What the 100HappyDays Challenge taught me...

How much do you believe in the concept of Rhonda Bryne's "The Secret?" For those who don't want to read the whole book before coming back here, the basic theme of the best-seller is that we tend to attract that which we focus on with our thoughts. The skepticism for me arose from the fact that we needed to visualize good luck and happiness as physical entities (rather than just events/emotions) that find their way to us when we keep thinking of them.

"71% of people tried to complete this challenge, but failed quoting lack of time as the main reason.These people simply did not have time to be happy. Do you?"

- 100HappyDays.com

When I took up the 100HappyDays challenge, I had been going through a pretty average phase of my life for a long time. I would have never really taken up the challenge, had it not been for the persistence of a dear friend who felt we both needed to be more positive in our lives.

But still... 71% failed. Woah boy... not good odds.
Nonetheless, I took up the challenge. I took a photo everyday of something which had made me happy that day. I wanted to see how long I could go before the next bad day arrived which would end the streak. I didn't expect any miracles to happen, of course. As I mentioned, I was a skeptic where the concept of attracting happiness into one's own life just by positive thoughts was concerned.

A breakup of my 100HappyDay moments based on  categories.

A parcel from the site where I regularly buy
dog food arrived and sat unopened at home
for a fortnight. Turned out it contained a free
personalised mug featuring me and Snoopy.

A 100 days later, I am now a believer. I don't believe in Godmen or BigFoot. But I do believe now in the concept of "The Secret" and how taking up the 100HappyDays challenge made my life better. Every day, something new appeared to make me smile. Not just the usual suspects (books, parents, salary cheques) but so many new surprises started to pop up.

The happiness of a fridge filled with chilled water after a long, hot day in Kerala was just as good as the joy of seeing old friends after years or winning gift vouchers in online contests. As days went by, more and more people started following my challenge actively on Facebook, egging me on with their support and comments. And lo and behold, things actually started to change in my life too.

I beat my own personal records in some categories in medical cases.
I watched my dog learn new tricks (something which no dog in 25 years of living in a house with me ever did, mind you!)
I visited 6 cities in 4 states in 20 days, again something I've never done in my life.
I cooked better food, strengthened old friendships and made new friends.
I touched strangers lives... some of whom had done the same for others earlier.
I won short story contests and got published quite a few times.
I actually made money in the stock market... another first!
I met film stars and had breakfast with movie directors and producers.
I won and became the best in the country for something I truly coveted.

The bad days designated to break the streak did rear their heads quite a few times in between, of course. But by then, I'd already learned how to surf the waves... I knew not to focus on the bad but to enjoy the lone light in a dark night instead. When a loved one was hospitalised, I was grateful that there was somebody there to take my place and be there as their guardian angel till I could arrive. When tough cases arrived which had me chewing my nails, fellow doctors would give handy tips which would make the case go ridiculously smooth against all odds.

I became part of the 29% of the world who completed the 100HappyDays challenge. But it isn't completing the challenge which gave me satisfaction. It is what I learned during that period.
I learned to seek out happiness and focus on it, even on bad days. More importantly, I learned to believe that happiness does indeed beget happiness. I think that's my biggest gain from this... I now believe know that thinking positively does indeed attract more happiness into our lives.

I got the best 100 days of the last decade of my life after I took up this challenge... coincidental timing or the power of happiness?
You decide. I know what I believe.