Zhengzhou, May 20.  Diary, I've just had some interesting conversations with Chinese students at the University's "English corner."  Most of them are not happy, not really happy when you press them and beneath their facade!  Sure, without even realizing it, many equate success with test scores, grades, the school they attend, income, the size of one’s home (or homes), the kind of car one drives, the clothes one wears, and the need of the "collective."  With the exception of the last, not much different from too many of us Americans.  But, in fact, most of these Chinese students, aren't pursuing a major they want; they're doing what their family expects of them and what the government has selected for them.  

	This and other stuff has gotten me thinking when I came back to the room to talk with you.  And, sure, while a certain income level is important to lead a more secure life, success is better measured in terms of doing what you love and love what you're doing, the quality of relationships with others, a feeling of purpose, a sense of significance, a contribution to the well-being of others, and a connectedness to others.  Most people believe that once they become successful, then they'll be happy. Tell that to a lot of entertainment, business, and sports figures!  But, the latest findings in psychology and neuroscience have shown that this formula is actually backward: Happiness--personal and professional happinesses--fuels success, not the other way around.  When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This isn’t just that empty "a happy worker is a more productive worker" mantra. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research in psychology and neuroscience, and business management studies.  Happiness, true and inner happiness, is probably the greatest single advantage anyone has in their personal and professional lives.  After all, a truly happy brain, not a veneered or polyanish one, performs better.  Behavior matters.   A smiling heart matters a heck of a lot more than a smiling face.

	Don't I know that.  Right now, with Susie's recovery not going quite the way the surgeon's rosy prognosis predicted, with me being here but wanting to be there with her, it's more important than ever that I do each day more intently what I do back home each day.  What do I do, diary?  I harness the enormous power of happiness.  I work to inspire myself.  I'll give you a quick list of the what and how of what I do to put and keep a smile on my heart: (1) I have a list of "uplifting" words such as "laugh," "kind," "smile," etc.  Each is written on what I laughingly call "my warm, fuzz cards."  As soon as I get up I arbitrarily select a word, focus consciously on it throughout the day, and, more importantly, struggle to live it throughout the day.  Today my word is "refresh."  As soon as I look at whatever word, I started feeling that feeling enveloping me.  (2) Each morning or night, using on one or two words, I write down or think of three things for which I am grateful. Tonight, as they often are, my words are Susie, Susie, Susie.  (3) At the end of the day, I take a couple of minutes to write up or reflect on something positive I've experience during that day. (4)  I thank someone for something. (5) I stop for ten minutes and smell the proverbial roses; I never easily succumb to that "I don't have the time."  When I feel myself doing that, I know it's time to make the time. (6)  I exercise each day by either power walking or doing a light weight-lifting regimen. (7)  In the middle of each day, I stop to write down or think about one word of how I am honestly feeling and see if I'm living up to the "word for the day" that I picked.  If the words aren't the same, I retrack my feelings and thinkings.  (8) I make time to be playful and have fun, no less than for 30 minutes I unleash my imagination and creativity.  (9) and, most important of all,  I tell Susie I love her and touch her, and know how lucky I am.  

	Diary, being in China it's apt to say all this is about reducing my churn and increasing my ch'i.  We should work on how we feel as well as on how we think and the whats and hows of what we do.  That way we develop and grow, and even change wholely in a way that we can sustain ourselves even when we're facing great challenges, and we can make those challenges into opportunities rather than let them be barriers.  Then, as we can to that, we'll shine as bright as any sun.  Gotta go call Susie.  Bye.

Make it a good day

-Louis-


Louis Schmier                         		http://www.therandomthoughts.edublogs.org       
Department of History                        http://www.therandomthoughts.com
Valdosta State University 
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