Why being happy all the time is bad

Rachel Hosie

THE INDEPENDENT





It Can Leave Us Emotionally Stunted: Expert

In recent years, wealth is no longer seen as the ultimate marker of success in soceity , but rather happiness. Inspirational Instagrammers tell us to “banish negative thoughts“, self-help books claim to provide the secrets to perpetual positivity , and we think we must never feel anything less than awesome.But, a Danish psychology professor has said that our obsession with happiness could have a serio us dark side. Svend Brinkmann from Aalborg University said forcing ourselves to be happy all the time could leave us emotionally stunted. Moreover, happiness isn't the appropriate response for all situations in life.
“Our thoughts and emotions should mirror the world. When something bad happens, we should be allowed to have negative thoughts and feelings about it because that's how we understand the world,“ said Brinkmann. According to Brinkmann, we won't be able to cope by desperately trying to be happy all the time when something bad does happen. “Life is wonderful from time to time, but it's also tragic. People die in our lives, we lose them, if we have only been accustomed to being allowed to have positive thoughts, then these realities can strike us even more intensely when they happen.“
Brinkmann acknowledged that there were people who seemed naturally to have more cheery outlooks on life. But he said there was a danger in happiness becoming a necessity and warned of the perils of companies insisting on employees being perpetually upbeat. “When you engage with people and you work in teams, then these personality traits become much more important. That's why we put much more emphasis on them, because we want to exploit humans and their emotional lives,“ he said.
“I think this is a dark side of positivity. Our feelings tend to become commodities and that means we're very easily alienated from our feelings.“ He also feared that society was getting to a point where people don't even feel they could discuss their worries with their friends because they thought they needed to pretend everything was rosy all the time. He said without the bad things in life you'd never appreciate the good, and it was fine to feel sad, angry , ashamed and happy too.
Source: Times of India, 10-03-2017

Is globalization in retreat?

Production and investment have now become more global and interconnected and services are increasingly being traded across borders

The 45th president of the US has declared war on globalization. The Brexit vote did something similar in Great Britain. The two countries underwriting the postwar international order have declared their intention of putting their national interest above all else. Multilateral trading, investment, and even visa, agreements face new threats. Might this assault succeed?

Globalizing forces have been rampant ever since the first men migrated out of Africa. The Roman empire was a globalizing force in the classical age, as was the expansion of Islam during the Middle Ages, and the British empire in more recent times. So was the overland silk route and Indian Ocean trade, from China, via India to the Horn of Africa and the Mediterranean, trans-Atlantic trade, and more recently the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The cost and risk of travelling long distances through littleknown lands or seas on slow animal and wind-propelled power constrained the pace of globalization. Most people lived and died near their place of birth. Only ruling elites could afford to buy the small quantities of international goods, such as Chinese silk and porcelain, or Indian muslin and pepper, transported over long distances in modest quantities. This trade nevertheless enhanced the incomes of the artisans producing these high-value goods, and the quality of life of those consuming them. Countries connected to this international trade, such as China and India, were the most affluent. There were ebbs and flows on account of war and invasions, but world exports and imports together never exceeded 10% of global gross domestic product (GDP) till the 19th century.

The technology of the industrial revolution enabled rapid movement of large volumes of factory-produced goods, and people, over long distances at sharply reduced costs. International trade made rapid strides in the 19th century, peaking at around 30% of global GDP on the eve of World War I. There was, however, a dramatic retreat in the interwar period, as it plummeted back to around 10%. But it resumed its triumphal march in the postwar era, recovering to 30% by the 1970s, and crossing 60% in the first decade of the 21st century.

The benefits of globalization could now be more widely shared. First, industrial products were produced more cheaply and available in greater abundance than those produced by local artisans. Second, the range and quality of goods increased, enriching material life, with even the poorest enjoying a better material life than preindustrial elites. Third, large external demand raised the prospect of hyper growth and, therefore, a more rapid rise in the standard of living, which had inched forward at a glacial pace for millennia.

But there were also losers over the short term. Traditional industry became uncompetitive and unviable. A large number of people in the colonies lost a source of income through ‘deindustrialization’. At a time when agriculturists in industrializing countries were moving into more productive and higher income yielding jobs, workers in the colonies were compelled to fall back exclusively on low-productivity agriculture. Their material life nevertheless improved as they shared the productivity gains through the increased availability of cheap industrial wage goods.

The spread of the industrial revolution to the erstwhile colonies in the postwar era is slowly reversing this great divergence because it is now cheaper to produce there. This has accelerated growth even as it has fallen off in advanced countries, improved overall well-being and facilitated the spread of liberal democracy. With declining growth in advanced countries has come higher structural unemployment and a declining labour participation rate. This is fuelling a backlash against globalization and undermining liberal democracy. It was older and semi-skilled workers in outlying, less cosmopolitan areas who voted to leave the European Union. Likewise, Donald Trump’s most trenchant supporters are relatively less-educated blue-collar poor white males in rural backwaters and crumbling industrial areas.

Ironically, this backlash is occurring at a time when the argument for extending the scope of globalization beyond free movement of goods to movement of people across borders, has never been stronger, owing to the ageing of advanced economies. It is easy to forget that the current losers were among the first beneficiaries of globalization during the colonial era, and even today their material life continues to improve despite stagnant real incomes. Like their former colonial counterparts, they also share in the productivity gains through free trade such as cheaper wage goods, and, increasingly, services enabled by the communications revolution.

The anti-globalization movement and the retreat of liberal democracy are reminiscent of the economic nationalism that brought the colonial era to an end, culminating with the unsustainable high cost ‘Import Substitution Industrialization (ISI)’ model of growth that turned its back on free trade. Unsurprisingly, it was the East Asian Tigers, and then China, who returned to the welfare-enhancing embrace of international trade that forged ahead. History seems to have turned full circle, with the former colonies defending globalization even as the original proponents turn their backs on it. There is a lesson in this for the anti-globalization movement, as a low-growing, high-cost economy is the inexorable outcome of turning our backs on international trade.

The march of history is rarely linear. But long-term trends are nevertheless discernible. The origin and persistence of international trade, and its bounce-back with renewed vigour each time it retreated, lies in the undeniable case for its welfare effects, made over two centuries ago by the economist David Ricardo. Its expansion has been accompanied by robust growth, and its retreat, with stagnation. Its welfare benefits outweigh short-term disruptive effects, which often make the former counter-intuitive. The future is unlikely to be any different, the current tide against globalization notwithstanding. Production and investment have now become more global and interconnected, services are increasingly being traded across borders, and social media is spawning a global civil society. Attempts to roll this back are as likely to succeed as the abortive Luddite assault on industrialization. The world awaits new statesmen who can articulate the counter-intuitive case for globalization to domestic constituencies, and harness its benefits.

Source: Mintepaper, 9-03-2017

Challenges Indian students face while studying abroad

Do not worry. Look forward to a new beginning, a new place, new people, and most importantly, a paradigm shift in your world view.

One fine day you receive an email announcing one of the best messages of your life: "Congratulations! Your application [to the study abroad program] has been accepted." Finally, your laborious efforts have paid off. Amidst the joy and excitement, you feel a sudden chill down your spine. You realise you are about to get uprooted from your country and planted in a new destination. Don't get anxious about it. Before you embark on one of the most important journeys of your life, here is a list of challenges you could face and how to cope with them:

1. Dwindling finances. Till now you were under the protective umbrella of your parents as far as financial management was concerned. Now managing funds on your own, and that too in a foreign country, may seem like a daunting task. You need to astutely chalk out your financial management strategy. Get into the habit of sticking to your monthly budget comprising mainly of rent, transportation, school supplies, groceries, etc. Pay your bills on time to avoid additional late fees. If possible, get a part-time job on campus to earn some extra bucks for your other expenses.

2. Communicating ineffectively. You will not face serious problems if you are migrating to one of the English-speaking countries, but still the slang and accent may need you to plough through in the beginning. Perseverance is the key here. Be patient to understand and adapt the local dialect and accent. However, if you are migrating to a non-English-speaking country, you will face a tougher challenge. Be open to learning and exploring the language. Try to learn the local language before you move. There are mobile phone apps that assist to learn a language. When in the foreign land, watch native channels to practice the language. Make friends with local people and seek tips and advice from them.

3. Feeling homesick. Yes, you read it right. You will feel homesick in your early days. Your mother's mollycoddling, home-cooked food, father's words of wisdom, mischief with siblings, and hanging out with friends at your favourite places, you will miss them all. Surely there is no place like home but do not let it narrow your horizons. Connect with your kin on Skype and through other channels but do not overdo it. It's normal to feel homesick as long as it doesn't hamper your experience of living abroad. You and your family have sacrificed a lot to get you into this school. Interact with other international students and make friends to fill the void. If time permits, become a member of some adventurous group or any other club of your liking.

4. Familiarise yourself with alien brands and products. There are some products without which your day-to-day life seems meaningless. Finding them abroad may be a futile exercise, so accommodate yourself in your new habitat as soon as possible with suitable alternatives. The sooner you get rid of dependency on those products, the easier it will be for you to settle down and concentrate on your goal of getting a degree. There might be chances that in your quest to find suitable alternatives, you may stumble upon an even better product.

5. Fading social life. Once the honeymoon phase of your journey gets over, the deficit of a good social life will start haunting you. The inner cravings to socialise might be difficult to bear with. You might even curse the decision of shifting to an alien country. Pull yourself together and find ways to overcome the flood of emotions you are going through. This will require pushing yourself to some extent, but it will be worth all your efforts. Use your communication skills and make some friends in your college and locality as well to fill the gap.

6. Adapting to a new timezone. Initially getting adjusted to the new timezone may be challenging. Your biological cycle may take a severe beating and it will take some time for your body to get used to the new lifestyle. Also there may be a time-shift in your working hours and that of your native country. You might have to call your bank in the middle of the night to connect at their normal business hour, or wait to speak to your family at odd hours. There are time-keeping apps that will come in handy. Gradually, you will get used to the time differences and things will get easier.

These challenges may seem herculean. Do not worry. Look forward to a new beginning, a new place, new people, and most importantly, a paradigm shift in your world view. Your hard work and never-say-die attitude will sail you through against all odds.

The writer is Founder and CEO, ReachIvy.com

Source: DNA, 8-03-2017

5 point something: Society must give women the following...

1. Education – Women are smarter than men and should have an equal if not a stronger right to education. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

2. Freedom to have a social life – Interaction with society including men (without judgment) will help them gain the confidence and experience to deal with life situations

3. Right to marry a man of her choice - So that she can continue to be the woman that she has evolved to be

4. Protection from physical and mental abuse – Women will far excel men in most fields if their safety and wellbeing is guaranteed

5. Same love, care and nurturing as a son – It’s about time daughters are treated the same as sons, especially in villages and small town.

The author is a bored Mumbai bachelor. 5 Point Something is all in good fun and not meant to cause offence.

Source: DNA, 9-03-2017

On Women’s Day, meet a ‘special’ person who cares for differently abled children

Bobby Ramani (27), a Lucknow University alumnus, left a fulfilling career to set up a school for specially abled children.

Bobby was doing well at a real-estate company. She would come home every day, look at her differently abled brother and try to cheer him up. However, her brother would never seem very happy unless Bobby took him for a drive. After all, autistic kids love fresh air, music and long drives.

On one such evening, Bobby realised that she was not fully satisfied with what she was doing. “Making money is not all that matters after all,” she thought. So she decided to establish an organisation for differently abled children, especially those from the below poverty line (BPL) segment.

Bobby Ramani (27), a Lucknow University alumnus, left a fulfilling career to set up a school for specially abled children.

Bobby was doing well at a real-estate company. She would come home every day, look at her differently abled brother and try to cheer him up. However, her brother would never seem very happy unless Bobby took him for a drive. After all, autistic kids love fresh air, music and long drives.

On one such evening, Bobby realised that she was not fully satisfied with what she was doing. “Making money is not all that matters after all,” she thought. So she decided to establish an organisation for differently abled children, especially those from the below poverty line (BPL) segment.According to Bobby, ignorance and the laidback attitude of the people are the biggest challenges in her line of work. “This attitude alone led to every other issue that followed,” Bobby said.

“Surveys indicate that 30 to 40 million Indians suffer from psychiatric problems that require urgent attention. However, there are only 500 psychiatrists, 400 clinical psychologists and 100 psychiatric social workers available to provide them cosmopolitan health care. Most of the mentally ill are cared for by indigenous healers. If these are an all-over estimate, imagine the figures we would get if we focus on rural areas,” she added.

Families often grow frustrated with specially abled children due to the lack of services available and the extra care and patience required in bringing them up. A lot of times, they end up blaming such kids and take out their anger and ignorance on them.

“We at ‘I Support Foundation’ are committed towards making Lucknow and the country a friendly place for the differently abled,” she said.

Source: Hindustan Times, 8-03-2017

For a New Humanity

OSHO





The most important need of humanity today is to be made aware that its past has betrayed it. There is no point in continuing with the past, for doing so will be suicidal.The new humanity will not be a society in the old sense, where individuals are only parts of it.It will be a meeting of individuals where individuals are the masters and society is to serve them. It will not have so many religions, it will have only a religious consciousness. The individual, for the first time, will not be programmed; he will be helped to be himself. He will be given only tremendous love for freedom, so that he can sacrifice everything, even his own life -but he cannot sacrifice freedom.
There will be no marriage; love will be the only law. Unless everyone is well-educated and has at least a bachelor's degree, he will not be allowed to vote.There will be a no-party system because people will vote directly for individuals. The government, unlike now, won't have any power; it will be simply functional. It will serve society in the real sense, not just in words.
Life has so many dimensions, but politics has dominated them all. Looking at a newspaper, someone on another planet would find it difficult to conceive what kind of people live on earth: only politicians?
Murderers? Rapists? Criminals? Because the media reports are full of these people and on top of everything is the politician. Newspapers should be full of creativity and positivity; only 10% should be given to the politicians and the negative elements.

Dear Reader

WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY FOR TODAY, TOMORROW AND FOR THE YEARS TO COME.


TISS GUWAHATI CAMPUS LIBRARY