Can anything in life ever surpass winning 14 gold medals?
ybe not. Research shows that extremely positive events can skew perspective so much that everything that follows pales in comparison. Maybe this is why many athletes have trouble staying retired. Via Sonja Lyubomirsky, author of The How of Happiness: As I was watching Michael Phelps receive his 14th gold medal – what a week! – this is what I was thinking: “How could anything in this 23-year old swimmer’s life ever top this?” And: “After he comes down from the…
1 min read
Here Are 7 Things That Will Make You Happier In 7 Seconds, According To Research
ink about something you love. Imagine how you would feel if you lost it. Now be happy you have it. Research shows savoring has powerful affects on well-being. Take a nap. Studies show we can process negative thoughts just fine when we're exhausted -- but not the happy ones. Smile. Happy or not, just smile. Studies show it can trick your mind into thinking you feel good. And it has plenty of other benefits. Hug someone. Corny? Maybe. But it…
1 min read
Can more thinking be the solution to bad feelings?
e same resources used for thinking are used for feeling. Distracting yourself with an intense mental task (like doing math problems, filling out questionnaires can help reduce bad feelings. Via in-mind.org: But how exactly can numbers replace feelings? Research suggests it is because both cognitive tasks and emotional responses make use of the same limited mental resources (Baddeley, 2007; Siemer, 2005; Van Dillen & Koole, 2007). Granted that this limitation has certain drawbacks (most people can’t call, drive, and eat…
1 min read
How To Be A Better Person: 7 Steps Backed By Research
all want to know how to be a better person. The science can be surprising. First, remember context, context, context. Your context dramatically affects your behavior, so manipulating it is the easiest, most painless way to change yourself. This is why the religious are nicer on Sundays and mentioning God makes people clean up their act. Thinking about your childhood (seriously, get a teddy bear) and seeing others do nice things can make you act more ethically. Our circumstances…
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5 Secrets To Dealing With Regret, According To Research
We regret things we should have done but didn't do. The areas that top the list are education, career and romance. Not spending enough time with friends and family is up there too. The dying had these regrets: - I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me. - I wish I didn't work so hard. - I wish I'd had the courage to express my feelings. -…
1 min read
Does any of this make-yourself-happier stuff actually work?
s, the effectiveness of "counting your blessings" and "using signature strengths" has been independently replicated. Objectives The current work replicated a landmark study conducted by Seligman and colleagues (2005) that demonstrated the long-term benefits of positive psychology exercises (PPEs). In the original study, two exercises administered over 1 week (“Three Good Things” and “Using your Signature Strengths in a New Way”) were found to have long-lasting effects on depression and happiness (Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005). Design These exercises…
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Can thinking about death lead to a good life?
minutes in to his famous Stanford commencement speech Steve Jobs discusses the importance he placed on thinking about death during life: "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life." Scientists now agree he was on to something. Via Science Daily: Thinking about death can actually be a good thing. An awareness of mortality can improve physical health and help us re-prioritize our goals and…
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The 3 Techniques The US Army Uses To Instill Mental Toughness
a Annie Murphy Paul's very interesting article in Time: 1) "Mental toughness comes from thinking like an optimist." The program’s key message: Mental toughness comes from thinking like an optimist. “People who don’t give up have a habit of interpreting setbacks as temporary, local and changeable,” notes Penn psychology professor Martin Seligman, describing the intervention in a recent journal article. When such individuals encounter adversity, they think to themselves: “It’s going away quickly; it’s just this one situation, and I…
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