March
2007
How do we learn how to be happy?
In a recent post by Dr.Karen Shue on her blog, Neurofeedback on the Brain, she describes her thoughts and insights about happiness. At one point she says,
"The biggest one thing that makes a difference to happiness levels (other than optimism, but that's a story for another day) is relationships. Nurturing our social relationships may be one of the most powerful things we can do to increase our happiness…And even having positive relationships is not about finding the 'right people,' it's about being the 'right person'"
I completely agree. Karenhttp://www.justmommies.com/advertise2.shtml
talks about other factors as well. Read the article, it's well worth it and you won't lose your place here (this window will stay open for you.)
I will take it further, to say that how we perceive our relationships and events in our lives is significantly influenced by our earliest experiences. How we were treated and thought of, whether or not we were wanted (yes, even prenatally!) and the experiences of our birth influences how our brain sees the world. It is at these early times in our life that beliefs form about ourselves, our world and how we relate to it. It affects our biology, as Dr.Bruce Lipton has described in his work as a cellular biologist.
Lipton shows how our perceptions and beliefs create our enviornment and cellular structure in his book The Biology of Belief, an insightful book that is laced with humour in an easy-to-read style.
What many people don't realize, is that often, the origin of our beliefs about ourselves can be traced back to the time between conception and birth. What's also true is that as parents, you can help prevent your baby from forming mistaken beliefs about him/herself, as well as correct those beliefs that are already in place, so your baby doesn't have to grow up with a negative filter in place, affecting how he/she perceives himself and relationships.
It is most satisfying work to be able to facilitate the healing of early traumas, and change the way we see the world, and our relationships for the better.