We are created so flawlessly with this tool called “feeling” to evaluate our daily encounters and circumstances. Without feeling, we might as well be robots, and life would be meaningless. We would be walking around without emotions. There would be no fun, no challenge, and no growth. Everything would be just….tasteless.

Feelings and Mind & Body

We react to situations which create positive feelings such as love, joy and excitement; as well as negative feelings such as anger, jealousy, disappointment, guilt, fear, or worry. The thoughts created by one or combinations of feelings, and vice versa, generate the most complex algorithm in our brain that even the most sophisticated computer apps is not able to imitate. There are too many variables going on in our mind that produce different results for each one of us.

Most of us have heard that healthy and happy mind create healthy body, while chronic stress puts our health at risk. No wonder why two people taking the same foods, drinks, or vitamins unlikely obtain the same results. Not only what we eat and drink, and how we exercise, but our cycle of feelings and thoughts are by far one of the most influencing factors to our health.

Feelings as a Sensor or Cues

How do we create healthy and happy mind? The mind that heals and keeps our immune system strong? What about using feeling as our sensor or cues, and “happiness” as the set point?

To do this, first we need to practice awareness – how we feel during our daily encounters. This means when we feel upset or sad, we shouldn’t run away from the problem by burying ourselves in our work, blame it on the past, or self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. Instead, use our feeling as a sensor or cues what attitude adjustment is needed for us to get back to feeling happy. We may have to learn to let go or forgive, accept the unchangeable, practice patience and humility, learn to give respect, or other virtues. Each time we are able to let go and/or adjust our attitude, we are one step away closer to the set point of “happiness”.

Practice Makes Perfect

This process is not an easy task at first. We have to be willing to adjust our perspective and mindset; and stop blaming others, the past, or situations for any negative feelings. While the adjustment process can be difficult and lengthy initially, it becomes our second nature eventually.

Soon enough we find previously annoying people or circumstances become less so, and negativity or judgement disappears. We find that we become calmer. Nothing really bothers us for more than a minute, because our control system (brain and awareness) is trained skillfully to adjust our attitude as our sensor (feeling) is a little off from the set point (happiness). At that point, we have achieved sustainable happiness. The type of happiness that comes from within.