Exercise, sleep, sunlight, emotions, nutrition, connection, and expectations are together the ESSENCE of the mind’s wellbeing. It was Thanksgiving 2023 when I posted this. This mnemonic, backed by science and philosophy, has helped me over the years, and I am still on the journey with this.

We have experienced the benefits of exercise, sleep, sunlight, and nutrition from our daily lives and those around us. 

We have also experienced that emotions affect our mind and body. “Name it to tame it” and mindfulness are useful techniques, which have growing evidence in scientific studies, such as by CMU, UCLA and Nature. 

The benefits of connection with others was a surprising conclusion from Harvard’s study over 80 years. “Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy [and healthy] throughout their lives.”

“Happiness is reality minus expectations” is a familiar refrain. In 2023 the World Happiness Report, an initiative of the United Nations and Gallup for over a decade, found that “despite several overlapping crises, most populations around the world continue to be remarkably resilient, with global life satisfaction averages in the COVID-19 years 2020-2022 just as high as those in the pre-pandemic years.”  A popular verse, Bhagavad Gita 2.47, advises that you have the right—and duty—only to proper action, but have no expectations of its results or of credit for these results.

PS: Typically I write about building products. I write to pay it forward and to clarify my thinking.