroom soup, I came across this article in the 'Classified' Section of the News Straits Times (a paper I don't normally read) - Practice the Art of Happiness, by Dr. Victor SL Tan.
I found it extremely enlightening, and useful as a principle in life.
Dr. Tan first states that a happy workplace is a productive and creative workplace. When a person is happy, he/she is definitely more productive, motivated and positive. He/she could influence the rest to be happy too. So it looks imperative that leaders try to build a 'happy' workplace.
In the January-February 2012 issue of Harvard Business magazine, Shawn Achor says "success doesn't make you happy so much as happiness makes you more successful". Happiness is a state of mind.
Abraham Lincoln said: "Most folks are as happy as they made up theirs minds to be".
In short, Dr. Tan summed up the 4 proven ways to be happy:
1. Appreciate the blessings you have.
Why focus on the don't haves or weaknesses all the time? If you have health, loved ones, jobs, belongings, occasional vacations.... Too often, we take for granted what we have until we lose them. What you don't appreciate, depreciates.
Maybe the next time WE start complaining, think twice.
2. Exorcise the unpleasant
Life is not a bed of roses. Unpleasant things will definitely happen in life. Too many of us are preoccupied with the misfortunes of yesteryears, which they cannot do anything about.
Professor William James said: "Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcome". The key to happiness is to exorcise our unpleasant past and exercise appreciation of the present, to help us create a better tomorrow.
3. Enjoy the present
We can't live in the past, as we can't go back and undo what has happened. We also cannot live in the future, for it is not yet here, and we cannot foresee what is to come. We can only live in the present moment, fully.
Abraham Maslow: "When we let the past or future interrupt our present, it robs us of the NOW. Our lives then become illusory, and we become unreal".
4. Seek a deeper meaning in life
Life can be meaningless if we focus only on material things.
Life becomes more meaningful when we seek to make a difference in the world. It can be when we contribute our efforts and talents to improve the workplace. It can be when we help others overcome their problems. It can be when we raise our children to become good citizens.
It can be simply when we harness the gifts that god has given us, to do the best we can in our fields of specialty. Leaders in organizations tap into the talents of their employees and bring out the best in them, when they get them to practise the art of happiness at the workplace.
~~~
I guess when we say 'happy', it shouldn't feel like Disney Land, or visiting the ice-cream stall. I think Dr. Tan gave a realistic view, maybe slightly more positive than the Enlightened One, that life is full of fun, and of challenges. The key to happiness though, is always within ourselves.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), something I learned at Glasgow University, reminds me that no one could make you angry - Others could do stupid things, but You make Yourself angry (because of it).
I think it doesn't do justice if you are not having any pressure at the workplace. No pain, no gain. No drill, no skills. No effort, no reward. If work is forever easy and straight-forward, there is only 2 scenarios - you'll be replaced by robots (or AI), or you'll be redundant in no time.
For juniors/graduates under my watch, I will be ashamed if you don't progress or leave the company more knowledgeable, skilled and a better professional. The spoon-feeding mentality should stop, and all of us ought to try our best and find answers/solutions. The ability to look for answers/solutions is a valued skill that requires practice, trial/error and experience.
Teaching someone to fish is always more beneficial than to just hand out fish everytime.
Good luck everyone. Final 2 months of 2019.
I found it extremely enlightening, and useful as a principle in life.
Dr. Tan first states that a happy workplace is a productive and creative workplace. When a person is happy, he/she is definitely more productive, motivated and positive. He/she could influence the rest to be happy too. So it looks imperative that leaders try to build a 'happy' workplace.
In the January-February 2012 issue of Harvard Business magazine, Shawn Achor says "success doesn't make you happy so much as happiness makes you more successful". Happiness is a state of mind.
Abraham Lincoln said: "Most folks are as happy as they made up theirs minds to be".
In short, Dr. Tan summed up the 4 proven ways to be happy:
1. Appreciate the blessings you have.
Why focus on the don't haves or weaknesses all the time? If you have health, loved ones, jobs, belongings, occasional vacations.... Too often, we take for granted what we have until we lose them. What you don't appreciate, depreciates.
Maybe the next time WE start complaining, think twice.
2. Exorcise the unpleasant
Life is not a bed of roses. Unpleasant things will definitely happen in life. Too many of us are preoccupied with the misfortunes of yesteryears, which they cannot do anything about.
Professor William James said: "Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcome". The key to happiness is to exorcise our unpleasant past and exercise appreciation of the present, to help us create a better tomorrow.
3. Enjoy the present
We can't live in the past, as we can't go back and undo what has happened. We also cannot live in the future, for it is not yet here, and we cannot foresee what is to come. We can only live in the present moment, fully.
Abraham Maslow: "When we let the past or future interrupt our present, it robs us of the NOW. Our lives then become illusory, and we become unreal".
4. Seek a deeper meaning in life
Life can be meaningless if we focus only on material things.
Life becomes more meaningful when we seek to make a difference in the world. It can be when we contribute our efforts and talents to improve the workplace. It can be when we help others overcome their problems. It can be when we raise our children to become good citizens.
It can be simply when we harness the gifts that god has given us, to do the best we can in our fields of specialty. Leaders in organizations tap into the talents of their employees and bring out the best in them, when they get them to practise the art of happiness at the workplace.
~~~
I guess when we say 'happy', it shouldn't feel like Disney Land, or visiting the ice-cream stall. I think Dr. Tan gave a realistic view, maybe slightly more positive than the Enlightened One, that life is full of fun, and of challenges. The key to happiness though, is always within ourselves.
Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), something I learned at Glasgow University, reminds me that no one could make you angry - Others could do stupid things, but You make Yourself angry (because of it).
I think it doesn't do justice if you are not having any pressure at the workplace. No pain, no gain. No drill, no skills. No effort, no reward. If work is forever easy and straight-forward, there is only 2 scenarios - you'll be replaced by robots (or AI), or you'll be redundant in no time.
For juniors/graduates under my watch, I will be ashamed if you don't progress or leave the company more knowledgeable, skilled and a better professional. The spoon-feeding mentality should stop, and all of us ought to try our best and find answers/solutions. The ability to look for answers/solutions is a valued skill that requires practice, trial/error and experience.
Teaching someone to fish is always more beneficial than to just hand out fish everytime.
NST - 17 Oct 2019
Good luck everyone. Final 2 months of 2019.
No comments:
Post a Comment