Life is too short to be miserable

I read about an interesting research where they do a cohort study of 2 groups of people: One group of people won major lotteries of 1 million dollars. Another group of people got themselves walking disabilities, be it through road accidents or paralysis. They were asked "How do you feel" on the first day they won the lottery / got the walking disabilties. The answer? Yup, you guessed it: The lottery group responded with much happiness, gladness, almost manic euphoria. The disabled group responded with much sorrow, regret, almost major depressive.

A million dollars!

After 6 months, they were asked the same questions again. The answers were surprising, since more than 80% of them answerd more or less the same: "I feel fine". That's it? Fine? What happened to the manic euphoria and major depression? You won 1 million dollars and end up feeling the same as someone who lost their leg? So people, I think after a while, we adapt to EVERYTHING. Be it a million dollars or a disability. So in the long term, circumstances don't really determine your feeling. So, why not ditch that sorrow and be happy with what you have for a change? Of course, we do need to go for the best. What kinda idiot would refuse a million dollars because he'd feel the same in 6 months anyway? What I'm trying to say is: Strive for the best, but if you didn't get it after your hard efforts...he happy with what you have =)

Take time to unwind

Back to Bandung after only a week of holiday. But no matter how short my time spent home, it always gets me kick-started again upon returning to student life. Last night I sat alone at a café in KLCC to think. Just thinking. I thought back about all the difficulties I faced before the holidays and thought "well, that wasn't too hard". But if there's time machine of some sort where I can go back to meet myself before the holidays and tell myself "Hey Opie, I think what you're facing ain't such a big deal". Then the past me will definitely punch the present me right in the nose, with no regards that my nose will be swollen in the future as if it wasn't swollen as it is.

Starbucks, KLCC

Our state of mind determines our actions. When we're happy, at peace, we tend to think clearly, looking at problems as opportunity instead of burdens. The answer to the problems will also come easily, and sometimes from unexpected sources. That's why we all need breaks once in a while. When we're constantly bombarded by challenges and difficulties, we'd get too stressed up to open ourselves to opportunities, which, could be the problem solver. How many times have you heard people remembering where they misplaced a lost key, or finding the answer to a complicated question, right after calming down their minds? I've heard it many times before. It's not the key is stolen, or the question is really complicated...it's our mind that gets too complicated to think!