What the 100HappyDays Challenge taught me...

Dr Roshan Radhakrishnan
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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?"

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.

Taking up the 100HappyDays challenge taught me quite a few things actually...


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.

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61Comments

Let me know what you think.

  1. Brilliant! :)
    I think I should write a post on this one too, since I too completed it earlier this month (before you ha!) :D
    But I get the feeling, I too expected something to go wrong many times being part of my/our nature and fighting through mediocrity and average going-no-where lives.

    Now first struggle is how to make that pie chart lol

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    1. You should write... you too are in the blessed 29% :D
      yes, many times there were instances where things did go out of hand... but thats where the challenge really kicked in. things just happened to help save the moment...

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  2. I now believe know that thinking positively does indeed attract more happiness into our lives.
    So true bro...!
    Congrats....
    Well ,being 29% of the rest might be great feeling...! But i feels its really difficult...!!
    Be happy for rest of the life...!

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  3. I have been insisting on this ever since I started my blog. I even tell people to think of happy thoughts whenever in pain. But no one listens! I am so glad that this challenge help you realise the power of the subconscious mind. It guides me every single day :)
    And way to go. Being in the 29% is an achievement in itself. I like the break-up chart!!

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    1. have had a lifetime to perfect the art I think at times... as I know u have too. Haha... had to sit and count each day and place it into different categories and then make the chart.. that took some time!

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  4. Great one Doc! Looks like there is hope for everyone still.

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    1. Thanks Sandheep :) Yup, there definitely is hope for all.

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  5. "The secret" has brought a huge change in the way I think....we definitely attract what we think, and I can say that with my experience.....I have been meaning to write a post on it too once I'm done with my A-Z challenge! Congrats on being able to complete the 100 days of happiness challenge.....its an inspiration to know it works for someone else too and thus reinforces my own conviction in the concept!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. i agree.
      The Secret does have a believer in me, that I will say.

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  6. You actually made a break-up chart? WOW!! You are a happy happy man :D

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    1. haha... yes, I did make a chart and put everything into various categories.
      And I ain't happy happy... just content with the cards dealt and know how to get by even on bad days now. :D

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  7. I also know that what you put out you attract into your life. Good job Roshan. Onto the next 100 days then?

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  8. That is simply awesome! When you seek happiness you will surely find it. ♥

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    1. i think thats the problem... we tend to focus too much on the bad times we've gone through..

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  9. wow..u are the only person I know who diligently completed the challenge!! BRAVOOOOOO!!!

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    1. yay! Thanks... ya, even the person who motivated me to start did not complete it herself! Still glad to see some others took it up after seeing me do it :)

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  10. This post is so full of happiness, it made me feel so happy! :D :D
    And way to go! :D

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    1. Thanks.. glad you feel that way :) Thats the point, I guess.

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  11. Wow. That is amazing Roshan! Very inspirational read - and you made a happy start of my morning:-)

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  12. Haha foodie moments took the biggest chunk off that pie chart ! :D I really enjoyed that challenge and also the way it encouraged you to find happy things to be grateful for , even though those 100 days may not have been a fairy tale. Its those little things that makes us who we are...and to have an eye that sees the happy things is a blessing in itself.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. was it any surprise foodie moments had a big percentage :D
      That last line... seeing the happy things in every day was a major life lesson. learned to keep implementing it even after the challenge ended

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  13. It is true...the teachings of 'The Secret' and until you practice you don't really get to know!! This was a fabulous journey Roshan! May these 100 happy days continue forever! :)

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    1. i agree.. only when I started focusing on it did some amazing things happen in my life. Fresh starts, new beginnings...

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  14. Congratulations roshan. Hope this continues. And that you don't need a challenge to keep it happy. :D

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    1. True. Implementing even after the challenge is over is the key I feel.

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  15. Firstly, a great blog. My first visit here and i should you're doing some remarkable work. Keep it up. Regarding this post, i thought all this was some online 'let's do it because everybody's doing it' thingy until i read your achievements. I'm totally bowled.

    Nice visiting your blog. Have bookmarked. Btw, i blog at www.movieroundup.in :)

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    1. Thansk for coming by :) Glad you liked it . Hope to see your comments more often. And yes, the challenge really worked for me in ways that it never did for others. Thats why I felt the need to write this post supporting it.
      And thanks for the link.. being a movie fanatic, I know I'm gonna enjoy this.. saving it on my blogroll :)

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  16. You said a lot in a short post. I completely agree. My life has been one consisting of an abundance of trauma, hence; why I wrote my memoir. Most reviews say the same thing - how did you ever survive? The answer is simple - I never lost my joy. You can find joy in every situation, if you choose to look for it. When you have that kind of strength it attacks even more happiness.

    Carol @ Battered Hope

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    1. i dont think i would ever be able to do what you did.. write my memoir. Just too much to relive some things. Better to move forward. And keep smiling. No matter, find the happy moment in every day.

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  17. We attract what we want....we have to want it enough too! This was so well explained.

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    1. yup.. gotta want happiness more than u want to stew in the sadness.

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  18. That's a great attitude Rosh! I think it was Charles Swindoll who said, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond."

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  19. Always believed that small and simple things that just bring a smile on the face are very important in life. Your challenge made me believe it strongly. Once again THANKS for sharing those special moments from your life. Along with you even we have enjoyed those moments, especially snoopy n foodie ones :) Now, we too know that, "thinking positively does indeed attract more happiness into our lives" Keep smiling :)

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    1. I'm glad it made a believer out of a few people, Saniya... it's important to always have the hope of a brighter day ahead of us..

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  20. I had once started reading 'The Secret'...but couldn't complete it... the movie was good and motivating too... indeed, our minds and thoughts can change our life....

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    1. Seeing the movie is pretty much enough, I guess... it encapsulates most of the points brilliantly.

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  21. It is indeed a great achievement. I think this is the best of all the achievements you had in the past. I mean finding a reason to be happy every single day for 100 days is an amazing feat these days. . Days when things take a turn for the worse, we all have such days but to find a reason to be happy on all those days is just great. . I hope you continue to do that. .

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    1. Haha... it really feels great to complete it. Trust me, it is not easy. Especially for continuous 100 days...

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  22. I am so so proud you finished the challenge!!!! And that life and time or the lack of it did not get into the way!!!! :)

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    1. Life certainly found enough roadblocks along the way. Just that I learned to look for a single bright moment even in those days...

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  23. Sigh! :( I'm in the 71% . I have spent half a year studying can you believe, six months of my life with 200 books :( and it's barely over!

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    1. u realise ur talking to a guy who's been with books for the last 15 years of his life, right! :D

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    2. I did after I posted the comment. How do you do it. HOW! :(

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    3. its about wanting to do it so bad that u will make d time from whatever little is left. Have seen a lot in life and I still believe in happiness for everyone if they only persist...
      trust me. When I can, u definitely can.

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  24. A nice summary of the challenge. It motivated me to be in that 29%. Thanks for introducing me to this challenge. :)

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  25. Nice .. and am doing it too... on instagram... in the late 90's and a few more days to go before i reach the finishing line...... I totally agree with you... I kinda learned to live with the odds and look for that tiny lil light while in the dark... and my dark patches are sort of diminishing... slowly..... they appear once in a while .. just to remind you to switch on the light :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. we all bear our scars from moments in the past which haunt us... but it is immaterial once u choose to be the best YOU you can be... some things are truly out of our hands. Focusing on these scars can destroy who we are/can be...
      Even during some bad days, I found happiness in small blessings. I chose not to highlight the bad moments... and it really did bring happiness for me in the long run.
      So trust me, I know it will for u too!

      Delete
  26. AnonymousMay 14, 2014

    Hi! I am currently 50 days in and I'm bound and determined to finish strong because I have already seen a tremendous change in my life!!! I was curious to see if you ever received the book with your photos! Honestly, the book isn't my reason for continuing on with the challenge but I just don't know anyone personally who has completed it

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    1. keep going.. dont let the odd sad day get to u... find just a moment of happiness .
      I did not aim for the book... I just published daily on my Facebook profile..

      Delete
  27. Thanks Roshan... for this link you shared on my blog. I really needed this. I've devoured 'Secret'; Power of the Subconscious Mind and so many others. But I guess, the real secret lies in deleting the believe, as you've done..."I now believe know that thinking positively does indeed attract more happiness into our lives." Great connecting with you!

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    1. Exactly... just aim for the positive. No point holding onto some things... the best healer is time but sometimes that may not be a luxury we possess. Just find one good moment in a day... see how it changes u..

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  28. Eloquent MindJuly 03, 2018

    Thanks for sharing this link with me, Roshan. Ignorance on my part that I didn't chance upon this post earlier. As you rightly said, positive thinking does attract happiness and I am glad to be a part of this challenge now than never.

    ReplyDelete
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