Tue, 30 May 2017 10:41:17 +0000
By Edna Y.Kazonga
| Apart from a high Intelligence Quotient (I.Q), high self esteem, hard work, confidence, growth mind set, determination a good diet and loving parents, INNER HAPPINESS is key to smooth plain sailing schooling with close to excellent academic performance. it will also enhance your health. Read the Bible in Proverbs Chapter 17 verse 23. |
What is HAPPINESS?
My Mini Oxford Pocket School Dictionary defines HAPPINESS as a state of being pleased or contented. I also checked my daughter’s Oxford Junior Dictionary which is meant for younger pupils and this is what I got as definition: “When you are happy, you feel pleased and you are enjoying yourself”. Going by the younger children’s definition, it looks like happiness is an essential super spice in our lives. Without going into details of our brain structure and happiness-inducing natural chemicals, I can safely say that we are all born with the ability to be happy and it feels good to be happy. Take a look at babies and make a conclusion!
Actually, we are all meant to be happy beings because we all posses innate happiness ingredients/portions which may go low or high in supply depending on the circumstances around and within us. When we are too low on happiness we become all ‘dry and grumpy’ and our daily activities are negatively affected. When we are too high on happiness to abnormal levels, as in a euphoric state, we cannot function properly either and we start exhibiting abnormal behaviour. The best thing is to be at a recommended level which can be attained by way of natural living as prescribed by God, nature, science, religion and psychology. Notice that all these disciplines are in harmony in as far as happiness is concerned.
What Does HAPPINESS Do to a Pupil?
A happy pupil at school will exhibit normal levels of a relaxed calm disposition which is essential for learning to take place. The happy pupil will manage to pay attention as the teacher is teaching with minimum effort. Furthermore, happiness helps a pupil to posses the right amount of a sense of humour and will not easily take offense when the teacher and fellow pupils correct him. It follows that a happy child will relate easily to his teacher making him free enough to ask questions when things seem not to be clear in any lesson. A happy pupil will naturally welcome school work and homework as essentials without grumbling.
In the home setting, a happy pupil will rise in the morning without grumbling and giving excuses and easily go through the “Get ready for school routine” even without the mother telling him to do so. A happy pupil will keep track of school events and willingly take part in them such as Sports day, Open day e.t.c. It follows that they will remember when the Examinations start and end including when to write which subject.
I will be quick to point out that whatever I have mentioned here is not dependant on the child’s Intelligence Quotient (I.Q.) but simply on the fact that a child is happy, simply happy! Go ahead and conclude safely that a happy child is likely to perform well at school. Happiness in a pupil can help to defy all odds and help him to work wonders academically because his perception of what other pupils call problems is different. What others call mountains will be called anthills by a happy pupil. There may be no food at home or there may be regular sicknesses and funerals but a happy child will still excel at school. Given a chance to examine a sad pupil with a high I.Q. and compare results to a happy pupil with a reportedly lower I.Q., you would be shocked with the outcome!
How Can a Sad Pupil Cultivate HAPPINESS?
The good news is that those pupils whose happiness has been taken away by either external or internal factors still have a chance to cultivate happiness. I will explain a few aids to happiness in simple layman terms.
A sense of gratitude/ share
Be grateful to God for creating you by praying every day. Write down all the good things that come your way you will find that they have more than the bad things then say thank you to Mummy, Daddy and everybody. A grateful heart yields a cheerful heart. Be happy and share what you have. Share your snack pack with your friend. When you share you experience something called joy.
Smile
Try to smile, force it if you have never smiled before. You may practice at the mirror. What do you feel? Smile as often as possible. The physical action of smiling will stimulate an inner feeling of happiness and you should cherish it. Scientists affirm that smiling activates happiness centres in your brain and this leads to joy. Smiling is contagious so your smile will multiply in all the people who will look at you and it will create a happy atmosphere and soon headaches, toothaches, sore eyes, sore legs or backaches will either disappear or minimise! Trust me! CAUTION: Don’t over smile inappropriately because your parents will take you to Chainama!
Light /Sunshine/Outdoors
If you feel sad go outside fill your lungs with fresh air and get some sunshine which will give you some vitamin D free of charge for a good 20 minutes. Nutritionists advice that lack of vitamin D will make you feel tired, anxious and depressed. A good dose of Vitamin D will lighten your mood. If there is very little sunshine, you can get your vitamin D from delicious food such as mushrooms, ask mummy she knows better.
Dark rooms are likely to lower your spirits so make sure you draw the curtains to let some light into the house and smile. Staying indoors for a long time can be burdensome even when you are sick. Go outdoors and feel the difference as your mood gets uplifted. Spot some flowers and smell them, or spot some green grass and enjoy the relaxing green effect. You may put some cut flowers in a vase in the house and your mother will like it and you will both be happy. The resultant calm of cut flowers scents will cheer you up. Don’t spend the whole day indoors.
Citrus Joy
Go out and find a citrus tree or fruits such as oranges, lemons or grapefruits. Experts advise that the sweet citrus smell will activate chemical reactions in your brain which will result into a relaxing effect making you happy. So encourage your mother to love and embrace (natural) citrus scents in your home.
Be active
Inactivity makes you feel heavy, numb and sad. Exercise for about 20 minutes daily in any form such as running, cycling, dancing skipping, jumping and so on. Walk to school sometimes if it is near instead of jumping into Daddy’s car or minibus every day. Scientists advise that when blood is well pumped into the body, it releases endorphins throughout your body which results in the creation of happy feelings. Hey little girls out there, you will look prettier and happier if you are physically active.
Reverse Negatives
Sometimes we come across
s phrases that bring us down and steal our happiness. Reverse all negatives in your mind and replace them with positives to bring back your happiness. Learn to recognise thoughts that are negative and harmful and then reverse them. For example:
Music
If you are feeling sad listen to creative good songs. Sing along if you know the words, compose your own songs and proudly teach others. Music has been known to relax your mind and induce happiness. You must have seen tears of joy in some people as they listen to some music. Some therapists consider using music to soothe and relax certain patients. Sing a song as you shower or as you do house chores (which most of you children despise) and experience the joy of singing. Scientists explain that there is a small organ in your ear which is connected to a part of your brain which registers pleasure when you sing.
Short breaks
Whenever you are tasked to do something lengthy, take short breaks to prevent loss of happiness. Short breaks are always healthy because they help you to restore the used up energy and help break the monotony which may result in physical hurt, mental distress, anxiety and stress. Eat a snack if you feel hungry during your short break and enjoy feeling rejuvenated-happy again. CAUTION; long breaks are no good at all, they result into laziness.
Interact with true live human beings/pets
It is not advisable to interact with friends only on social media every day of your life without physically seeing and meeting them. Psychologists advise that being in the physical company of friends has more benefits than interacting with them on social media only because physical handshakes from your friends will make you happy. Similarly, pets (your own) like dogs, Cats, Gold fish can relax your mind and make you happy.
Happy food
Experts advise that certain types of food when eaten contain or enhance chemical compounds which help to induce happiness, some of these foods are: bananas, nuts, chocolate, avocado, salmon, dark green leafy vegetables like spinach.
You may ask your mother to add turmeric to some food and also ask for green tea. I know it is bitter. If you are really depressed, your mother can give you a little bit of coffee as a one off thing under supervision, it will stimulate you. Remember, too much coffee is bad for you. Cheer up!
