Happiness - A Matter of Focus

Imagine for a moment you have been given a task. That task is to count the number of times five basketballs are passed between a group of people who are running around each other. Assuming that the exercise requires your full concentration, what is the chance that you would notice a gorilla walk right into the middle of the group, beat it's chest and then walk away again? Should be obvious right?

Well according to a study conducted at Harvard university, in some circumstances as little as eight percent of people notice the gorilla!

The reason is that our perception often has a lot to do with what we are focusing on, and less to do with what is really there. In order to process complex information we have to delete most of what goes on around us. For example, before now did you notice how your shirt felt against your skin? When was the last time you blinked?

So the question is, if you are pessimistic - if you focus on what is negative in a situation rather than what is positive - what will your reality be? It is highly likely that if you focus on bad, you will see and hear the bad and miss the good.

Being pessimistic is not the same as being 'realistic'. It is stripping your life of pleasure. Looking for the good in every situation has the opposite affect. The more good you look for, more more good (and happiness) you will get.

(C) Copyright Petra Rankin 2005

Petra Rankin used powerful techniques to beat her own long-term depression. She is now dedicated to teaching others how to be happier and lead more successful lives. Her first book Fast Track Your Success and Happiness is due to be launched in September 2005 and is currently available for download as a free e-book instead of paying $19.95. Limited time only!

In The News:

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/35332034.htmlcid=0ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFCDNDIKbsCSVVmvEHaPxvQmYAwsQSilver Key Works To Bring bHappiness/b To Lonely Seniors/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKKTV 11 News,nbsp;COnbsp;-/font nobr4 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The holiday season on often a difficult time for seniors. When many others gather with their loved ones, for many, the pains of lost loved ones, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://life.hereisthecity.com/the_soul_clinic/mind_and_body/799.cntnscid=0ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFHtAZf2eXhyZJO8Fpat0xz0WVmjAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=Qc5z9i92eDoJimgurl=life.hereisthecity.com/cntns_media/hitcl/me_1373.jpg width=80 height=60 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Here Is The City/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://life.hereisthecity.com/the_soul_clinic/mind_and_body/799.cntnscid=0ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFHtAZf2eXhyZJO8Fpat0xz0WVmjAbHappiness/b or Grammar?/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHere Is The City,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1They said that we need children to learn basic skills in school (maths, reading, science), and that teaching them bhappiness/b is really a neo-liberal waste of b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/27happy.html%3Fref%3Dhealthcid=1274976377ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEzjUUrHgDaycVyZ2FsZzZrKkpz6Qimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=TyzsI9bkaz8Jimgurl=graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/11/27/us/27nat-happy.600.jpg width=80 height=44 alt= border=1brfont size=-2New York Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/27/us/27happy.html%3Fref%3Dhealthcid=1274976377ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEzjUUrHgDaycVyZ2FsZzZrKkpz6QEven if You Can’t Buy It, bHappiness/b Is Big Business/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Times,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 27, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Participants browse titles in the bookstore written by many of the speakers at a conference called bHappiness/b and its Causes in San Francisco, California. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/geared-for-happiness/cid=1276017765ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEsAoxMay7O5aJDsBRxhMyDEXiKBQimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=V8IZj1AE-a0Jimgurl=media.washingtontimes.com/media/img/photos/2008/11/28/20081127-185500-pic-121148085_r106x74.jpg%3Fc4028041f07984cc2b0208af53263b8f9a78b153 width=80 height=56 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Washington Times/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/30/geared-for-happiness/cid=1276017765ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEsAoxMay7O5aJDsBRxhMyDEXiKBQMASON/MASON: Geared for bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWashington Times,nbsp;DCnbsp;-/font nobrNov 29, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1A surprising and ultimately happy ending to the controversial auto industry bailout may be possible. A positive outcome requires the proven management ideas b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.f1sa.com/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dview%26id%3D9116%26Itemid%3D219cid=1275802977ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFhQ6a2CoF6F3iNtkt55dRgO5P64QF1 : Felipe Massa - A little bit of bhappiness/b for those who suffer/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fF1SA,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1We tried to bring a little bit of bhappiness/b for those who suffer.quot; In the end the event was a great success, 12 000 spectators came to see the races at the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ridgecrestca.com/news/business/x541370419/Making-Cents-Cents-will-never-add-up-to-happinesscid=1275627212ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFmAmb1i7_KwVfKrwLfpK9t5QVoxgMaking Cents: Cents will never add up to bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fRidgecrest Daily Independent,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobrNov 28, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1True success cannot come without bhappiness/b. If you think that money is the root cause of bhappiness/b, just look at all the miserable rich people that you know b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sknvibes.com/Commentary/Index.cfm/290cid=0ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNGVxC8pR4uA-18RfPOtTrRtvLh81w“Breathe” bHappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSKNVibes.com,nbsp;St. Kitts and Nevisnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Julie Charles THE quest for bhappiness/b is as old as the human race, and that great quest still continues even in today’s world. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Heads_and_Tales/Brazil_to_import_happiness_from_Bhutan/articleshow/3776664.cmscid=0ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNExQizp8j--yccAduauaB0h5cqo7QBrazil to #39;import#39; bhappiness/b from Bhutan/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fTimes of India,nbsp;Indianbsp;-/font nobrNov 30, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-130 Nov 2008, 2018 hrs IST, PTI THIMPHU: Bhutan#39;s Gross National bHappiness/b (GNH) has found a new admirer in Brazil, which says it plans to adopt the unique b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/features/6137158.htmlcid=1275560247ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNFmnSGSikS5zBDE4TxEURJoUAs65QAbby: Happily married man bothered by ex’s bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fHouston Chronicle,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrNov 28, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By ABBY Universal Press Syndicate My first serious relationship lasted a year and ended more than eight years ago. “Stacy” was terrific, but we were very b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/channel/mtvuk/news/464660-britney-spears-for-the-recordcid=1276316625ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEjHlW6GwTwXUUTx-857FCYyDogsAimg src=http://news.google.com/news?imgefp=bWimoJEzzdgJimgurl=www.mtv.co.uk/files/library/images/artist/britney_spears/500/vmas_2008_britney_russell_5.jpg width=80 height=32 alt= border=1brfont size=-2MTV UK/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://blogs.nypost.com/popwrap/archives/2008/12/britney_people.htmlcid=1276316625ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNEgRmKEhdkUnS-AFZ5L-3zwly3h0gBritney: quot;People Shave Their Heads All The Timequot;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNew York Post,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Everyone needs bhappiness/b in there life. God protect everyone. All you need is to ask. Good job. Be kind to yourself. Everyone needs bhappiness/b in there life. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1090925/I-want-married-babies-live-desert-island-reveals-lonely-Britney-Spears.htmlcid=1276316625ei=OmY0SfKTHqCQ6APYr-noCAusg=AFQjCNF4-9Y4az2Snrf5hFKH4QW-abe6kA#39;I want to get married, have more babies and live on a desert b.../b/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrDaily Mail/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1276316625hl=ennobrall 210 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
happiness - Google News


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