THE HAPPIEST MAN IN THE WORLD
Matthieu Ricard is the happiest man in the world, and he’s not happy about
it. In 2004 Matthieu Ricard temporarily left the Shechen monastery in
Kathmandu to teach a TED audience in Monterey, California the habits of
happiness.
According to Ricard, happiness is a “deep sense of serenity and
fulfillment.” Ricard should know. He’s not just pleased with his life. He’s really, really happy. Scientifically, he’s off-the-charts happy. Ricard
volunteered for a study at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Research
scientists placed 256 tiny electrodes on Ricard’s scalp to measure his brain
waves. The study was conducted on hundreds of people who practice
meditation. They were rated on a happiness scale. Ricard didn’t just score
above average; the researchers couldn’t find anything like it in the
neuroscience literature. The brain scans showed “excessive activity in his
brain’s left prefrontal cortex compared to its right counterpart, giving him
an abnormally large capacity for happiness and a reduced propensity
towards negativity.”4
Ricard isn’t all that happy about being labeled the happiest man in the
world. “In truth, anyone can find happiness if he or she looks for it in the
right place,”5 he said. “Authentic happiness can only come from the longterm cultivation of wisdom, altruism, and compassion, and from the
complete eradication of mental toxins, such as hatred, grasping, and
ignorance.”
Ricard’s presentation, “The Habits of Happiness,” attracted more than two
million views on TED.com. I believe Ricard’s presentation was well
received because Ricard radiates the joy of someone who is deeply
committed to his topic. Indeed, Ricard told me, “These ideas are dear to me
not only because they brought me a lot of fulfillment, but because I am
convinced that they can bring some good to society. I am particularly
passionate to show that altruism and compassion are not luxuries, but
essential needs to answer the challenges of our modern world. So, whenever
I am asked to join a conference, I am glad to do so and be able to share my
ideas.”6
Successful speakers can’t wait to share their ideas. They have charisma and
charisma is directly associated with how much passion the speaker has for
his or her content. Charismatic speakers radiate joy and passion; the joy of
sharing their experience and passion for how their ideas, products, or
services will benefit their audiences. “I believe that the best way to
communicate with anyone is to first check the quality of your motivation:
‘Is my motivation selfish or altruistic? Is my benevolence aimed at just afew or at the great number? For their short-term or their long-term good?’
Once we have a clear motivation, then communication flows easily,” says
Ricard.
Amazingly, if your motivation is to share your passion with your audience,
it’s likely that you’ll feel less nervous about speaking in public or delivering
that all-important presentation in front of your boss. I asked Ricard how he
remains calm and relaxed in front of large audiences. Ricard believes that
anyone can talk him- or herself into feeling joy, bliss, and happiness when
they choose to do so. It all comes down to your motivation. If your only
goal is to make a sale or to elevate your stature, you might fail to connect
with your audience (and you’ll place a lot of pressure on yourself). If,
however, your goal is more altruistic—giving your audience information to
help them live better lives—you’ll make a deeper connection and feel more
comfortable in your role. “I am very happy to share ideas, but as an
individual I have nothing to lose or to gain,” said Ricard. “I don’t care about
my image, I have no business deal to cut, and I am not trying to impress
anyone. I am just full of joy to be able to say a few words about the fact that
we vastly underestimate the power of transforming the mind.
Hello Friends
To live the happy life first you need to love yourself ,& you know why I share this ted talk experience of Matthieu Ricard so that you will get the idea of living life happily...
