Dubai: Happiness and positivity are key for a better life and an engine for achievement and success, concluded the sessions on day five of the Happiness Journey’s second edition.
The event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
Speakers at the event underlined the role that family plays in bringing happiness and positivity to all its members, asserting that family is the core of society, and the happiness of its members is essential for the happiness of society as a whole.
In a session titled ‘Emotional Intelligence: the Gateway to Wellbeing’, Hanan Al Sammak, Co-founder of Heartmasters, stressed the importance of getting in touch with one’s emotions. The Canadian Global Centre-certified trainer in human development discussed the importance of “mindfulness”, revealing that mindful people enjoy greater levels of both professional and personal success. “To be mindful is to be present in the moment. I’m not thinking about the past and I’m not thinking about the future — I’m right here in the moment. It’s a state of clarity, it’s a state of stillness, and I’m aware. I know what I’m doing, I know who I’m talking to and I know where I am right now,” she said.
Al Sammak continued by outlining the steps she takes to achieve a state of mindfulness using the acronym “STOP”.
The S, she explained, stands for the word that the acronym forms: “Stop”. She said that when feeling angry or frustrated it was vital to stop what you are doing. Once you have paused, you should then “Take a breath” (T). After having done that for a few seconds you should then “Observe” (O), asking yourself three simple questions: “what am I thinking, what am I feeling and what is my intention?” Finally, after going through these three steps, you can then “Proceed” (P) with your day.
The second Happiness Journey is inspired by the legacy of the UAE’s founding father the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and highlights his values, which have been adopted as national values since the founding of the UAE. The journey celebrates the International Day of Happiness, observed on March 20 of every year, and aims to support the UAE’s efforts in achieving a better quality of life for the community by establishing happiness and well-being as a way of life and thinking.
The Happiness Journey focuses on five themes: Mind Health, Physical Health, Emotional Health, Gastronomy and Arts.
Meanwhile, radio presenter and lecturer Abdulla Al Mousa spoke at a session titled ‘Harmony at Home’, and gave an interactive presentation about harmony in the family, outlining the life skills that couples must cultivate starting with good intentions, understanding the female psyche, and embracing dialogue. Al Mousa discussed scientific theories around the genes that affect individual behaviour, urging the audience to identify negative behavioural patterns and address them to gain the respect of others.
The events include a series of unique cognitive and interactive experiences that enable visitors to test practical and fun applications of concepts, principles and theories in the field of happiness and well-being.
