#100HappyDays ‘conditions’ the mind to be more positive

 

The pursuit of happiness usually means long hours spent clacking away at a computer for those who can afford the related technologies. But one challenge asks people to channel that tech into taking pictures of what actually made them feel happy.

Enter the #100HappyDays Challenge, which has participants taking photos of anything that makes them happy throughout the day and uploading these on Instagram and other social media networks.

"Parang maganda siyang way to notice yung mga bagay na dati hindi mo naman pinapahalagahan. Pero ngayon kahit yung maliliit na bagay, nagkaroon ka ng way para ipagpasalamat," said Apples Gamboa, who finished the challenge.

Because they're recording things that make them happy, participants are conditioned to look for these events, objects, and people, becoming more aware of even the most mundane things in their life.

"Ang positive effects ng being happy or finding things that will make you happy is that the mind will be conditioned. There's going to be a habit to be formed that everyday, we need to seek happiness in all the aspects of our lives and in other people," said Dr. Cherry Raneses, a counselor.

Dmitry Golubnichy, a 27-year-old living in Sweden, came up with the idea in 2013 as a way to remind himself of what made him happy.

"I believe that being happy is a choice and everyone can be happy just by appreciating little things in life one has instead of engaging in the constant chase for ever rising internal & external expectations, which leaves no time for being happy," he told HLNTV.com.

People who successfully completed the challenge claimed they became more optimistic and appreciative of life after the challenge. Some even found love while completing the challenge.

To join, participants sign up at the 100 Happy Days website, wherein they can choose from three ways to chronicle their 100 days. 

Users can post their pictures on social networking sites with the public hashtag #100HappyDays, though more private types can notify the administration how to find their posts if they choose to use their own tags. They may also send their pictures directly tomyhappy@100happy.com to avoid publicity.

Other than an emotional renewal, participants can also receive a 100-page book with their 100 happy days when they cross the finish line.

According to Jetpac City Guides, a startup using Instagram and other social networking sites to determine travel destinations, the Philippines is the eighth happiest country in the world. 

The only country outside the South Americas to have made the list, the archipelago scored high on smiles, meaning most pictures analyzed on Instagram featured wide smiles on Filipinos' photos. — Rie Takumi/VC, GMA News