Why Happiness in Learning?

When you are happy, you will learn more. 

Here is a brain research; "Feel Good" neurotransmitter, Dopamine, influences important learning skills like paying attention.  Dopamine is released during pleasure-inducing experiences.  A Harvard graduate researcher, Shawn Achor suggests  6 Exercises for Happiness for becoming happy or happier.  In TED Talk, Achor discusses about the significant game changer, "happiness" in the business and education.  Being positive makes you more productive compare to being stressful.  I agree with his point that it is important to shift into creating happiness instead of managing "stress reduction".  One of the strategies that sustain the time length of being happy is the gratitude practice.  Noting three gratitude every day makes your happiness feeling longer.

The Science of Happiness: An Experiment Gratitude shows unique experiment on happiness.  Julian in this video shares "Two weeks of the three gratitude habit lasts six weeks of a long happy feeling." 

Gratitude journal is simple and easy.  Just jot down anything you feel appreciative in your life, as simple as sunny weather, being healthy, morning coffee, a phone call from friend, etc.  If this simple exercise makes people happy, I will share it with my students because they can make their brains work  more effectively by just being happy.  I am grateful for the understanding of scientific reasons to be happy and how to be.

In addition, daily mindfulness practices help train our brain to respond from the positive emotional experiences.

Students will be happy to learn.  They learn happily.  Breathe.  Be grateful.

August Anxiety

If you feel a little anxious as soon as August button hit, most likely you are a teacher.  I have several smiling facial images from happily retired teachers in my mind.  One day I will  be one of them, fishing trip until November if I want.  But for now, I am trying to reduce my stress, store my strength, and generae my inspiration to prepare for the upcoming new school year.

Fist of all, practicing daily mindfulness, especially with Smiling Mind, helped to focus on peace and gratitude of my being.   Breathing exercise itself helps my reflective part of brain (prefrontal cortex) instead of reactive part (amigdala). Knowing the scientific fact encourages me to continue practicing.  Even though I am just a beginner of mindfulness, my stress should lessen than previous Augusts.

Maintaining physical strength is as important as mental strength.  Keeping up with daily thirty minutes walk, flapping arms like jelly fish, stretching side core by laying side way on the exercise ball,  and being from cobra to downer dog are only some of the examples.   Hopefully, some degree of the diligent work habit would remain in the daily routine after September.

Watching people who keep challenging themselves beyond their limit uplifts my spirit.  Yes, I am talking about American Ninja Warrior.  The strong desire, determination, and hard working make all contestants winners no matter how far they would go through the obstacles.  I am simply in front of TV clapping and cheering.   Ninjas are my inspiration.  It makes me believe that I can achieve anything if I desire strong enough.

After three deep breaths, I became confident.  I can kick out of my August anxiety from my system.