Positive Psychology identifies five character strengths that are most related to happiness:
ZEST | CURIOSITY| HOPE | GRATITUDE | LOVE
“What hunger is in relation to food, zest is in relation to life” Bertrand Russell, philosopher.
I recall being in 8th grade in a convent school in India and our principal (Sister Elisabetha) had walked into our class one day. She addressed us with her kind demeanor and beatific smile which as usual did not fail to warm the cockles of one’s heart (there actually aren’t any cockles of your heart, but the term may come from the fact that the chambers of the heart resemble a mollusk’s shell, also called a cockle. www.wisegeek.org).
One phrase stood out for me that day. She said, albeit a tad bit sternly, “I do not ever want to hear any of you say you are ‘bored’. What is boredom? There is too much in life to do to ever be bored. Read, play, dance, listen to music, do something.” That has stood out for me like a shining star that has gently hovered over me, guiding, nudging and motivating me every step of the way. The best gift she could have given us is to inspire us with a sense of self-reliance. We have it within us to draw upon our own resources to occupy our time, mind and physical being. Ever since then, if I ever got a whiff of the faintest foul odor of boredom, I’d sit up with a start and find something to do, even if it is admiringly wiggling my toes and wondering how nails grow out of the skin, while waiting at the doctor’s office.
Tedium and ennui being toxins for happiness, it follows that zest and invigoration are elixirs that promote joy and contentment. Savoring a moment, awakening our senses of smell, sight, hearing, touch and / or taste makes us tingle in anticipation. It is anticipation of the joy that we know with absolute certainty is following on the heels of being mindfully present in the given moment.
My husband loves to swirl his wine, examine its color, body and legs (yes, I did say legs …. legs are the streams that run down a wine glass after swirling) before taking a sip, smacking his lips and nodding his approval. He savors the moment.
The other day, while swimming in our pool, I noticed a spider perched on the step, with its long legs fully splayed out in all directions, undeterred by the wave of water that threatened to dislodge it. It was majestic and valiant. It was seemingly so frail, yet resolved to withstand any adverse force however powerful. I splashed some water, caught my breath and watched in awe. I was transfixed: it was a lesson in courage and self-confidence. Notorious for my abysmal power of observation or paucity thereof, I am learning to notice more and more. Savoring is indeed all it is touted to be. It makes us alive and zings in vigor and vitality. The next lap had more gusto in each stroke. Have you ever tried smiling underwater? It is mood-altering.
There is a distinct memory of dropping my children off to elementary school more than a couple of decades ago and watching them literally bound out of the car, swinging their lunch boxes and their backpacks bopping up and down in rhythm. They genuinely looked forward to their day! We could all take a leaf out of the book of a child and learn to anticipate fun, delight and pure unadulterated joy in an upcoming activity. They teach us to live zestfully. “Zest is approaching life with excitement and energy; feeling alive and activated.” Character Strengths and Virtues, A Handbook and Classification by Chris Peterson and Martin Seligman.
Introduce some zest in your life and notice the different, creative ways you find to do just that. Then, write down the experience. You will find yourself trying to outdo
yourself as you look for more moments to experience fully: a sweet fragrance, vibrant color, alluring texture, delicious taste, or melodious sound. Notice how you feel inside and anchor the feeling. You will build a growing pyramid of memorable moments. Get happy and zestful. This is an open invitation. ~ Sushama Kirtikar, June 2014