The Path to Bliss!

“One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy yourself.” Gretchen Rubin, Author, The Happiness Project.

The search for happiness is an elusive quest that many philosophers, scientists, authors, religious leaders and yogis have strived to identify and impart to others. “Bliss”, defined as “perfect happiness” or “joy” is a state of being that many of us seek, but we are not always sure where to look. One place to start searching might be “Bliss”, California. You can probably count on great surfing, beaches, warm weather and sunshine, but actual bliss... not guaranteed!

Instead, we might look to the research from one psychologist, Martin Seligman, who identifies five precepts to happiness:

1. Pleasure (tasty foods, warm baths, etc.),
2. Engagement (or flow, the absorption of an enjoyed yet challenging activity),
3. Relationships (social ties have turned out to be an extremely reliable indicator of happiness),
4. Meaning (a perceived quest or belonging to something bigger), and
5. Accomplishments (having realized tangible goals).

Another famous psychologist, Abraham Maslow developed The Hierarchy of Needs in his 1943 paper entitled The Theory of Human Motivation. His theory states that if we first meet our basic needs for physiological well-being, safety, belonging, and self-esteem, we can evolve to our full potential as human beings. This higher state, which he calls, “self-actualization,” is Maslow’s definition of “bliss.” It’s the state of becoming everything we are capable of becoming.

While we all may define happiness in different ways, there are common threads among many theorists. Most experts on the topic agree that close relationships are key to happiness and that exercise contributes greatly to an improved state of mental well-being and lowered incidence of depression. Gratitude and a positive outlook also contribute greatly to overall happiness. Grateful people have been shown to have greater positive emotion, a greater sense of belonging, and lower incidence of depression and stress.

Eoin Finn, declared “Blissologist” and yogi from British Columbia, defines his five steps to “bliss”as:

1.       Yoga-to relieve stress and make us fit!

2.       Meditation-to cultivate patience and calm mind.

3.       Nature appreciation-be blown away by life’s miracles

4.       Food appreciation-eating foods that are fresh, healthy and free of chemicals

5.       Gratitude- creating an attitude of gratitude because state of mind is everything

Anyone who has experienced a yoga class with Eoin has encountered “bliss”. You leave wanting to bottle up his joy, his laughter and gift for connecting with others through yoga and loving kindness. His passion for yoga and for life is infectious. Through his 30 day Blissology Project, Eoin challenges you to cultivate a life of love, joy and happiness. Through yoga practice, meditation, nature appreciation, food appreciation and gratitude, Eoin will guide you to live to your fullest human potential possible and begin to create what he calls an “upward spiral.” Many of us are living life in a downward spiral of stress, worry and tension. Instead, he says, “we need to create a positive upward spiral, where our habits affect our attitudes, attitudes shape our actions, and our actions are what shapes the world.” You can learn more about the Blissology Project at www.blissology.com.