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This blog is another opportunity to feel grateful and thank you dear Universe: You continue to bless me with recovery and overall health.
When our vision is destined to achieve health and happiness, well-being ought to follow. No one needs to migrate to feel happy as it’s the journey and not any destination. Today many interesting health ideologies have emerged in our evidence-based society that empowers people to make healthier choices and simultaneously help people, communities, and societies to more satisfying lives:
- Pantdrunk (Finland): it’s a fun concept that started in Finland, a place that scores the top on the happiness index. The name itself is funny enough and is about chilling at home stripped down to underwear with a cocktail. It gained popularity as at times we like being in our own peaceful space with nobody around to make judgments. It is an individual’s lifestyle choice, being cost-effective and managing everyday stress by grabbing a bottle of their favoured cocktail accompanied by their choice of music, or a movie.
It might have some health benefits, for e.g., at times, it is a great way to unwind, get rid of stress, loosen up, immerse our senses to take the lead, make room to do things with a difference, kick-start our life, and be yourself. And, the best part is that you don’t need to care about anything, not even your pants.
- Laughter Yoga (India): It is contagious. The ideology involves deliberate laughter with a series of breathing and movement exercises. Generally practiced in a group, the session begins with clapping, chanting, and breathing exercises to relax the body and includes certain playful movements that encourage laughter.
It is my personal favourite as the role and power of humour and laughter are undeniable in today’s world. There are numerous benefits of laughter from a boost to the immune system and associated health benefits, bonding us socially, a great tool for personal development, and making us mentally active and stronger. It has been proved that our body does not differentiate between intentional and real laughter and therefore this therapy acts on physical, mental, and psychological levels getting immense benefits. We have often experienced how a good giggle put things in a healthy zone and this is what this science is all about.
- Kintsugi (Japan): One does not necessarily visit Japan to know about its age-old tradition, the art of Kintsugi, which is a popular theory for the message it proclaims. It is a Japanese art where the practitioners use golden lacquer to fill the cracks and put back the broken pieces of pottery. The irregular lines are perceived as an element of beauty rather than a flaw and the wonderful philosophy makes the piece a distinctive form of art.
It comes across as more than just a philosophy. Experiencing a rough patch doesn’t necessarily mean, it’s all over, the damage of getting diagnosed with a rare disease, Isaacs’ Syndrome (a neuromuscular condition stemming from muscle hyperactivity), my life underwent a drastic change, and following that diagnosis, I also discovered I was suffering from Lyme disease (a bacterial illness transmitted by ticks), Glaucoma (which damages the optic nerve), and Membranous Glomerulonephritis (a progressive kidney disease) made me the person I am today. Post diagnosis, it was essential not to see life negatively but instead as an opportunity in the light, we call life. I tried approaching things in a way that worked for me in specific rather than an outdated mindset that’s the way it should be done. I started to enjoy simplicity, could gauge my situation better, and limited my complaints. I became more receptive to approving how others and their acts affected my situation and became more open-minded to new ideas and experiences, and considerate of others and their thoughts. Today I feel in spite of being fragile in our respective ways, wellness is all about, the vigour to overcome challenges and inspire others with all our golden cracks.
- Lykke (Denmark): in Danish it is another word for happiness. It is the quality of life, health, freedom, money, trust, kindness, and togetherness that explains why people of a particular country are happier than others. One does not move to Denmark to be happy instead can look around and learn from practices that ignite happiness. There are so many activities and practices that different cultures around the globe adopt to keep themselves alive and cheerful.
In my opinion, it is about taking control of things that could make one happier. Some of my initiatives toward this ideology that helped were reading on a topic that instantly gets a smile on my face, inviting friends to chit-chat, practicing a hobby, going out on a casual work without any specific agenda, having a hot cup of tea with some cookies, and the list goes on. At times the simple of all things brings immense joy and has a ripple effect towards bigger things.
- Friluftsliv (Norway): it is a concept that embraces the outdoors and promotes ‘open-air living’. I instantly connected with the concept as after feeling glum and glued to my room for years together post-diagnosis, I appreciated how frilufsliv promotes a perspective of spending time in the outdoors, being a part of nature. There are numerous health benefits associated with nature and the concept provides spiritual, mental, emotional, and overall well-being. This practice seems to have a close association with forest bathing, quite popular in Japan. Spending a night under the sky, walking barefoot on grass, getting acquainted with the voice of birds, breathing and eating fresh, positive vibes, feeling nature’s energy, and exploring new things, are such dopamine and happy experiences.
- Fika (Sweden): a delightful ritual with the simple meaning of having a coffee break.
Then what makes it special? Fike is a moment of slowing down to appreciate the good things in life to experience calmness, contentment, and happiness. It is an opportunity to hang out with loved ones, make new friends, and be social. Typically, it is a social affair with no particular agendas used as a tool to take rest from regular activities to avoid monotony. It refreshes one’s focus and gets the creative juices flowing again.
The ultimate end is achieving happiness however rituals might differ. It is an individual’s state of mind that involves life satisfaction and luckily our world is filled with plenty of ways that encourage true wellness with many moments that make us smile.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed above in this article are the author’s own and do not represent any kind of medical advice.
