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Does reading the news make you unhappy — without you even realizing it?
uld news make you unhappy? The news is always extreme stories about violence, sex, tragedy -- and always has been. There's a good article and some recent research that gives us more insight. So how can news make you unhappy? Rolf Dobelli, author of The Art of Thinking Clearly has a long article in The Guardian which makes a compelling argument that the news brings us down. Highlights: News leads us to walk around with the completely wrong risk map…
3 minutes
4 things that will make you more motivated, happy and creative at work:
rvard's Teresa Amabile gave office workers something very simple: diaries. Then she reviewed their ups and downs and drew connections. What she learned was extraordinary. She described the study in her book The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Here are four of the biggest things she learned: 1) Progress Motivates You More Than Anything Else Nothing is more motivating than progress in meaningful work and nothing more taxing than setbacks. Via The Progress Principle: Using…
5 minutes
What 6 secrets can the oldest couples teach us about how to have a long, happy relationship?
rl Pillemer of Cornell University interviewed nearly 1500 people age 70 to 100+ for his book “30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans.” What did they have to say about long, happy relationships? Via 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans: Here’s the “refrigerator list” of lessons for successful married life: 1. Marry someone a lot like you. Similarity in core values and background is the key to a happy marriage.…
2 minutes
Should we try to be happy all the time?
. If there's a style of thinking that promotes happiness, it might seem silly to some that we ever take any other perspective. But you wouldn't use a Ferrari as a tow truck or a Prius where you need an 18 wheeler. There are disadvantages to positive thinking, advantages to negative thinking and to be at our best we should use the right tools at the right time. Specifically, in a competitive context, happy isn't helpful. Via Top Dog: The Science…
3 minutes
2 Things That Lead To A Happy Life, Backed By Research
ve posted a number of times about two nearly-lifelong studies: the Terman Study (covered in The Longevity Project) and the Grant Study (covered in Triumphs of Experience.) While different in some respects, both followed a sample of people from youth until death and provided insights into what makes for a happy life. What two big ideas do they both strongly agree on? 1) A Happy Childhood Matters More Than You Think The Grant Study found being happy when you're…
4 minutes
Which 8 questions can determine how happy and successful your life will be?
ve posted previously about the Grant Study. It followed (and continues to follow) a group of men through their entire adult lives and into old age to determine what is associated with health and well-being. George Valliant's book Triumphs of Experience covers the results of the study and what he learned shepherding it. Looking at the men who were happiest and most accomplished in their 80's researchers were able to see similarities. Which men would go on to fare the best and…
2 minutes
What do great workplaces, making friends, networking, dealing with kidnappers and being happy all have in common?
l are done well by focusing on other people: Get out of your head and into theirs. Great Work Environments Bob Sutton reviewed Bill and Dave: How Hewlett and Packard Built the World’s Greatest Company and called out “Dave Packard’s 11 Simple Rules” as guidelines for building an excellent work environment. What was #1? 1. Think first of the other fellow. This is THE foundation — the first requisite — for getting along with others. And it is the one truly difficult accomplishment you must…
3 minutes
What does it take to have a happy and meaningful life?
bsp; Roy Baumeister (author of Willpower), Jennifer Aaker (author of the Dragonfly Effect), Kathleen Vohs and Emily Garbinsky have a new paper that explores the similarities and differences between happy and meaningful lives. Here are some highlights from the research: 1) Happiness and meaningfulness are related, but distinct. Happiness and meaningfulness were substantially and positively intercorrelated. As Table 1 shows, the correlations in the two surveys were .63 and .70. Thus, in this sample, being happy and regarding one’s life as…
5 minutes
