Balance and happiness

"We could say that happiness is the balance or harmony achieved by satisfying our needs and fulfilling our desires. Herein lies the difficulty: while we, as human beings, have a number of similar needs and desires, others belong to each of us personally.

Today, happiness has often become a goal, a state towards which we all strive, even if we never really achieve it... Perhaps because this very idea has become an ideal?".

Source: C'est quoi le bonheur? by File Santé Jeunes - July 2022
https://www.filsantejeunes.com/et-si-c-etait-le-bonheur-5435

An ideal is an idea, an unattainable star.

And yet we all seek happiness in our own way. Some people think they have to suffer to deserve happiness, others don't realize they're happy, still others are born into misfortune... Everyone has their own story about happiness, and depending on their beliefs, they will open or close the door to it. In a world where loneliness is becoming a public health concern, perhaps we need to try and frame things in a way that normalizes well-being, if not happiness. The key word here is "balance".

Centenarians were reputed to reach their canonical age because they lived in quiet regions, with tranquil lives and excellent hygiene. While stress emerges from all quarters as the number 1 enemy of health, it is above all the enemy of happiness when present in high doses. It is one of the main sources of imbalance in our lives.

"Effective stress management is an essential skill that every individual must possess these days, given that stress has become so prevalent. While stress is not entirely harmful and can even be helpful and motivating at moderate levels, chronic exposure to high levels of stress can lead to numerous mental, physical and emotional ailments. Among the most common problems are hypertension, heart attacks, depression, anxiety, accelerated aging and even death...

As with any health problem, the starting point for solving stress is to recognize the symptoms. Stress is your body's way of protecting you. It's a normal physiological response to any threatening event that comes your way. But beyond a certain point, stress ceases to be useful and begins to damage your health and your life in general.

Below are some of the most common signs and symptoms of excessive or uncontrolled stress. If you seem to be experiencing several of the symptoms listed, it's probably an indication that you're not effectively managing the stress in your life...

Cognitive symptoms
These refer to problems with brain processes such as thinking, attention, perception, memory, reasoning and problem-solving. The most common symptoms of poorly managed stress are..:

Memory problems
Reduced ability to concentrate
Poor decision-making
Negativity
Unreasonable anxiety

Emotional symptoms
Emotional symptoms are those associated with a person's feelings. Emotional changes may be normal, temporary responses to events; however, disproportionate, extreme, persistent or unstable emotional reactions may indicate a serious problem. In cases of stress, the following emotional symptoms may indicate stress overload:

Extreme mood swings
Irritability
Constant state of agitation
Depression

Physical symptoms
Physical symptoms are essentially the physical manifestations of your body. They are often characterized by pain, discomfort or are visually observable. The most common physical indicators of excess stress are the following symptoms:

Severe headaches or migraines
Back pain
Chest discomfort
Gastrointestinal disorders
Changes in sleep patterns

Health problems caused by uncontrolled stress don't develop overnight. Beware of these small warning signs if you don't want to end up with a major health problem."

Source : 14 alarming symptoms that you have way too much stress
https://biengerersontemps.com/14-symptomes-alarmants-que-vous-avez-beaucoup-trop-de-stress/

The negative stress that surrounds us is indeed not a good track to pursue happiness and therefore balance, that's a fact, but we also have our cognitive biases that can be obstacles. A cognitive bias is a belief that we think is natural, justified and often shared by the community in which we live. What's interesting is to be confronted with other communities or to be in mixed communities.

For example, why do some families start their meal by eating what is less to their liking, while others start by eating what they like on their plate? The source of these choices is typically cognitive bias. Who do you think has more potential to be happy in either family?

Happiness is a choice, but not just any choice. Perhaps it's the choice not to choose. Because to choose is to let one part live and let the other part die. That's not the definition of balance. Maybe embracing all the parts that make up who we are is the best way forward:

"We all tend to believe that we can't have everything in life. But for Eva Degano, that's not true: it's all a question of mental and physical balance and setting goals.

Human beings have a natural tendency to chase the same things over and over again. And this tendency also applies to the pursuit of goals. Think for a moment of the stereotypical person who focuses on her career and neglects everything else. Despite her achievements, she feels a permanent lack that she tries to fill by accumulating ever more professional recognition and ever more money. Although she succeeds in doing this, her malaise never leaves her and she ends up believing she has a problem. When in reality, her life is simply out of balance.

Even if this example is cliché, it's not without truth. Deep down, almost all of us have a deep-seated belief that we can't have it all. And when something goes right in our lives, we often expect it to be at the expense of something else. Let me turn that belief on its head: you can have it all.

The key to living a balanced life is to be aware of the different zones that make it up, and take care to define goals in each of them. I'll show you just below how I segment my life, but I urge you to organize yours as you see fit. In fact, you can have as many zones as you like.

The family segment covers your romantic relationships, your relationship with your parents and family, and your relationship with your children. Social life and entertainment includes your outings, travels, hobbies and dream activities. Creative life is made up of all your projects, whether artistic or entrepreneurial; while career refers to your profession - if it's different from your entrepreneurial projects - and finance refers to your assets - your income, investments, etc.".

Source : Have a balanced life, because yes, you can have it all! - EVA DEGANO Le 31/08/2023 - https://business.lesechos.fr/entrepreneurs/efficacite-personnelle/0900834245654-ayez-une-vie-equilibree-car-oui-vous-pouvez-tout-avoir-352606.php

How do you achieve a balanced life?

It's the key to having a happy life and achieving happiness. It's the key to making everything work perfectly in a human being's life. That's why we need to take a close interest in it, and not continue to neglect this aspect of our lives. Let's explore the content of a balanced life.

"What is a balanced life?

Having a balanced life is important for our physical, mental and emotional health. However, the fast-paced lifestyle we lead today can make it difficult for us to find a healthy balance. So, how can we achieve a balanced life? What are the key factors influencing our health and well-being? Let's explore the answers to these questions.

Physical health

Physical health is one of the most important aspects of a balanced life. This means eating a healthy, balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting enough sleep. A healthy diet should include fruit and vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. Avoid processed foods rich in saturated fats and added sugars. Regular exercise can be physical activity or a simple walk in the open air. At least 30 minutes of exercise a day is recommended. Finally, getting enough sleep is essential to maintaining our physical health. Most adults need 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Mental and emotional health

Our mental and emotional health is just as important as our physical health. To live a balanced life, we need to take care of our mental and emotional well-being. This can include meditation, therapy, free time without technological interruptions, and the practice of mindfulness. It's also important to have positive, healthy relationships. Healthy relationships can help reduce stress and strengthen our emotional well-being.

Time and activity

Time is one of the key factors influencing our lives. That's why it's important to manage our time effectively. This can include prioritizing our tasks, delegating or planning. It's also important to be active in our daily lives. This can include activities such as hiking, swimming, yoga or dancing. Regular activity can not only improve our physical health, but also our mental and emotional well-being.

Balance

Balance is the key to a balanced life. We often tend to focus on one aspect of our lives while neglecting the others. This can lead to imbalance and affect our overall health and well-being. To achieve balance, it's important to consider all aspects of our lives. This can include managing our time, exercising and meditating, as well as maintaining positive, healthy relationships."

Source : il-ou-elle > blog > How to achieve life balance?
https://il-ou-elle.fr/cest-quoi-avoir-une-vie-equilibree-5664

But there's more to life than our personal lives. Our professional lives are just as important, with different, but always complementary, points of view. A happy man, a happy woman are individuals who live all possible aspects of their lives to the full.

"Balancing personal and professional life

1. Establish a financial plan. Healthy finances are just as important to a balanced life as physical and mental health. Start simply by establishing a budget that allows you to cover your expenses. Once you've established your budget, determine other financial goals, such as saving for retirement, buying a house or paying off a loan.

Your budget should cover all your expenses, including rent or mortgage repayments, electricity and water bills, food shopping, car or public transport expenses, loan repayments and any other charges.

Small financial changes can quickly make all the difference. For example, if you put aside 5 euros a week, by the end of the year you'll have a pot of 260 euros.
If you're having trouble getting your finances in order, you could use a specific free app, such as Mint, which will help you monitor your spending and set a budget. You could also look for a financial planning course, either on the Internet or in your town.

2. Work from home as little as possible. Establishing a physical boundary between your professional and personal life will help strengthen your balance between these two aspects of your life. Try not to bring your work computer, business documents or any other office items home.

If you work from home, set up a workspace separate from your living space. For example, you could set up an office in one room. If this is what you do, leave your work computer in your office, instead of on the dining room table.

When you come home from work, leave your electronic devices aside. Avoid making business calls. Do non-computer activities, such as crafts, reading or cooking.

3. Set limits with your work partners and loved ones. Even if you have a flexible schedule, it's important to communicate clearly when you will and won't be available to respond to business requests. If you refuse to respond to a text message at 3 a.m. asking you to hand in a report at 6 a.m., let your manager and colleagues know.

Your family and friends will have to respect similar limits during your working day. Inform them that between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (depending on your working hours), your primary mission is to work. If you want to chat with your loved ones during the day, do so during a break or over lunch.

Similarly, you can reserve certain times of the day for personal activities. For example, if you go jogging every day, you could decide that from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., you will set aside an hour for this discipline. During this time, avoid reading your work emails and enjoy your jog.

4. If necessary, renegotiate your working conditions. If your job is preventing you from finding a work-life balance, discuss it with your manager or a human resources manager and see if your working conditions could be modified to suit. For example, you could negotiate to work from home 1 or 2 times a week, or adjust your working hours to suit your personal life.

It may not be necessary to go into too much detail, but be prepared to provide some context when you come to negotiate. In most companies, you won't be able to change your working hours at your convenience, without reason. On the other hand, your superior may be willing to adapt your schedule so that you can pick up your child from school.

If your job is so rigid and demanding that it prevents you from taking care of yourself and your family, it's time to look for a new job. Look for a company that offers the flexibility you're looking for, so you can manage your day-to-day life.

Where possible, delegate tasks. Trust the colleagues who work with you on your projects. At home, share chores with family members to lighten your load.

Source :How to live a balanced lifestyle - Amy Wong
https://fr.wikihow.com/avoir-un-mode-de-vie-%C3%A9quilibr%C3%A9

If personal life happiness education is complicated to implement at school, wellness education at work is an easier and more understandable first step for education professionals. Here are a few bricks, some ideas for creating a new school domain.

"Brick 1 - Meaning

What's the point of learning? Do you know Bernard Charlot? According to him: "To be born is to be subject to the obligation to learn. Learning is not simply a matter of piling up knowledge. No. It's much more than that.

For Charlot, every living thing on our planet has to learn. Insects, animals and humans learn.

• Learning is survival.
• Learning is thinking and finding meaning. Learning is an anthropological and social obligation.
• To learn: "is to muster one's strength, to use oneself as a resource [...] it is also to engage in an activity because one is driven by motives, because one has good reasons to do so".
• Learning, then, means making the choice to mobilize oneself. To learn is to make mistakes, to set oneself in motion, to make efforts, to think and fall. To learn is to get up and try again.
• To learn is to seek meaning and a place of one's own in this world. Falling and making mistakes are part of the learning process for all living beings.

Why shouldn't we? Let's accept our mistakes. Let's give ourselves the right to make mistakes and aim for effort and resilience. Reflecting on meaning Learning also means making one's thoughts intelligible, observing the world in order to understand it, to understand oneself and to think about it.

In the 4th century BC, Plato called thinking "the eye of the soul". My philosophy teacher Jean Proulx spoke of "unfolding this material world through our thoughts". According to him, there is a reality behind the one we perceive.

That's why we need to develop our critical thinking skills and sharpen our eye for the situation or object we're learning about, so we can unfold it in our own way. Teaching critical thinking, thinking through the "eye of the soul", means giving children the chance to learn how to readjust their view of events, to find meaning in them.

Teaching critical thinking also means helping them to fill their toolbox so they can make their own observations about the world and learn about themselves. Jean Proulx calls it becoming artisans of the world's beauty.

Let's help kids come up with great ideas, and help them share them. To find meaning in the classroom: Encourage students' personal reflection; Offer students choices;

Explicitly teach the purpose of what is being taught; Ask for two reasons why the lesson is important to them; Teach strategies for giving opinions; Offer a talking stick for students to explain in their own words what they have understood; Find meaning together for what they have learned.

Brick 2: Commitment

Commitment begins with oneself... To commit is to invest oneself fully in a task. Commitment is the link between challenges and skills. Somewhere in between, there's the self-confidence to overcome the fear of not succeeding.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a contemporary Hungarian psychologist, has examined the question of commitment and motivation. His theories stem from a humanistic conception of creativity in positive psychology.

He has worked on the concept of hyperconcentration, or full commitment to a task. For Csikszentmihalyi, engagement can resemble an optimal experience where everything becomes fluid. He calls it the "state of flow".

But how do you teach this to children? By teaching them to trust themselves, to be autonomous and to engage fully in their activities.

For his part, Boris Cyrulnik, French physician, neuropsychiatrist and psychoanalyst, explains that everything that surrounds a child builds his or her brain. Participating in his or her upbringing means giving them the autonomy to engage in their own learning.

According to him, "if a child's mother is never there, it's a disaster. If she's there too much, it's numbness. It's up to us to find the right balance between what we give and what he can give!

To get children to commit and trust themselves, help them to :

• Develop their skills;
• Understand their emotions;
• Sharpen their eyes to observe the world;
• Develop a critical mind;
• Take responsibility in the face of adversity or challenge;
• Develop resilience strategies.
• Commitment... also means working with others!

We can't become autonomous on our own. It's with others that I build myself. This human relationship implies a commitment in which each of us builds our world by participating in the construction of the other's world.
According to Veilleux (2017), this social commitment brings together interests and ambitions, and stimulates the desire to learn. Exchanging, understanding and building together allows us to feel connected to someone, to be part of the group. This phenomenon is an important component in his definition of happiness.

How to get involved in the classroom:

• Know your students, what they like, what motivates them;
• Ask them to set a personal goal;
• Invite the child to find strategies for commitment;
• Have a clear work objective, a specific action within a specific timeframe;
• Create an activity that provides immediate feedback, if possible from peers;
• Offer tasks that are fairly demanding, but achievable;
• Make an oral assessment at the end of the activity to evaluate their own efforts.

Brick 3: Pleasure

Pleasure lies in the way we feel positive emotions or sensations. Find out what makes us happy and sprinkle it into our lives. Simple, but not so much.

Here's a challenge to the reader: make a list of 30 things that give us pleasure in our daily lives, and post it. Maybe we'll get a little closer to happiness. Why not propose this activity to children?

The pleasure of participating in something bigger than ourselves..."

Source : Happiness at school: what about teaching? - Caroline Moffet - December 2021
https://webzine.idello.org/le-bonheur-a-lecole-et-si-on-lenseignait/

A balanced world is a happy world. A happy world has positive, motivated citizens. A happy world has more healthy people. Let's create a positive world by giving our students the keys to a balanced life.

Source Image : Pixabay - Olichel