Happiness

I was watching a PBS program recently on inspiring happiness and my reaction was: this sounds a lot like Science of Mind; these ideas are not exactly new. Ernest Holmes wrote about happiness and the power of positive thought in the early 20th Century.  “Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life” is a main idea in his book, Science of Mind.

News seems to focus on the negative, on the idea “if it bleeds, it leads.”  Who hasn’t come from being exposed to the news -- print, Internet, or television -- feeling down and depressed. Things seem bad and getting worse, and it affects our mood. It affects the race consciousness.

Ernest Holmes knew that, and wrote about it:  develop a positive mental atmosphere to power our journey through a life filled with love, peace, harmony, wealth, opportunity, good health and success.
Holmes’ philosophy differs in it’s spiritual component. As spiritual beings having a human experience, we can use the power of our thought, of our consciousness, of our thought vibrations, to create a magnificent human experience.

Today happiness is big business. Books, Internet sites, programs, corporate training and more.  In the book, Broadcasting Happiness, author and researcher in the emerging field of positive psychology Michelle Gielan says:  Change Your Story, Change Your Power; Change Your Broadcast, Change Your Power. A shift in mindset can improve not only your life, but the lives of others. Sound familiar?

She was a former TV journalist who tired of the emphasis on negative news, and developed a popular series on happiness for CBS. She then quit her job to co-found the Institute for Applied Positive Research.

Positive psychology and neuroscience research show that shifts in the way we communicate can ripple out to effect business and education, with higher productivity, better performance ratings, higher sales and lower levels of stress. 

For the news media, she recommends adopting “Transformative Journalism,” which is “better for the bottom line, better for the public’s health, and better for society.” It’s an “activating, engaging, solution-focused approach to covering news.” Highlight stories of successful action that people or organizations take in the face of challenges that lead to success., she says. Be optimistic; believe that change is possible, empower people to take action.

On the personal level, use power leads in communication with others. Have a positive, optimistic, and inspiring beginning to set the tone in any interaction. Even small words can have an impact, so pay attention.

In an interview on the website, Experience Life, she says: “What research is now helping us understand is how choosing to broadcast positive, optimistic, idea-generating messages — even during challenging circumstances — can fuel hope and inspire others.”

Years ago, Ernest Holmes predicted that the ideas in Science of Mind would go mainstream. We see that happening. From Oprah to the myriad of books, magazines, websites and more, the race consciousness is shifting and lifting.

And so it is.