Halinka & Michelle

05/02/2023

The secret of happiness

What is the secret of happiness? Bertrand Russell's answer ―

"The secret of happiness is this: Let your interests be as wide as possible, and let your reactions to the things and persons that interest you be as far as possible friendly rather than hostile. The world is vast and our own powers are limited. If all our happiness is bound up entirely in our personal circumstances it is difficult not to demand of life more than it has to give. And to demand too much is the surest way of getting even less than is possible. The man who can forget his worries by means of a genuine interest in, say, gardening, or the life history of stars, will find that, when he returns from his excursion into the impersonal world, he has acquired a poise and calm which enable him to deal with his worries in the best way, and he will in the meantime have experienced a genuine even if temporary happiness."

— Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness (1930), Part II. Causes of Happiness, Chapter X: Is Happiness Still Possible?, p. 140

"I was not born happy. In adolescence, I hated life and was continually on the verge of su***de, from which, however, I was restrained by the desire to know only more mathematics. Now, on the contrary, I enjoy life; I might almost say that with every year that passes I enjoy it more.

This is due partly to having discovered what were the things that I most desired, and having gradually acquired many of these things. Partly it is due to having successfully dismissed certain objects of desire — such as the acquisition of indubitable knowledge about something or other — as essentially unattainable. But very largely my current happiness is due to a diminishing preoccupation with myself.

Gradually I learned to be indifferent to myself and my deficiencies; I came to centre my attention increasingly upon external objects: the state of the world, various branches of knowledge, individuals for whom I felt affection. External interests, it is true, bring each its own possibility of pain: the world may be plunged in war, knowledge in some direction may be hard to achieve, friends may die. But pains of these kinds do not destroy the essential quality of life, as do those that spring from disgust with the self.”

― Bertrand Russell, The Conquest of Happiness (1930), Part I. Causes of Unhappiness, Ch: I, What Makes People Unhappy?, p. 9

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The Conquest of Happiness (1930) by Bertrand Russell pre-dates the modern genre of self-help popular/philosophy by decades. This work lays out Russell's rationalist prescription for living a happy life, mainly the importance of cultivating interests outside oneself and the dangers of passive and base pleasure. The Conquest of Happiness (1930) is often cited as one of Bertrand Russell's most accessible and favorite books.

14/08/2022

In this their forth Podcast series, Halinka and Michelle explore what it takes to be HUMAN in today's busy world. They discuss today who inspires you and who are our teachers? Having a mentor to advise and guide you can increase your confidence...

14/08/2022

Gurus inspire and motivate you. They can be a teacher, mentor, guide.. an expert of master of a certain knowledge. You aspire to be like them and they in turn are an inspiration.

Gurus enlighten and guide you with their experience and knowledge. They are people that have inspired us to become better versions of ourselves, for their guidance and teachings.

Halinka & Michelle discuss what this all means to them and who has enlightened their pathways.

In this their forth Podcast series, Halinka and Michelle explore what it takes to be HUMAN in today's busy world. They discuss today who inspires you and who are our teachers? Having a mentor to advise and guide you can increase your confidence...

27/06/2022

We did it...

Little Grabs is a podcast created by two very different women, who come together for their weekly catch up to share 'secret women's business' (as taken from their daily lives). Written in a light hearted, conversational style, with no filters applied. We look at the funny side of some very serious t...

27/06/2022

Do we believe some people are ‘good’ while others are ‘evil’ or ‘bad?’ Is this even helpful?
In this weeks podcast we discussed the 4 things that stop us doing good;
Fear
Selfish Ambition,
Pride and
Laziness
Fear is a debilitating force.
Selfish ambition takes in lack of empathy for others
Pride is often worn as a badge of honour
and
Laziness - inaction is also a choice.
Food for thought
Have a great week
Halinka and Michelle

26/06/2022

A little something from Michelle

WHAT DO YOU DO?

23/06/2022

Evil, in a general sense, is defined by what it is not—the opposite or absence of good.
Halinka & Michelle discuss what it means to them ...over cake....

In this their third Podcast series, Halinka and Michelle explore what it takes to be HUMAN in today's busy world. We may say that a thing is good when on its own it ought to exist however if it is bad, it shouldnt. When something is good, we des...

11/06/2022

This weeks podcast was about 'when s**t happens' aka, how to be comfortable in your discomfort. The timing is apt give today is a great day for celebration but also a day of reflection and shame.
Today I am in the small central Queensland town of Biloela, at the annual Flourish Festival, organised by Integreat. The local community will welcome back the Nadesalingam family over 4 years after the family were given 10 minutes to pack their bags and forcibly moved by Australian Border Force Agents to an immigration detention centre in Melbourne. The Tamil family have become perhaps the most famous example of Australia’s harsh treatment of asylum seekers.
It is very important to feel uncomfortable feelings and listening to the story of this families treatment is very uncomfortable. But sitting in that discomfort is an important part of understanding the difficulties that people in our community face.
The local community was shocked and soon angered at the treatment of the family. But the story does not end there. It was out of that anger that the energy for positive action and change was propelled.
We often do not want to 'understand' things that make us feel uncomfortable. But that choice is also a decision.
The positive outcome of today's return of this beautiful family back to their hometown of Biloela in central Queensland is that change is possible and when we collectively advocate for positive change and have the patience and persistence to deal with a system that struggles to deal with the 'new' we can make a difference.
This story put Australia back on the radar of the United Nations, and our history is not pretty...But it is in facing our history, and the 'terrible ' treatment of our indigenous, migrants and NON-toxic female & males in our community by the toxic leaders who somehow have the privilege of speaking for us all.
Let's build a community we are proud of and let's ensure the leaders reflect the views of the community. The last election saw "Teal' voters show signs that Australian are ready to own their anger and stand up and advoke positive change. Let’s not be ashamed, let’s be proactive, stand for something, live lives of conviction and together our small efforts can make the world a better place.
Halinka

10/06/2022

Beautiful quote to start your weekend...

“Eat at a local restaurant tonight. Get the cream sauce. Have a cold pint at 4 o’clock in a mostly empty bar. Go somewhere you’ve never been. Listen to someone you think may have nothing in common with you. Order the steak rare. Eat an oyster. Have a negroni. Have two. Be open to a world where you may not understand or agree with the person next to you, but have a drink with them anyways. Eat slowly. Tip your server. Check in on your friends. Check in on yourself. Enjoy the ride." - Anthony Bourdain

Have a great day
Halinka & Michelle

07/06/2022

'The way we choose to see the world, creates the world we see' Barry Neil Kaufman.

Nothing in life is permanent and through the discomfort of change we need to set ourselves up for success. Halinka & Michelle discuss how to deal with life 'when s**t happens'....in their own way! It is all part of being human.

This week Halinka & Michelle talk about when s**t happens....Discomfort vs Comfort. They discuss how in order to grow, you have to embrace the discomfort. It feels awkward. It’s uncomfortable. You’re out of your comfort zone. However, if you ...

06/06/2022

This weeks podcast is about vitality.
Vitality is a word we rarely use to describe how we feel, but its our life force, our power, it is what gives us courage. We feel it strongly when we reflect on our competence, our self mastery and this feeling even translates into the bedroom.

This is a beautiful quote that explains vitality well.
"The opposite of depression is not happiness, but vitality, and it was vitality that seemed to seep away from me in that moment.
-Andrew Solomon

Have a great week
Halinka & Michelle

05/06/2022

In this weeks podcast we will be exploring comfort... this article is a great one to set the scene. We shall discuss why the truth hurts, and what it takes to discover the truth.

​Discovery of the truth—is the purpose of higher education. The academy aims to be an arena where truth is sought, discovered, and explored. When the university is functioning at its best, students learn to present arguments and receive counter-arguments in pursuit of truth.

The question in the article is then: Are today’s universities achieving their purpose?

In his lecture, about modifications to universities, “Haidt suggests that changes in campus culture over the past decade have rerouted university resources away from the pursuit of truth and towards creating an emotionally and intellectually comfortable environment for students.”

The truth is supposed to be uncomfortable.
We will explore what it takes to “sit” with your discomfort.
There is no freedom in living blinded by the three p’s of paradigms, prejudices and privilege.

Change is not born out of comfort... change is disruptive.... freedom is worth the fight. Self serving ideals are selfish, and the truth hurts..

Halinka & Michelle

For centuries, universities have advanced humanity toward truth. Professor Jonathan Haidt speaks to why college campuses are suddenly heading in the opposite direction.