Happiness - A Matter of Focus

Imagine for a moment you have been given a task. That task is to count the number of times five basketballs are passed between a group of people who are running around each other. Assuming that the exercise requires your full concentration, what is the chance that you would notice a gorilla walk right into the middle of the group, beat it's chest and then walk away again? Should be obvious right?

Well according to a study conducted at Harvard university, in some circumstances as little as eight percent of people notice the gorilla!

The reason is that our perception often has a lot to do with what we are focusing on, and less to do with what is really there. In order to process complex information we have to delete most of what goes on around us. For example, before now did you notice how your shirt felt against your skin? When was the last time you blinked?

So the question is, if you are pessimistic - if you focus on what is negative in a situation rather than what is positive - what will your reality be? It is highly likely that if you focus on bad, you will see and hear the bad and miss the good.

Being pessimistic is not the same as being 'realistic'. It is stripping your life of pleasure. Looking for the good in every situation has the opposite affect. The more good you look for, more more good (and happiness) you will get.

Petra Rankin used powerful techniques to beat her own long-term depression. She is now dedicated to teaching others how to be happier and lead more successful lives. Her first book Fast Track Your Success and Happiness is due to be launched in September 2005 and is currently available for download as a free e-book instead of paying $19.95. Limited time only!

MORE RESOURCES:

To find happiness, turn losses into wins - MSNBC

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/0-0fd=Rurl=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28505633/cid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNHpA0IY03kX6kkDpzV6w8HYFqMbkQTo find bhappiness/b, turn losses into wins/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMSNBCnbsp;-/font nobr11 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In quot;The Great Eight,quot; gold medal Olympian Scott Hamilton reveals the secrets to bhappiness/b that helped him through his battle with cancer. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Happiness in hockey - Morgan Hill Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/1-0fd=Rurl=http://morganhilltimes.com/news/252338-happiness-in-hockeycid=1287370529ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNF4Xxeh8PeUziajzjEs2RGLdqhFqQbHappiness/b in hockey/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMorgan Hill Times,nbsp;CAnbsp;-/font nobr8 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1At the Sharks Ice in San Jose, a hodgepodge group of men sporting full hockey pads, carrying sticks and wearing face masks emerges from the rink-side locker b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Happiness flows through social networks - The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.syracuse.com/today/index.ssf/2009/01/happiness_flows_through_social.htmlcid=1287222093ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNGgO7HeVg9X8vS_4QTB0U5YJ4dTJQimg src=http://nt1.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=OVNLEkKLHkAJimgurl=blog.syracuse.com/today/2009/01/medium_090105_smiley.jpg width=80 height=73 alt= border=1brfont size=-2The Post-Standard - Syracuse.com/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-0fd=Rurl=http://www.syracuse.com/today/index.ssf/2009/01/happiness_flows_through_social.htmlcid=1287222093ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNGgO7HeVg9X8vS_4QTB0U5YJ4dTJQbHappiness/b flows through social networks/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fThe Post-Standard - Syracuse.com,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr20 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Research published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) followed over 4000 people for 20 years and determined that bhappiness/b spreads through social networks b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/2-1fd=Rurl=http://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2009/jan/04/smiles-all-around/cid=1287222093ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNE8xpH3dJGlveh4AjlLNtiyxhi_DgNew study shows one person#39;s bhappiness/b is spread to others/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrVentura County Star/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287222093hl=ennobrall 3 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

The Foundations of Happiness - Senior Times

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/3-0fd=Rurl=http://www.seniortimesmagazine.com/perspectives-on-aging/621/the-foundations-of-happinesscid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNHLL0Qqv79J829ZCUnfFlq-0c88jwThe Foundations of bHappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSenior Times,nbsp;FLnbsp;-/font nobr13 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Carlos Muniz - January 2009 It is bhappiness/b that we all want out of life. Riches, power and all other material accomplishments are things we all strive b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Keys to happiness - Alton Telegraph

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/4-0fd=Rurl=http://www.thetelegraph.com/articles/keys_21997___article.html/church_music.htmlcid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNGJf_BMh3NckXeKBnw2OsoeaXp6xwKeys to bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAlton Telegraph,nbsp;ILnbsp;-/font nobr4 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By ANDE YAKSTIS Keys#39; beautiful voice brings the joy of gospel songs to people in churches across the River Bend. quot;I#39;ve been singing for the Lord since I b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Keys to happiness - GoErie.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/5-0fd=Rurl=http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20090105/NEWS02/301059911/-1/NEWS02cid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNF2xqlwExwgi_XK_VubBSPnqOxVkwKeys to bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fGoErie.com,nbsp;PAnbsp;-/font nobr22 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By JENNIE GEISLER It#39;s lunchtime in Fairview Manor#39;s cafeteria. Trays clatter on large sturdy tables, chair legs scoot across the tile floor, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Feeling blue? Good news - its the colour of happiness - Daily Mail

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd width=80 align=center valign=topfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifa href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6i-0fd=Rurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1106236/Feeling-blue-Good-news--colour-happiness.htmlcid=1287443202ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNEk6BIBKwiTi5Nr4k-Qx9mBIJatMQimg src=http://nt3.ggpht.com/news?imgefp=txbj850wwDkJimgurl=i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/01/06/article-0-026ABD99000004B0-307_233x423.jpg width=44 height=80 alt= border=1brfont size=-2Daily Mail/font/a/font/tdtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-0fd=Rurl=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1106236/Feeling-blue-Good-news--colour-happiness.htmlcid=1287443202ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNEk6BIBKwiTi5Nr4k-Qx9mBIJatMQFeeling blue? Good news - its the colour of bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDaily Mail,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By Fiona Macrae Although long associated with negativity, the colour can send self confidence soaring, cut stress and boost bhappiness/b, a study has found. b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/6-1fd=Rurl=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/4139796/Blue-light-makes-you-happy.htmlcid=1287443202ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNH60X9qKjE_--_m2vayPQj3ogv45wBlue light #39;makes you happy#39;/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrTelegraph.co.uk/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1287443202hl=ennobrall 4 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Money troubles mask happiness - News-Leader.com

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/7-0fd=Rurl=http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090105/OPINIONS03/901050317/1006/OPINIONScid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNGGkF5OpLWwu-o1ilWUEKMk6S8KCwMoney troubles mask bhappiness/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fNews-Leader.com,nbsp;MOnbsp;-/font nobrJan 5, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Growing up you always hear the old adage, quot;money can#39;t buy bhappiness/b,quot; but I can#39;t help but feel like that saying is quickly lost with childhood innocence. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Billy Graham: Lasting happiness comes from knowing God - Kansas City Star

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/8-0fd=Rurl=http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/961924.htmlcid=1286620131ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNHx17FaOwb9Gzpf8njZu_dUfFI-iQBilly Graham: Lasting bhappiness/b comes from knowing God/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKansas City Star,nbsp;MOnbsp;-/font nobrJan 2, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1In other words, they know from their own long experience that only Christ gives us lasting peace and bhappiness/b. Jesus’ words are true: “I have come that b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Achieving Happiness: Healthy New Year#39;s resolutions - Annapolis Capital

table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=Tct=us/9-0fd=Rurl=http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2009/01_04-55/LIFcid=0ei=ey1jSZGkBJjI9ASUk4SZBAusg=AFQjCNHeZL5Px9M5yX8tjRH-MXVfNLuq6QAchieving bHappiness/b: Healthy New Year#39;s resolutions/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fAnnapolis Capital,nbsp;MDnbsp;-/font nobrJan 4, 2009/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Relying on outside sources to bring you joy isn#39;t always possible, but setting these as your goals can bring bhappiness/b to your heart. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table

Happiness - Google News

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