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Positive Psychology Articles
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- Water Your Fruit Tree - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2022 from Rick HansonMy wife and kids tease me that the title of this practice is corny - and it is. Still, I like it. If you don't nourish the things that nourish you, they wither away like a plant in dry stony ground. Looking to the year ahead for you - a year that can begin whenever you want - what's one key ...
Views: 197 - Enjoy the Freedom Not To - by Submitted on Mar 21, 2022 from Rick HansonWe're pulled and prodded by financial pressures, commuter traffic, corporate policies, technology, advertising, politics, and the people we work with and live with. As well, internal forces yank the proverbial chains, including emotional reactions, compelling desires, "shoulds," and internalized ...
Views: 221 - SPRING 2022’s BIG QUESTION: What’s Next When Your Old Storyline is Finito? - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2022 from joan pancoeTo view all images and activate all links (recommended): https://joanpancoe.com/2022/03/10/spring-2022s-big-question-whats-next-when-your-old-storyline-is-finito/ "There's been a quantum leap technologically in our age, but unless there's another quantum leap in human relations, unless we ...
Views: 227(1 vote) - Enjoy Sobriety - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2022 from Rick HansonBy "sobriety," I mean healthy self-control, a centered enjoyment of life, and inner freedom from drivenness. We typically apply this sense of balance and self-care to things like food, drugs and alcohol, sexuality, money, and risky behaviors. And if you like, you could bring sobriety to other ...
Views: 208 - Accept Difficulty - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2022 from Rick HansonSometimes things are difficult. Your legs are tired and you still have to stay on your feet another hour at work. You love a child who's finding her independence through emotional distance from you. A long-term relationship could be losing its spark. It's finals week in college. You're trying to ...
Views: 195 - The Truth Will Set You Free2 (John 8: 31-32) - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2022 from William CottringerThe Truth Will Set You Free2 (John 8: 31-32) By Bill Cottringer “The truth will set you free. But not until it is finished with you.” ~David Foster Wallace, author. From my research, there seem to be two main opposing sources for interpreting the true literal and the intriguing ...
Views: 260 - Feel the Support - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2022 from Rick HansonWe're all carrying a load, including tasks, challenges, worries, inner criticism, mistreatment from others, physical and emotional pain, loss and illness now or later, and everyday stresses and frustrations. Take a moment to get a sense of your own load. It's very real, isn't it? Recognizing ...
Views: 191 - Let Things Change - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2022 from Rick HansonThe fifth of my personal Top 5 practices (all tied for first place) is open out, by which I mean relaxing into a growing sense of connection, even oneness, with all things. "Opening out" can sound kind of airy-fairy or flakey, but I mean it is very down-to-earth ways; check out these JOTs ...
Views: 214 - Accept Them as They Are - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2022 from Rick HansonI admit it: whether close to home or far away, I wish some people were different. Depending on who they are, I wish they'd stop doing things like leaving cabinet doors open in our kitchen, sending me spam emails, or turning a blind eye to global warming. And I wish they'd start doing things like ...
Views: 215 - Accept it - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2022 from Rick HansonAs general clusters that each include a number of specific methods, my Top 5 types of practices (all tied for first place) are: Be mindful Love Take in the good Go green Open out The practice of “go green” helps you get out of the brain’s fight-or-flight, Reactive, “red zone” ...
Views: 237 - Grow Inner Strengths - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2022 from Rick HansonI've hiked a lot and have often had to depend on what was in my pack. Inner strengths are the supplies you've got in your pack as you make your way down the twisting and often hard road of life. They include a positive mood, common sense, integrity, inner peace, determination, and a warm heart. ...
Views: 203 - Enjoy Four Kinds of Peace - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2022 from Rick Hanson“Peace” can sound merely sentimental or clichéd (“visualize whirled peas”). But deep down, it’s what most of us long for. Consider the proverb: The highest happiness is peace. Not a peace inside that ignores pain in oneself or others or is acquired by shutting down. This is a durable peace, a ...
Views: 239 - Get Out of The War - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2022 from Rick HansonBy "war" I mean here a mindset, not combat between nations with tanks and bombs. The "war" I'm referring to is an attitude of conflict and animosity toward a person, object, or condition. Parents can feel at war with a misbehaving teenager, and certainly vice versa. Neighbors quarreling over a ...
Views: 201 - Drop the Load - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2022 from Rick HansonYou may have seen the old Mickey Mouse movie in which he is working at a conveyor belt in a factory. More and more widgets come at him that he must handle, and he gets increasingly frazzled as he struggles to keep up. Do you ever feel the same way? Think about all the dishes, emails, ...
Views: 232 - 2022: The Delight of Living Dangerously Beyond, Beyond, Beyond the Beyond - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2022 from joan pancoeListen along on my YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd4gXTXPwsOuu-DCzwFtjKw/videos To view all images and activate all links (recommended): https://joanpancoe.com/2021/12/28/2022-the-delight-of-living-dangerously-beyond-beyond-beyond-the-beyond/ “I have a large seashell ...
Views: 277(1 vote) - Accept Dependence - by Submitted on Jan 03, 2022 from Rick HansonWant to try a little experiment? Stop breathing. Really. For a few seconds, maybe a few dozen seconds, and see how it feels. For me, this experiment is an intimate way to experience a deep truth, that we live dependently, relying on 10,000 things for physical survival, happiness, love, and ...
Views: 215 - Give Them What They Want - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2021 from Rick HansonResearch shows that relationships are built from interactions, and interactions are built from moments. A critical moment in an interaction is when one person wants something from the other one. ("Wants" include wishes, needs, desires, hopes, and longings.) The want could be simple and concrete, ...
Views: 208 - Transform Ill Will - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2021 from Rick HansonGoodwill and ill will are about intention: the will is for good or ill. These intentions are expressed through action and inaction, word and deed, and-especially-thoughts. How do you feel when you sense another person taking potshots at you in her mind? What does it feel like to take potshots of ...
Views: 211 - Cultivate Goodwill - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2021 from Rick HansonAs the most social and loving species on the planet, we have the wonderful ability and inclination to connect with others, be empathic, cooperate, care, and love. On the other hand, we also have the capacity and inclination to be fearfully aggressive toward any individual or group we regard as ...
Views: 226 - Come to Center - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2021 from Rick HansonI’m old enough to remember a time when people usually answered “good” when you asked them the standard, “How are you?” (often said “harya?”). These days the answer is commonly “busy.” I know what it feels like to get very busy and start to feel dispersed: juggling a dozen priorities at any ...
Views: 214 - Be Helpful - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2021 from Rick HansonI'm doing a series on my personal top five practices (all tied for first place). I have so far named three: meditate (including mindfulness, self-awareness, and, if you like, prayer), take in the good, and bless (including compassion, generosity, and love). I saw one way to bless on a trip to ...
Views: 221 - Bless - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2021 from Rick HansonLately, I've been wondering what would be on my personal list of top five practices (all tied for first place). You might ask yourself the same question, knowing that you can cluster related practices under a single umbrella, your list may differ from mine, and your practices may change over ...
Views: 227 - Some Uncommon Sense We Should Teach in Schools? - by Submitted on Nov 18, 2021 from William CottringerSome Uncommon Sense We Should Teach in Schools? By Bill Cottringer “Common sense is the simple knack of seeing something as it is and doing something as it should be done.” ~Mark Twain. During my last seven decades of living, I accidentally stumbled upon some uncommon sense which I ...
Views: 256 - Remote Work Habits For Staying Healthy, Productive, And Connected - by Submitted on Nov 16, 2021 from Tess DiNapoliRemote work habits that allow you to stay connected, sane, and productive are essential for anyone looking to maintain a good quality of life while working remotely. For programmers, it's particularly vital because we're often introverts who don't always thrive in an open office environment. ...
Views: 335 - Meditate - by Submitted on Nov 15, 2021 from Rick HansonMeditation is to the mind what aerobic exercise is to the body. Like exercise, there are many good ways to do it, and you can find the one that suits you best. Studies have shown that regular meditation promotes mindfulness (sustained observing awareness), whose benefits include decreased ...
Views: 245 - 2022 COMING ATTRACTIONS: Choosing a Belief System That Actually Works for You - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2021 from joan pancoeTo view all images and activate all links (recommended): https://joanpancoe.com/2021/11/01/2022-coming-attractions-choosing-a-belief-system-that-actually-works-for-you/ “True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous and conflicting information.”—Winston ...
Views: 267(1 vote) - Lived By Love - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2021 from Rick HansonFeeling both the world and myself these days, one phrase keeps calling: lived by love. Explicitly, this means coming from love in a broad sense, from compassion, good intentions, self-control, warmth, finding what’s to like, caring, connecting, and kindness. Implicitly, and more ...
Views: 303 - Feel Already Full - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2021 from Rick HansonOne slice of the pie of life feels relaxed and contented. And then there is that other slice, in which we feel driven and stressed. Trying to get pleasures, avoid pains, pile up accomplishments and recognitions, be loved by more people. Lose more weight, try to fill the hole in the heart. Slake ...
Views: 222 - The Way Your Positive Self-Talk Impacts Your Self Esteem , Confidence and Your Success While Eliminating Detrimental Effects of Negative Thinking - by Submitted on Jan 05, 2022 from Leon EdwardPeople are taken part in an inner dialogue or self-talk consistently. It is a sort of automatic response to just how we feel, as well as it influences our behavior based on our experiences in life. If your point of view is always negative, as well as if you consistently engage in negative ...
Views: 469 - Before the world told you no - by Submitted on Oct 26, 2021 from matthew OrtnerDo you remember when you were little and would list off all the things you wanted to be when you grew up- with wild abandon. Have you ever heard children talk about who or what they’re going to be when they grow up? There are absolutely no limitations put on their dreams and ideas of the ...
Views: 338 - One Breath At A Time - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2021 from Rick Hanson[If for you the breath is associated with trauma and discomfort, you probably shouldn't try this practice in its form below. But you might adapt it to something that is more nurturing for you, such as a saying or image.] Breathing brings you home. Body and mind twine together in the breath. ...
Views: 211 - Lean Into Good On First Waking - by Submitted on Oct 18, 2021 from Rick HansonWaking up is like the sun rising. At first, it's mostly dark, as glimmers of consciousness begin to light the shadows. Emerging into full wakefulness, the fogs and veils dissolve and the whole plain of your mind comes into view. It's quiet: a restiveness in the body, sleepy still, not yet much ...
Views: 251 - See Deep Wants - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2021 from Rick HansonI did my Ph.D. dissertation by videotaping 20 mother-toddler pairs and analyzing what happened when the mom offered an alternative to a problematic want ("not the chainsaw, sweetie, how about this red truck?!"). Hundreds of bleary-eyed hours later, I found that offering alternatives reduced the ...
Views: 203 - See Good Intentions - by Submitted on Oct 06, 2021 from Rick HansonHustling through an airport, I stopped to buy some water. At the shop’s refrigerator, a man bent over, loading bottles into it. I reached past him and pulled out one he’d put in. He looked up, stopped working, got a bottle from another shelf, and held it out to me, saying, “This one is cold.” I ...
Views: 216 - Drop the "Shoulds" - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2021 from Rick HansonOne time I watched a three-year-old at her birthday party. Her friends were there from preschool, and she received lots of presents. The cake came out, she admired the pink frosting rose at its center, and everyone sang. One of the moms cut pieces and, without thinking sliced right through the ...
Views: 203 - Let it R.A.I.N. - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2021 from Rick HansonWhen you're young, the territory of the psyche is like a vast estate, with rolling hills, forests and plains, swamps, and meadows. So many things can be experienced, expressed, wanted, and loved. But as life goes along, most people pull back from major parts of their psyche. Perhaps a swamp ...
Views: 267 - Find Your Own Way - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2021 from Rick HansonThe human body has about 100 trillion cells (plus another ten quadrillion microscopic critters hitching a ride, most of them beneficial or harmless). Each one of your cells has aims - goals, in a sense - controlled by its DNA: cells conduct processes aimed at particular functions, like building ...
Views: 207 - Find the Good News - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2021 from Rick Hanson“Tell the truth.” It’s the foundation of science – and the foundation of healthy relationships, communities, and countries. But the truth of things is complicated. To simplify, there is the good of things that are enjoyable and helpful, the bad of things that are painful and harmful, and the ...
Views: 226 - Today’s Primary Problem: Commonplace Evil - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2021 from William CottringerToday’s Primary Problem: Commonplace Evil By Bill Cottringer “The way in which you define something has a lot to do with how much or how little of the thing you have in hand, both quantity and quality.” ~The Author. Such is the case with the greatly misunderstood term evil. ...
Views: 290 - Change the Channel - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2021 from Rick HansonIn response to a previous JOT – Find Stillness – a wise therapist, Betsy Sansby, reminded me that sometimes a person just can’t find any stillness anywhere. Maybe you have epilepsy or chronic pain or are wildly worried about a child or other loved one, or have been rejected in love or had the ...
Views: 248 - Find Stillness - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2021 from Rick HansonThings keep changing. The clock ticks, the day unfolds, trees grow, leaves turn brown, hair turns gray, children grow up and leave home, attention skitters from this to that, the cookie is delicious but then it’s all gone, you’re mad about something for a while and then get over it, ...
Views: 258 - Benefits & Challenges of Diversity - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2021 from William CottringerBenefits & Callenges of Diversity By Bill Cottringer “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi. The rest of the workforce diversity story is unfolding as every great social change brings sometimes unexpected ...
Views: 277 - Let It Go - by Submitted on Aug 16, 2021 from Rick HansonMost people, me included, are holding onto at least one thing way past its expiration date. It could be a belief, perhaps that your hair is falling out and you are ugly and unlovable as a result, that you can’t say what you really feel in an intimate relationship, or that you must lose ten ...
Views: 244 - Shut down the imposter in you! - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2021 from Sara WilsonI am considerably successful in my career. However, once in a while, a voice in my head says I am faking it all the time. I feel like I don't deserve the accolades that come on my way. I have had this feeling throughout my academic life. It is now following me to my workplace. And it is not ...
Views: 196 - LIVING "TODAY" FOR A HEALTHY STATE OF MIND - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2021 from Al InfandeHave you ever noticed that some days seem to go faster than others? That you find yourself saying to yourself, “Wow, today went fast.” Well, there may be a reason for that. This is what we will explore in this article. There are three concepts of time. They are the past, the present, and the ...
Views: 167 - See What's Likable - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2021 from Rick HansonLiking feels good, plus it encourages us to approach and engage the world rather than withdraw from it. Your brain continually tracks whether something is pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. In essence, is it a carrot, a stick, or safely ignored? Naturally, we like - we enjoy - what's pleasant, ...
Views: 221 - Is Social Media a Danger to Your Self Worth? - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2021 from Janice WaldDid you see the Social Dilemma, the Netflix Documentary? The documentary follows a young girl and a young man in order to show the harmful effects of social media on their individual psyches. The young girl reads positive comments her classmates made about her on social media, and her ...
Views: 260 - What You Focus on Colors Your World: A Timely Life Lesson From "Tammy Faye" - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2021 from Catherine LenardWho IS That? In case you didn't know, Tammy Faye Bakker was an outspoken televangelist who was in her heyday in the 1970's and 1980's along with her husband, Jim Bakker. For entrepreneurs reading this, it's worth mentioning that together (starting in an abandoned furniture store) they ...
Views: 227(1 vote) - Does Rahu indicates 2 marriages? - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2021 from Sri TulasiRahu in the fourth house gives extramarital physical relationship sometimes though, depending on other planets. In the fourth house, it may cause problems for/with the mother. It will decrease the quantum of Sukh(joy and pleasures) in life even if life is successful in all aspects. Rahu will ...
Views: 294 - Be Home - by Submitted on Aug 02, 2021 from Rick HansonThroughout history, people have wondered about human nature. Deep down, are we basically good or bad? When the body is not disturbed by hunger, thirst, pain, or illness, and when the mind is not disturbed by threat, frustration, or rejection, then most people settle into their resting state. ...
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