Preface

For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by genuinely happy individuals who take life by the horns and hang on for the ride. So what is it that distinguishes those who power through life with a grin from those who plod along with a frown? That question led me to the field of human physiology—the study of how humans are designed and put together. By finding out how we operate I hoped to better understand how we could set ourselves up to operate best. After much research and reflection, I have discovered the secrets of those who live well. They are SMILERS, and I don’t just mean they wear a cheesy grin. They implement in their lives seven foundations of emotional wellness—the seven secrets for feeling fantastic—summed up by the acronym SMILERS: Speak right, Move right, Immerse in the right environment, Look at the right things, Eat right, Rest right and Serve right. These form the path to happiness, health and higher living.

This is a book about your brain and what goes on inside it. The past decade or so has been an exciting time for brain researchers. New technologies have allowed neurophysiologists to make some fascinating discoveries about how various parts of our brain function, unlocking marvellous mysteries. Specifically, our understanding of the workings of the part of the brain responsible for emotions—the abode of happiness and a zest for life—has greatly advanced. I find these discoveries enormously exciting because our emotional life—how we feel on a regular basis—contributes so powerfully to our total wellbeing. What’s more, so many people in our society would like to feel better than they do, with the incidence of depression at an all time high and climbing. This book is dedicated to helping you feel better on a more regular basis. You will learn in a simple and intuitive way what goes on inside your head and how you can use that information to be “up” more and “down” less.

I believe God wants Christians to be shining examples of life and living. After all, Jesus was up-front about His mission: “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Yet many Christians don’t have a spring in their step. Moreover, Christians can be left feeling guilty that they are not consumed with a joy for living. Isn’t the good news supposed to make us happy and cheerful? The first three “fruit of the Spirit” Paul lists—love, joy and peace—are positive feelings (see Galatians 5:22). Are we doing something wrong in not claiming them? The truth is Christians do have a lot to be happy about, but the reality of everyday living can present serious challenges. As the adage goes, “To live with the saints above, that will be glory, but to live with the saints below, that’s a different story.” As we proceed through the seven secrets for feeling fantastic, it will become apparent that they are entrenched in Scripture. Indeed, God provides for us emotionally. Sometimes we need to be reminded.

I am not suggesting this book will transform you into an 11 out of 10, day in day out. As wise Solomon attested, “There is a time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There are times in our lives when events or situations will leave us feeling like a one out of 10 and it is appropriate we feel that way at such times. Yet, in the absence of life crises, there are still days when life seems plain and arduous, when just breathing requires an effort. In this book you will learn powerful strategies for remedying this state. It is my absolute conviction that most of us, most of the time, can be taking a couple of steps up the emotional “feel good” ladder. God wants us to do just that because He knows that how we feel on a consistent basis has a tremendous bearing on the quality of our life and health, as well as our effectiveness for His cause.

A final point: This book is not a prescription for clinical depression, characterised by long stints of low mood, exhaustion and tendencies toward wanting to end it all. It targets the average individual who is eager to experience a fullness of living and a zest for life. Essentially, it is dedicated to providing you with insights for achieving a natural high. As such, I make no mention of the types of medications available to help people with depression, but that is not to say I am against them. If a car has a mechanical fault, cleaning the oil and filling up on premium fuel will not remedy the problem. The principles presented in the following chapters are the “good oil” as far as our brains go. However, there are times when our brain chemistry needs some help to get balanced.

Aside from this situation, I am absolutely convicted that running your engine according to the design principles presented in this book can provide you with happy motoring. This book could change the colour of your day, week, year
and life.