BAYVIEW Newsletter ISSUE 20 Monday 24 June 2013
www.bayview.vic.edu.au
Broden Borella & Lachlan Huppatz both contributed to this years Winter Drive
Risen Jesus, you promised to be with us to the end of time; be with me today. From the Principal– Dr Michelle Kearney I had the distinct privilege of attending the Happiness and it's Causes conference in Melbourne last week. certainly a strange name for a conference, however it was deeply engaging on an intellectual and spiritual level. We were presented with the latest research from neuroscience that can pinpoint the areas of the brain that are affected by romantic love, and the range of emotions from grief to happiness and contentment. Psychologists spoke about a range of topics on managing pain, dealing with trauma, stress in the modern world, and the role of spirituality and religion in our lives. We explored the impact of social and emotional health on young people and their learning and were challenged to place greater emphasis on proactively developing skills and confidence in talking about, recognizing and positively responding to the emotional rollercoaster that is life. A key theme resonating through each of these presentations was that happiness is not a destination, it is a mindset that we bring along the journey. A highlight of the conference, and also the most challenging and uplifting session, was hearing His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He reminded us of the importance of affection and touch, especially for young children and those who can not communicate verbally. He asserted that if humans were more consistently affectionate to those nearest and dearest to them there would be a greater chance of compassion and empathy alive amongst humanity. When asked by one of the panelists what it was like being the Dalai Lama, he responded humbly "I am just one of the 7 billion people on the planet, I eat, I breathe, I try to live each day better than the last". Dr Carl Honore challenged us to embrace slow. That is to reflect on the pace at which we are living our lives, to accept that not everything we do has a deadline, to in fact undertake some parts of our lives slowly for the good of our physical and mental health, and our relationships. One of the scientific studies referenced by the Dalai Lama was a study into the brain patterns of Buddhist monks. This study indicated that people who practice meditation, and took time to go slow on a regular basis had greater brain activity in the regions of the brain where happiness can be measured and less activity in the areas of the brain affected by stress. As we enter into this mid year holiday period let us all take some time to go slow. Let us spend time with our friends and family and show our affection as we see fit. Agreement was reached by all the presenters, in that, one of the greatest ways to live a happy and fulfilled life and to be able to cope with the challenges that can present themselves, is to nurture and invest in the relationships that are important to us.
‘Nothing can be loved at speed’ Michael Leunig