Everybody loves a good laugh. We go to the cinema to watch comedies (even if they aren't very good sometimes!), we love unwinding with Kumar, Irene and Hossan at comedy clubs, and we subconsciously seek the company of people who make us laugh.
Laughter is a universal pleasure and we don't need to be told why we love to laugh. But why is laughter good for us?
I'm sure you don't need a doctor to tell you that a good laugh instantly balances any disharmony in your mind and body. Having a good laugh has long been known to be very therapeutic. There is evidence to show that even ancient civilisations held laughter in high regard, incorporating it into their arts and culture, with some claiming that laughter "pierces the hopelessness of any situation or attitude and holds the chemistry of immortality".
Pretty poetry that holds powerful truth... and these days of course, we know precisely how. Laughter opens up your lungs, relieves the tension in your muscles, and gives you a big rush of oxygen. When it does this, it also helps your blood flow more efficiently, lowering your blood pressure. Laughter also lowers the disease-causing chemical cortisol in your body, protecting your immune system from the negative effects of stress.
Laughter is nature's own miracle healer, and its power is at your disposal anytime!
Since laughter helps keep our bodies in tiptop condition, it also maintains our minds in the ideal state for seeking and absorbing knowledge. When we laugh, we breathe harder, our heart beats faster and we get more oxygen to the brain. This stimulates the release of serotonin, leading to feelings of contentment and happiness.
A happy worker is also a good worker.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Getting A Grip On Reality
Our worries and anxieties can sometimes overwhelm us. When this happens, some of us cannot seem to enjoy anything; we're too fearful of what's to come. Some of us cannot seem to relax or sleep. Some of us even suffer panic attacks, where we feel we cannot breathe, that the worlds is collapsing around us, or in extreme cases, even harbour temporary thoughts of suicide.
When this happens; it's important for us to remind ourselves that our worries and anxieties are not reality. They are a distortion of reality, an illusion of exaggeration that we give wings in our mind. We imagine all the worst things that could happen, but these scenarios are not based on fact; they're not based on anything but our imagination.
So let us try to regain our grip on reality.
When you're starting to feel anxious about something, stop whatever you're doing and turn your attention to something else, preferably something soothing. Open the window, take a deep breath, admire the trees. Worries grow bigger by repetition and concentration; they like building upon themselves. So deny your worries that opportunity - switch your focus! Refuse to let yourself broad.
Another good way to alleviate your worries is to challenge them with rational thought. As I said before, worries are fancy concoctions of the mind, and when countered with objectivity and common sense, they often look rather silly.
So turn to the facts - how long is this detestable thing expected to last anyway? Is all of it going to be so bad? Might there be some enjoyable aspects you've overlooked? Is it possible this thing could be good for you in some way? Perhaps it's forcing you to do something you've been telling yourself to do but have just been terribly lazy about it?
Do your research, deconstruct the monster, and suddenly it's just made of Lego.
When you are having an anxiety attack, you may encounter a lot of scary thoughts coming to you all at once. Instead of panicking, remember that these thoughts are not rooted in reality. They're fabrications! They in no way dictate what's really going to happen. Let the fear go.
Also, remember that worry ultimately doesn't change anything. It may turn you into a sulking, moaning, heaving wreak, but it doesn't have any other real power. Train yourself to shake its hand, tell it "Thank you very much, but you are of no use to me" and send it on its way.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
When this happens; it's important for us to remind ourselves that our worries and anxieties are not reality. They are a distortion of reality, an illusion of exaggeration that we give wings in our mind. We imagine all the worst things that could happen, but these scenarios are not based on fact; they're not based on anything but our imagination.
So let us try to regain our grip on reality.
When you're starting to feel anxious about something, stop whatever you're doing and turn your attention to something else, preferably something soothing. Open the window, take a deep breath, admire the trees. Worries grow bigger by repetition and concentration; they like building upon themselves. So deny your worries that opportunity - switch your focus! Refuse to let yourself broad.
Another good way to alleviate your worries is to challenge them with rational thought. As I said before, worries are fancy concoctions of the mind, and when countered with objectivity and common sense, they often look rather silly.
So turn to the facts - how long is this detestable thing expected to last anyway? Is all of it going to be so bad? Might there be some enjoyable aspects you've overlooked? Is it possible this thing could be good for you in some way? Perhaps it's forcing you to do something you've been telling yourself to do but have just been terribly lazy about it?
Do your research, deconstruct the monster, and suddenly it's just made of Lego.
When you are having an anxiety attack, you may encounter a lot of scary thoughts coming to you all at once. Instead of panicking, remember that these thoughts are not rooted in reality. They're fabrications! They in no way dictate what's really going to happen. Let the fear go.
Also, remember that worry ultimately doesn't change anything. It may turn you into a sulking, moaning, heaving wreak, but it doesn't have any other real power. Train yourself to shake its hand, tell it "Thank you very much, but you are of no use to me" and send it on its way.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Top Interview Tips
Face-to-face job interviews - why do some candidates appear to breeze through them and get the job and salary they desire, while others bungle them again and again?
Well, granted some applicants can charm the socks off almost anyone and there are employers who make hiring decisions on a whim, but most successful job candidates have simply put a few interview tips into practice. Excluding the more obvious ones, like dressing for the position and making eye contact, these are top interview tips...
First, know yourself. Understand just what your skills are and how valuable you'll be to the company you're hoping to join. Think about how you can communicate this to the interviewer in a way that's not arrogant or aggressive.
And just as you need to know yourself well before the interview, you should know that company well too. One simply cannot be lazy when it comes to this; make sure you do your research. It shows your desire to be part of the organisation. It also helps you come up with relevant questions about the company that the interviewer will almost always ask of you.
Though it's important for you to sound spontaneous during the interview, you should prepare your answers to common questions and rehearse them beforehand. This is so you don't get stumped by simple, typical questions.
Many people mistakenly view the job interview (or interviews of any kind) as the process of the hirer getting as much information as possible about the applicant. That's why they end up talking too much about themselves and not listening to the interviewer. But by listening intently to the interviewer, you show interest in him and his company.
How can you re-position your supposed weaknesses as strengths? for example, your tendency to dawdle over certain projects could be sold as a meticulous nature or your attention to detail.
Also, unless when asked specifically by the interviewers, do not volunteer your personal opinions about any topics. Although this might seem like you're being spontaneous and self-assured, it might backfire if your moral compass is tragically out-of-sync with your interviewer's.
And though you should be enthusiastic, do not try too hard; it's important to be professional but you should also be casual, not too uptight. When you're trying too hard, it shows... so be yourself! You should come across as authentic and real.
I hope these tips serve you well in your next job interview.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Well, granted some applicants can charm the socks off almost anyone and there are employers who make hiring decisions on a whim, but most successful job candidates have simply put a few interview tips into practice. Excluding the more obvious ones, like dressing for the position and making eye contact, these are top interview tips...
First, know yourself. Understand just what your skills are and how valuable you'll be to the company you're hoping to join. Think about how you can communicate this to the interviewer in a way that's not arrogant or aggressive.
And just as you need to know yourself well before the interview, you should know that company well too. One simply cannot be lazy when it comes to this; make sure you do your research. It shows your desire to be part of the organisation. It also helps you come up with relevant questions about the company that the interviewer will almost always ask of you.
Though it's important for you to sound spontaneous during the interview, you should prepare your answers to common questions and rehearse them beforehand. This is so you don't get stumped by simple, typical questions.
Many people mistakenly view the job interview (or interviews of any kind) as the process of the hirer getting as much information as possible about the applicant. That's why they end up talking too much about themselves and not listening to the interviewer. But by listening intently to the interviewer, you show interest in him and his company.
How can you re-position your supposed weaknesses as strengths? for example, your tendency to dawdle over certain projects could be sold as a meticulous nature or your attention to detail.
Also, unless when asked specifically by the interviewers, do not volunteer your personal opinions about any topics. Although this might seem like you're being spontaneous and self-assured, it might backfire if your moral compass is tragically out-of-sync with your interviewer's.
And though you should be enthusiastic, do not try too hard; it's important to be professional but you should also be casual, not too uptight. When you're trying too hard, it shows... so be yourself! You should come across as authentic and real.
I hope these tips serve you well in your next job interview.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Self-Worthiness
How easily is your ego bruised? How often do you shy away from social situations? How doubtful are you when it comes to your own opinions and actions? How satisfied are you with who you are and what you have? How harshly do you judge yourself? How often do you look to others for approval! How much love is in your life? How often do you worry?
Sorry if I overwhelmed you with the barrage of questions, but if your lingering sense is that you are generally unsure of yourself and that daily life, social interaction and relationships feel shallow and stressful for you, then perhaps you should try doing something about your self-worthiness.
If you think your self-worthiness is bed-ridden, then stop focusing on anything else. Almost nothing will work out for you if you don't get your self-worthiness up and running again.
You can never be happy by looking to others to validate your existence or value. The essence of self-worthiness is being true to yourself, no matter what you think others might think. No one else on earth is like you and therefore no one else on earth can know or understand you as well as you can. and regardless of what others may tell you about what's behind the door, only you can walk through it and find out for yourself. No one else can be responsible for you. Therefore, the first step to higher self-worthiness is to get to know yourself as well as you can, and to stop depending on the approval of others to fulfill you.
Some people have the misconception that they must suffer in life. They may not put it quite as simply as I have, but the core of the concept is similar. Somehow, they feel that life is suffering, that they must suffer for someone else's happiness, that misery is an essential part of life that must somehow be endured. Again, Again they feel this way because they do not think very highly of themselves; they feel they do not deserve to happy, that self-punishment is the only right thing to do, the only way they feel alive. That's why many people continue to allow themselves to suffer oppression, mistreatment, disdain and abuse.
Even though many people might say they want love and happiness; they might even pray for these things, but they do not take any real towards improving their situation. They continue to lament and wallow in self-doubt and misery, claiming helplessness when in reality, they're fully equipped to make things better anytime.
Let's go through the main clues that hint at a person's high level of self-worthiness. These are characteristics that we would all do well to master.
First, a habit of thinking and acting spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience. This means that you begin every task with a clean slate. Like an actor on stage, your previous scene has already transpired. Whether or not you stumbled on some words or gave it a lack-lustre rendition, it's over. Period. You cannot go back and do the scene again. All you can do is give your next scene your best shot. Thinking about your performance in the last scene only preoccupies your mind with something you can't do a thing about and will likely adversely impact your next scene.
Another characteristic of self-worthiness is the freedom to enjoy each moment, unencumbered by regret or resentment from what's past or fear of what's to come. The past and future are an illusion, as they say. The only "real" moment is Now. If you can't savour the most of it, whatever it is, then you're wasting the moment. And it won't come back. So forget about how you quarrelled with your partner last night, how obnoxious you thought he or she was... today, remember that ultimately, you're in love with each other, you have this beautiful new day to enjoy together, so do it.
A self-worthy person also doesn't judge himself negatively. By "negatively", I mean in a way that is unconstructive and mosochistic - that is, consistently saying to yourself "That was a dumb thing to say!" or "That was a stupid thing to do!", "You're so unattractive!" or "You never do anything right!" - you know, making shallow, sweeping statements about yourself without assessing the situation or making a commitment to do better next time. A self-worthy person knows that frequent self-beration gradually breaks down a healthy ego until the brain starts to believe these crippling remarks. The body soon begins to obey what the brain believes in and subconsciously instructs the body to do.
Some say you can't escape worry; it's a undeniable fact of life. If you think something bad is going to happen, why should you be having a great time?
And to a certain extent I agree... I mean, if you feel the tremors of an earthquake coming on, you really wouldn't want to sit on the porcelain throne with a good look, if you know what I mean. You'd be worried sick, probably even panicking. And this kind of worry might even save your life, because you'd be driven to seek some safety or rescue.
But though worry can be useful in certain contexts, in most day-to-day situations, it's more of a bane than a boon. Just think of the things you usually worry about and you'll realise that for many of them, there's simply nothing you can do. And those things you can realistically do something about, you're so petrified with worry that you can't think of any solution or even have the motivation to do anything about them.
Worry can be a driving force, but for most of us, most of the time, it's simply a handicap. Unless you feel you can realistically do something about something you're worrying about, and will do i, there is simply no sense in worrying. Most of our worries relate to trivial problems anyway, like "will people like me at the party?" or things we can do nothing about, like aging. That's why one of the main habits of self-worthy people is the lack of worrying. "Care-free", not "care-less" is the watch word.
A self-worthy person is also able to appreciate most things around him. He is constantly mindful of the fact of life itself is a wonder; that it's wondrous and worth being thankful for that he can move, can touch, can taste, can laugh, can see clearly with spectacles, lenses or laser treatment, can read a book, kick a ball, dig his toes into the sand, stroke a cat and transport himself around swiftly in metal boxes that create cool, comfortable atmospheres and emit pleasant sounds from their speakers.
And finally, the hallmark of a self-worthy person is his ability to love people and other living things. He is constantly giving and receiving love. Whether it's planning a good time for someone, sharing his favourite food, or daily picking up someone from work, his mind is filled with thoughts of how to make others happy. And he is able to receive the rewards of this with equal enthusiasm; we all know the joy of giving... sometimes, we should also allow others to experience this joy.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
Sorry if I overwhelmed you with the barrage of questions, but if your lingering sense is that you are generally unsure of yourself and that daily life, social interaction and relationships feel shallow and stressful for you, then perhaps you should try doing something about your self-worthiness.
If you think your self-worthiness is bed-ridden, then stop focusing on anything else. Almost nothing will work out for you if you don't get your self-worthiness up and running again.
You can never be happy by looking to others to validate your existence or value. The essence of self-worthiness is being true to yourself, no matter what you think others might think. No one else on earth is like you and therefore no one else on earth can know or understand you as well as you can. and regardless of what others may tell you about what's behind the door, only you can walk through it and find out for yourself. No one else can be responsible for you. Therefore, the first step to higher self-worthiness is to get to know yourself as well as you can, and to stop depending on the approval of others to fulfill you.
Some people have the misconception that they must suffer in life. They may not put it quite as simply as I have, but the core of the concept is similar. Somehow, they feel that life is suffering, that they must suffer for someone else's happiness, that misery is an essential part of life that must somehow be endured. Again, Again they feel this way because they do not think very highly of themselves; they feel they do not deserve to happy, that self-punishment is the only right thing to do, the only way they feel alive. That's why many people continue to allow themselves to suffer oppression, mistreatment, disdain and abuse.
Even though many people might say they want love and happiness; they might even pray for these things, but they do not take any real towards improving their situation. They continue to lament and wallow in self-doubt and misery, claiming helplessness when in reality, they're fully equipped to make things better anytime.
Let's go through the main clues that hint at a person's high level of self-worthiness. These are characteristics that we would all do well to master.
First, a habit of thinking and acting spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience. This means that you begin every task with a clean slate. Like an actor on stage, your previous scene has already transpired. Whether or not you stumbled on some words or gave it a lack-lustre rendition, it's over. Period. You cannot go back and do the scene again. All you can do is give your next scene your best shot. Thinking about your performance in the last scene only preoccupies your mind with something you can't do a thing about and will likely adversely impact your next scene.
Another characteristic of self-worthiness is the freedom to enjoy each moment, unencumbered by regret or resentment from what's past or fear of what's to come. The past and future are an illusion, as they say. The only "real" moment is Now. If you can't savour the most of it, whatever it is, then you're wasting the moment. And it won't come back. So forget about how you quarrelled with your partner last night, how obnoxious you thought he or she was... today, remember that ultimately, you're in love with each other, you have this beautiful new day to enjoy together, so do it.
A self-worthy person also doesn't judge himself negatively. By "negatively", I mean in a way that is unconstructive and mosochistic - that is, consistently saying to yourself "That was a dumb thing to say!" or "That was a stupid thing to do!", "You're so unattractive!" or "You never do anything right!" - you know, making shallow, sweeping statements about yourself without assessing the situation or making a commitment to do better next time. A self-worthy person knows that frequent self-beration gradually breaks down a healthy ego until the brain starts to believe these crippling remarks. The body soon begins to obey what the brain believes in and subconsciously instructs the body to do.
Some say you can't escape worry; it's a undeniable fact of life. If you think something bad is going to happen, why should you be having a great time?
And to a certain extent I agree... I mean, if you feel the tremors of an earthquake coming on, you really wouldn't want to sit on the porcelain throne with a good look, if you know what I mean. You'd be worried sick, probably even panicking. And this kind of worry might even save your life, because you'd be driven to seek some safety or rescue.
But though worry can be useful in certain contexts, in most day-to-day situations, it's more of a bane than a boon. Just think of the things you usually worry about and you'll realise that for many of them, there's simply nothing you can do. And those things you can realistically do something about, you're so petrified with worry that you can't think of any solution or even have the motivation to do anything about them.
Worry can be a driving force, but for most of us, most of the time, it's simply a handicap. Unless you feel you can realistically do something about something you're worrying about, and will do i, there is simply no sense in worrying. Most of our worries relate to trivial problems anyway, like "will people like me at the party?" or things we can do nothing about, like aging. That's why one of the main habits of self-worthy people is the lack of worrying. "Care-free", not "care-less" is the watch word.
A self-worthy person is also able to appreciate most things around him. He is constantly mindful of the fact of life itself is a wonder; that it's wondrous and worth being thankful for that he can move, can touch, can taste, can laugh, can see clearly with spectacles, lenses or laser treatment, can read a book, kick a ball, dig his toes into the sand, stroke a cat and transport himself around swiftly in metal boxes that create cool, comfortable atmospheres and emit pleasant sounds from their speakers.
And finally, the hallmark of a self-worthy person is his ability to love people and other living things. He is constantly giving and receiving love. Whether it's planning a good time for someone, sharing his favourite food, or daily picking up someone from work, his mind is filled with thoughts of how to make others happy. And he is able to receive the rewards of this with equal enthusiasm; we all know the joy of giving... sometimes, we should also allow others to experience this joy.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
The Power to Walk Away
How do you deal with potentially explosive situations? Where tempers are beginning to flare, tensions are steadily escalating, and sufficient buttons have been pushed?
What happens with many people is that they remain in the situation, either hoping to talk things over calmly or to make their point emphatically clear. But this can only work if the other party is willing to collaborate. But sometimes, the other party can be willfully difficult. They can be persons who get off on pushing your hot buttons.
What happens then? A likely scenario is that like a fish to the bait, you continue to engage in the conversation, the other party continues to gall you, and *snap!*, the last straw breaks your back. At this point, when self-control is lost, you may utter threats, make scathing remarks, or throw potshots that you immediately regret.
In social setting, you may end up looking rash and petty. In a business or corporate setting, you may appear to be antagonistic and hot-tempered. In a personal context, you may end up really hurting a loved one. In the long term, angry outbursts will sour any relationship.
If you find yourself quite unintentionally getting yourself into potentially-explosive situations, how can you avoid actually exploding?
Well, you can walk away.
A seemingly simple thing to do, but something that can be extremely difficult to do in practice, especially when you feel you've been grossly misunderstood. You'd want to stake it out and explain yourself until the other person gets it, right?
That's what keeps you there. That's makes you reiterate your arguments again and again until they begin to sound meaningless. In these instances, you're at the losing end; it's simply more sensible to walk away.
Do you have the power to walk away from potentially-explosive situations? Are you able to postpone defending yourself to another more appropriate time? Can you conserve your cool and avoid saying or doing something you'll regret later?
Because when you care too much about winning in such situations, you lose. You're the one who feels the pressure, you're the one who seems antagonistic and defensive. It will be hard initially, but practice walking away and you'll understand just how powerful it can be in defusing explosive situations and even persuade others to see things your way.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
What happens with many people is that they remain in the situation, either hoping to talk things over calmly or to make their point emphatically clear. But this can only work if the other party is willing to collaborate. But sometimes, the other party can be willfully difficult. They can be persons who get off on pushing your hot buttons.
What happens then? A likely scenario is that like a fish to the bait, you continue to engage in the conversation, the other party continues to gall you, and *snap!*, the last straw breaks your back. At this point, when self-control is lost, you may utter threats, make scathing remarks, or throw potshots that you immediately regret.
In social setting, you may end up looking rash and petty. In a business or corporate setting, you may appear to be antagonistic and hot-tempered. In a personal context, you may end up really hurting a loved one. In the long term, angry outbursts will sour any relationship.
If you find yourself quite unintentionally getting yourself into potentially-explosive situations, how can you avoid actually exploding?
Well, you can walk away.
A seemingly simple thing to do, but something that can be extremely difficult to do in practice, especially when you feel you've been grossly misunderstood. You'd want to stake it out and explain yourself until the other person gets it, right?
That's what keeps you there. That's makes you reiterate your arguments again and again until they begin to sound meaningless. In these instances, you're at the losing end; it's simply more sensible to walk away.
Do you have the power to walk away from potentially-explosive situations? Are you able to postpone defending yourself to another more appropriate time? Can you conserve your cool and avoid saying or doing something you'll regret later?
Because when you care too much about winning in such situations, you lose. You're the one who feels the pressure, you're the one who seems antagonistic and defensive. It will be hard initially, but practice walking away and you'll understand just how powerful it can be in defusing explosive situations and even persuade others to see things your way.
Eugine Loh, 938Live, MediaCorp Pte Ltd
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