Dr. Cohen also explained to Bored Panda that it’s vital that we refrain from saying or doing unkind things that we might regret in the future.
However, that’s easier said than done: when someone’s feeling exhausted, it’s harder to keep one’s behavior in check. So, self-care becomes important not just for feeling us to feel well, but also for protecting our social environments from unkind words and acts.
Meanwhile, in another recent interview, Bored Panda reached out to speaker, author, and leadership coach Jodi Wellman, MAPP, the founder of the ‘Four Thousand Mondays’ project. She shared her thoughts with us about slowing down in order to appreciate the present moment more. Welman told us via email that people value productivity and efficiency, which “contributes to the ‘go go go-ness’ of our days.”
“I think many of us are caught up in what’s known as an existential vacuum, which is characterized by a nagging sense of meaninglessness in life. When we’re feeling unfulfilled in life, we get pretty savvy at filling the void with manufactured busy work,” Wellman said.
“We might want to be suspicious of the purpose task-rushing is serving for us and start connecting to a deeper sense of meaning and purpose in life.”
According to Wellman, what can help us be more present in the here and now is remembering that, one day, we will all die. “We are temporary, finite, ‘limited time only!’ This ancient practice known as memento mori works because it’s only when we contemplate our mortality that we snap to attention and realize all we have in this momentary existence is This Moment,” she said.
“I want everyone to count their Mondays; we get about 4,000 on average, and tuning into however many we have left can open our eyes up to what matters, what’s special right here and right now.”
Which of the photos in this list cheered you up the most, Pandas? What small things do you do to cultivate happiness every day? What activities and people make you the happiest?
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this. If you have a moment, scroll down to the comment section to share yours.
