Here's To A Happy You
India Today|January 14, 2019

The headlines can make you feel all is lost. But it’s possible to rewire your brain with the new science of positivity and light it up with the mystic power of the ancients to ward off gloom and cynicism

Damayanti Datta
Here's To A Happy You

Year 2018 was sad, bad and mad enough to play tug-of-war with our collective heartstrings. Planes crashed fatally around the globe, companies gave away our personal information, cryptocurrency broke hearts, selfdriving cars killed pedestrians raising uneasy questions, while floods, landslides and tsunamis wreaked havoc. At home, bad loans, farmer suicides, gang rapes, sexual harassment, hate crimes cast dark shadows, air pollution turned our lungs sootier and the state of our national discourse reached its darkest hour.

Yet, in a time of ups, downs and uncertainty, somewhere in the US, an obscure citizen hit the headlines for scattering thousands of brightly coloured Post-it notes with inspiring messages—just to lift people’s spirits. An Indian man’s experience of receiving unexpected love and hospitality in Pakistan started trending on social media. A group of Mumbai netizens welcomed the first day of 2019 with a laughter party at dawn, to laugh away their blues with the rising sun. In the UK, millions took up the Dry January challenge and reported a “new me” version of themselves.

If the news makes you feel angry and hopeless, you need to consciously seek out the good. New scientific research is starting to explore how positive attitude works to improve our mental health. Stanford University researchers have recently linked positive mindset to performance: better function of the hippocampus, an important memory centre in the brain, and more efficient engagement of the brain’s problem-solving capacities (Psychological Science, January 2018).

Esta historia es de la edición January 14, 2019 de India Today.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición January 14, 2019 de India Today.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE INDIA TODAYVer todo
ARTS AND THE MAN
India Today

ARTS AND THE MAN

In his centenary year, F.N. Souza: The Archetypal Artist tries to make sense of the recurring themes in the artist’s work

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
The Reluctant Art Critic
India Today

The Reluctant Art Critic

Advertising executive, art critic and possible catalyst of the modern Indian art movement, Rudolf von Leyden was an intriguing figure in pre-Independence Bombay

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST & POET
India Today

PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST & POET

ANINDYO ROY’S THE VICEROY’S ARTIST IS A FICTIONALISED ACCOUNT OF EDWARD LEAR’S TRAVELS IN INDIA

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
Lady of the Light
India Today

Lady of the Light

This artist has transformed the humble bulb into a thing of beauty

time-read
1 min  |
May 27, 2024
S'more to Think Of
India Today

S'more to Think Of

Called Marshmallow, this penthouse in Gurgaon with soft curves and plush aesthetics stays true to its name

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
A Marvelous Melange
India Today

A Marvelous Melange

From stylish living quarters to multipurpose adaptive space, this home in Mumbai turns every nook into a showstopper

time-read
3 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
TECH MEETS TEXTURE
India Today

TECH MEETS TEXTURE

Smart fabrics and intelligent textiles are changing the way we view home furnishings

time-read
1 min  |
May 27, 2024
Refresh and Revive
India Today

Refresh and Revive

That old table, those cabinets or even the console can be given a new lease of life, one that is tailor-made to the latest trends

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 27, 2024
Standout Spaces
India Today

Standout Spaces

Want dramatic interiors but don’t know how? This home in Mumbai becomes a lesson in learning the nuances of adding magic inside.

time-read
1 min  |
May 27, 2024
Vernacular Wise
India Today

Vernacular Wise

Forget international brands and design, the beauty and simplicity of local materials and ancient techniques is gaining momentum

time-read
1 min  |
May 27, 2024