Scaling happiness: the science of smile

Much of the research confirms things we’ve always suspected. For example, in general Healthy people are happier than sick people. Rich people are happier than poor people. And so on.


That said, there have been some surprises. For example, while all these things do make people happier, it’s astonishing how little any one of them matters.

Yes, a new house or a new spouse will make you happier, but not much and not for long. As it turns out, people are not very good at predicting what will make them happy and how long that happiness will last. They expect positive events to make them much happier than those events actually do, and they expect negative events to make them unhappier than they actually do.

In both field and lab studies, we’ve found that winning or losing an election,  getting or not getting a promotion, passing or failing an exam—all have less impact on happiness than people think they will. A recent study showed that very few experiences affect us for more than three months.

When good things happen, we celebrate for a while and then sober up. When bad things happen, we weep and whine for a while and then pick ourselves up and get on with it.

can reaserchers measure scaling of happiness in humans?

mahakavi bharathiyar padal

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

இச்ச்கத்து ளோரெல்லாம் எதிர்த்துநின்ற பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

துச்ச்மாக வெண்ணிநம்மை தூறுசெய்த பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

பிச்சைவாங்கி உண்னும்வாழ்க்கை பெற்றுவிட்ட பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

இச்சைகொண்ட பொருளெலாம் இழந்துவிட்ட பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

கச்சணிந்த கொங்கைமாதர் கண்க்ள்வீசு போதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

நச்சைவாயி லேகொண்ர்ந்து நண்பரூட்டு பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

பச்சையூ னியைந்த்வேற் படைக்ள்வந்த பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

உச்சிமீது வானிடிந்து வீழுகின்ற் பொதினும்

அச்ச்மில்லை யச்சமில்லை அச்ச்மனெப தில்லையே

Do you sometimes feel people are used and thrown?

From my own experience: "Good People" are good to themselves as well as to others. If you are good to yourself, you don't allow yourself to be "used". Subjugating all of your own dreams, desires, thoughts and needs in favor of someone else's is NOT good, unless you do it with no expectation of a return. If you feel "used" it is because your expectations aren't met. If you decide to sacrifice yourself, you aren't being "used", it is a decision you willingly made. 

You have a right to get a return on your investment (of love, time, affection, money, loyalty, work) but you need to express what you expect and hold the other party accountable. If give without getting and don't like it, the options are (1)to continue the status quo and continue your dissatisfaction, (2)stop giving, (3) define with the other party what the expectations are, or (4) give to someone or something that is appreciative in a way that pleases you.

This may seem like unsympathetic, but it isn't. The pain of being cast aside after devoting to something, and the above is what I learned from the experience. There are some people who can give without any expectation, and I think we all do that from time to time, but I don't see that working in an ongoing relationship, whether at work or at home or with friends. No one but you is responsible for your own happiness. If you feel cast aside, maybe you need to cultivate new friends, develop new interests or pursue old dreams. You are the only person who can "throw you out". You still exist and can still become happy with yourself.

Also some "good people" allow themselves to be used. They don't see the need or don't know how to set boundaries with others through their life. It's like killing yourself with your own kindness. (reverse of killing them with kindness) but it means the same thing...basically. 

If you allow others to walk over you and use you, it does not teach them how to respect others and they certainly won't respect you or really appreciate anything you do for them. You basically are teaching the users to continue to be users, not givers and you definitely are teaching them to use you. 

Then you wonder where all the people are that you were so kind to. Everything you did for these people over the years meant so very much to you, you really cared and assumed it meant the same to them and they were receiving with the same caring heart you were giving with. It's not good to judge others by your own standards because they just may not be the same.

However......you have your sweet kind heart, your integrity,honor and caring for others. That's really special in my book.

One of my big, difficult lessons in life, I am grateful I learned it.

Live each and every moment mindfully

Life with Aerobic vs Anaerobic Exercises

The literal meaning of aerobics is oxygen. Hence, aerobic exercise can be defined as the one, which involves the use of oxygen to produce energy, whereas anaerobic exercise makes the body to produce energy without using oxygen.


Anaerobic exercises are high intensity workouts that are performed for a short time. On the contrary, aerobic exercises generally simple exercises and are performed for a longer time, at moderate intensity.

Aerobic exercise is slow, steady state exercise that requires oxygen and can be done for long periods of time. Anaerobic exercise is short bursts of strength and power (weight training, plyometrics, high intensity running intervals) that last only 30-45 seconds.
Aerobic exercises train your muscles to use fat more efficiently, which causes them to burn less of it. The more you train, the easier the exercises get, and your body burns even less fat.
Anaerobic training is more effective and efficient for weight loss. It’s still cardiovascular, but you’re working at a greater intensity than aerobic training. Your heart and lungs get a workout because of the demand from the muscular system, rather than the reverse—your muscles moving because of cardiovascular demand. Anaerobic training requires greater muscular demand than aerobic training, thus elevating your heart rate and building fat-burning lean muscle.

When you perform aerobic exercise, you will notice an increase in the heart beat rate and the rise in your level of respiration. Energy is provided by carbohydrate and fats, when you work out the muscles. On the other hand, the sources of energy during anaerobic activity are adenosine tri phosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate.
Choose to do aerobic or anaerobic to enjoy healthy life!

Celebrating Life

Xenotransplantation is the use of live nonhuman animal cells, tissues and organs in human patients. These cells can be implanted or enclosed in a device that is used outside the body ("ex vivo perfusion"). Lord Ganesha is the God of Xeno transplantation surgery. He is the elephant headed God. The birthday of Lord Ganesha is 'Ganesh Chaturthi' and this year it is celebrated on 19th Sep.

Today, with shortage of organs the world over, the attractive option of using animal organs is being explored all the time. If research could overcome rejection (antigen- antibody reaction), then, using animal body parts for humans could become a reality. Some examples of animal tissue that is used in the humans include heart valves that are derived from pigs.


Ganesha has an elephant’s head on the human body. The transplant is believed to have been performed by Lord Shiva. The scientific significance of Ganesha’s form may be interpreted as follows-
» Lord Ganesha looks abnormally obese, especially so in the regions of his abdomen and chest. After transplant surgery almost all patients receive steroids leading to a similar obesity. One wonders if Ganesha was on a long-term high dose of steroids after the transplant? No other Indian God is shown with this type of physique.

» Lord Ganesha’s accompanying mate is shown as a mouse – which sits infront or shown along with him. Most of the transplant research is done on mice before it is extrapolated on humans. There are reasons to ponder if the mouse is depicted for a purpose; giving the small animal its dues.

» After the transplant surgery, Lord Shiva is believed to have given Ganesha an elixir to drink. One cannot help speculating if this was some potion containing an anti-rejection medication. It is common practice to use similar booster anti-rejection drugs during transplant surgeries performed today.

Solid organ transplants are now common venture and almost any organ can be transplanted. Recently there have been instances of face transplants; however head transplant is the most complex of all transplants and no one has attempted this feat. Xeno-transplants of the head are unlikely to be used and can be only be confined to mythological stories such as that of Lord Ganesha.

Ganesha holds a unique niche in the minds of millions of devotees the world over. On the tenth day, the festivities of Ganesh Chaturthi meet a watery end, when clay idols of Ganesh are immersed in local water bodies. This is in accordance to the law of natural recycling.


These celebrations should also trigger thoughts that question their validity and prompt us to ponder on their significance, if any! Although we indulge in treason and murder, what makes us unique, as a race, is the ability to donate our body parts to revive a fellow human; the supreme sacrifice- to donate life! Let this be the presiding thought as we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi this year and in the years to come.

Live Life to the Fullest!

"Life is not about chances, its about the choices you make" And it did quite sum up. Someone not so long ago asked "Why do we live life abiding by rules?" Answer was that it takes courage to break the mold and delineate oneself from the accepted norms of society and humanity as a whole. Pondering on the subject, maybe it is lack of courage sometimes, but many a times it takes character- playing by the rules even when your convictions are against them. It takes character to put other's needs, beliefs and welfare above your own.


That being said, life demands spontaneity and breaking away from the typical, every once in a while. Most people including are however used to planned decisions, calculated risks and anticipated outcomes. The most defining moments of  life were the choices made based on instincts, faith and convictions. Live each moment passionately and ardently within all notions and boundaries of right and wrong.

It was easy sometimes. You just have to find the one thing that you'd die for and then live for it. Some people might live to achieve it, others to sustain it and some others in search of it. No matter what the endeavor, it would have been worth it. After all, like some wise man once said "You go through life only once. But if you do it right, once is enough.