Experiments

All of My Happy-Curious Experiments in One Place

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8. A Happy-Curious Experiment from: A Lesson From My Sister: Gratitude in the Midst of Grief     

In the 1913 book, Pollyanna, by Eleanor H. Porter, the title character charms, inspires & changes the residents of a small New England town by teaching them to play the Glad Game.  Pollyanna does this by reliably observing what one can be glad about in any given situation.  Sometimes minimized, Pollyanna's deep well of gladness (or gratitude) is hard won.  

In the book, Pollyanna first loses her mother, and then her missionary father.  It was from her father that Pollyanna learned the Glad Game.  One Christmas, Pollyanna, a young girl, was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel.  Instead of a doll, though, Pollyanna was sent a pair of crutches.  Her father sat with her in her disappointment, then tried to find something to be glad about.  Finally, he said, "We can be glad that you don't need the crutches!"  I just read through some of my gratitude lists in my journal.  A repeated entry is this: "I'm grateful for all of the time I had with my sister." 

If you're going through a difficult time, you might try one of these happy-curious experiments.

1.  The oldest part of our brain is hard-wired to do one thing: survive.  And so, when--through our senses--we take in data and information about our environment, we first notice the threatening, the bad, the dangerous, and the fearful, so that we can take action in response to it, and survive.  This is called negativity bias and it's super important and super helpful!

Yet, it means it takes us a bit of effort to notice the good, the safe, the loving, the kind, the helpful, or the beautiful.  One way to do that is to write down the good stuff, the stuff we're grateful for.  In doing so, we slow down for a moment, we take stock of our day, we give our brains a chance to remember the good stuff, which in turn, influences our perceptions and mood.  

For this happy-curious experiment, try the obvious: start writing down--regularly--what you're grateful for.  It doesn't have to be 10 items, especially if you're in the midst of grief or something else difficult, just write down one or two, or what you're able to.   Though this might seem "Pollyanna-ish," this is a powerful practice with mental, emotional, and physical benefits.  Or...

2.  If that sounds like too much to start with, that's okay.  But, do you have 20 seconds?  As this video explains, simply "taking in" a good moment, experience, or sensation for 20 seconds (while it's happening) changes our brain for the good and influences our emotions positively.  Or...

3.  Get comfortable and listen to Ralph Vaughan Williams' Lark Ascending, a violin piece with orchestra, as it combines the lark's joy at break of day arising, with heart-piercing poignancy.  It's one of my favorites.  Try listening to even the first five minutes...it's just brilliant.

Thank you for reading this post.  If you could leave a short comment, I'd appreciate that, too. And if you try any of these experiments and want to share your experience, please do so.

With gratitude,

        Nancy ☕

7. A Happy-Curious Experiment from: In A World of Laments, Alleluia Gets the Final Word

It's been two months since I posted last.  My excuse is that I've been busy with the 7-week season of Lent and Easter, and then finishing up last tasks before concluding my job at the church I've been at for the past year.  And no doubt about it, this year has been quite challenging and has contained a number of laments.  Even so, I leave that church with a heart full of gratitude because the last word there was alleluia.   

So, dear people, I actually see the whole of this past year of working at the church (for more on this see this post) along with living on the North Shore for a second year, making new friends, and working on my own issues and healing, as a year-long happy-curious experiment!  

How about you?

As a happy-curious experiment, can you look back on your last year?  What was pain-full and lament worthy?  On the other hand, what was alleluia worthy and for what are you grateful?  Do you have an experience of moving from lament to alleluia that you're willing to share?  I'm interested in hearing your take on this movement in your life.  

Feel free to leave your comments below, or on Facebook, to engage with other happy-curious people.                      

In the meantime, I leave you with this benediction as you move through this one, precious, day.  It's the same benediction that I've used for years to conclude my yoga classes:

        May you go in peace.

        May you walk in love.

        May you know deep & abiding joy.

        And may you be well & happy.

With so much love, 

            Nancy ☕

6. A Happy-Curious Experiment from:  Beauty: An Unexpectedly Powerful Core Value       

1.Happiness can be experienced by living out our core values.  What about you? What are your core values?  Here's a list of some core values to start with, but add your own, too!  I suggest only picking out 5-8 in order to hone in on what's really important to you:

acceptance    adventurous    artistry   boldness    bravery    charity     transformation      cheerfulness  cleanliness   hospitality     compassion     courage     creativity     dependability    empathy    self-control  faithfulness     fitness     flexibility     freedom     gentleness     gracefulness     playfulness   well-being    helpfulness     hopefulness     honesty    happiness     humility     humor     integrity     intelligence    inventiveness    joy   kindness     liberation     love   loyalty    openness   passionate   perceptive    pleasure  reverence     security     simplicity     supportiveness    thrift     tradition    trustworthiness     wealth    wisdom    generosity    others....

I'm interested in hearing about your core values.   What came up for you?   What are your long-standing values?   Do you have any "inherited" core values?                                                                                                     Feel free to leave your comments below to add to the conversation on this blog topic.                                                Nancy  ☕

2.  Where and how can you experience beauty today?  Besides being present to your movements, or to animals in your world, or to the taste of your food, or the design of your clothes, here are a few online options:

The Secret Garden (audio book)

Scotland - Highlands and Islands; Nature Documentary

Dolce & Gabbana Dreamy Fashion Show

What ways do you experience beauty?  Feel free to leave your comments below to engage with other happy-curious people.                                                                                                                                                                      Nancy  ☕

5. A Happy-Curious Experiment From:  Dancing With Candles                                                               

Looking back at this happy-curious experience I've learned that sometimes healing comes to me looking all ethereal, magical, peaceful and spiritual.  But sometimes it comes while I'm yelling out the counts of music to a bunch of beautiful, volunteer dancers, as they dance with lit candles in their hands and hearts. The bottom line is that there is something unpredictable about healing and happiness; it just doesn't fit into a formula. 

So, are you willing to try a happy-curious dance experiment and see what happens?

For this simple dance you might use Moonlight Sonata or any slow, gentle music (or your favorite music).  Likewise, I thought this experiment would take place standing up but you could also do it sitting.  Lastly, give your body permission to explore these simple arm movements:                                          1.  Lift one arm in front of you.  Lengthen your arm, imaging that you're reaching for something precious.   Let that arm float down to its resting position.                                                                             2.  Try the same thing with your other arm.                                                                                                  3.  Repeat these arm movements 2-3 more times so that they become familiar.                                           4.  Do both arms together, but bring your arms higher, a bit more toward the ceiling.  Repeat a few times.   5.  Next, experiment with changing or adding other movements...until you feel complete.                           

If you try this happy-curious dance experiment I'd be interested in hearing about it.  Leave your comment below in the comments section of this blog as it will help my blog reach more people.  

Thank you!  Nancy ☕

4. A Happy-Curious Experiment From: Cake for Breakfast                    

Is there something that you enjoyed as a child, that for some reason you eliminated from your life?  Take a moment and visualize yourself as a child, doing something that made you feel good...   Maybe it was eating dessert, or bike riding, or swimming, or laughing and being silly, or being strong and adventurous?  What might happen if you gave yourself permission to revisit that activity or that version of your Self?  Maybe at first you'll feel awkward or vulnerable.  Maybe after a couple of tries, though, you'll reclaim something that will continue to increase your happiness.  If you try out your own happy-curious experiment, I'd be interested in hearing about it.  Leave your experiment ideas or results, or any other comments, below on this blog site.

And here's an article about my Aunt Elna and Uncle Olaf and the restaurant that they had in Florida where they lived during the winter.  Aunt Elna & Uncle Olaf's Restaurant

Wishing you a sweet start to your day,

       Nancy ☕🍰

3.  A Happy-Curious Experiment From:  Taking A Job I Wasn't Ready For       

If you've lost your voice or confidence, you might try these happy-curious experiments:

1. Try writing something.  A poem, a letter to your Self, a journal, a sentence, or a single word.  To start with write with no editing and no thought to who might read it.  Just be your Self as you write and see what happens.

2. This TedTalk  The Skill of Self-Confidence addresses building the skill of confidence with 3 real strategies.  Check it out and try out one or more of his strategies to grow the skill of confidence your Self.    

If you would, leave a comment when you try these out; I'd love to hear about your Happy-Curious experiments.

     Best,

           Nancy ☕

  

2.  A Happy-Curious Experiment From:   Happy Relaxing

This experiment comes from my yoga practice.  If you want to try it, you might read through these steps a couple of times before you do this experiment.

The Preparation:

* Get into a comfortable position.  I suggest lying down on your back, on a supportive surface while resting your legs over a cushion or rolled up blanket (another option is to lie on your side).  Your head and neck are also in line with your spine, or you might use a folded towel for a small, flat "pillow."  Adjust your position until you are comfortable.

*Nourish relaxation by mindfully softening the muscles throughout your body.  

*Bring a bit more awareness to your abdomen/belly.  

The Practice:

*On your inhale allow your abdomen/belly to rise or stick out, and to expand a bit.  This is a natural breath, not a big breath, or even a "deep" breath.  Just a natural, effortless breath.

*As your exhalation happens, allow your belly to move back to its resting position.

*Explore this practice for a few minutes. 

*Lastly, this is a practice.  For some of us, this method of relaxation may take some time to feel comfortable or natural.  So be kind to your self as you practice nourishing relaxation by physically relaxing along with belly breathing.

And know that you'll not only be nourishing relaxation, you'll be nourishing happiness.

Happy Relaxing,

    Nancy ☕

1.  A Happy-Curious Experiment From:  Singing With Friends         

Watch the short video below (1.26 minutes) on what singing does to our brains!  It turns out our brains love to sing and singing does affect our mood positively!  After watching the video try this experiment:  Put on some music that you have a hunch you'd enjoy singing to, and notice what happens to your level of happiness.  The Donna Summer song that I mentioned in the full blog is also linked below.

Warmly,                                                                                                                                                          Nancy ☕

"How Music Works: What Happens to your Brain when you Sing?"  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSvY_oIIwMM

Donna Summer "Last Dance:" 

https://youtu.be/vqZY8P42pLo