Extended travel (sabbaticals, Big OEs, moving overseas) is a common pursuit of happiness tactic.
How to Maximize the Psychological Benefits of Travel
I’m going to write more on this topic – this is part 1.
How to understand the emotional dreams that are fueling your travel dreams
Let’s say your travel dream is to travel in Europe for [...]
Hi readers:
Now that most people are back at work for 2010 in New Zealand, I’m planning my schedule for the year.
If you belong to a community group (e.g. Rotary Club, Lions Club) and would like me to speak to your group, then now would be a good time to ask me.
The talk I typically offer [...]
Planning to do at least one thing each day you’ll look forward is an important part of treatment for depression, or for anyone who wants to be happier.
On most days your looked forward to activities aren’t likely to be “treat” type activities – more along the lines of la dolce vita (the sweet life) activities.
Happiness [...]
This quick and easy tip is applicable to struggling couples who need help to overcome problem patterns of interacting with each other AND to partnerships that are already in generally good shape for further enhancing happiness.
THE CHALLENGE:
Once a day for a week (it might be more realistic to aim for once a day for 5 [...]
This is a tip for when it seems like things keep going wrong.
Try thinking of 3 or 4 things that went right in the last 24 hours.
When people feel unhappy or stressed these emotions tend to lead to thinking biases – we pay extra attention to negative events and overlook positive events.
When we pay extra [...]
Full article. Free. The Science of Being Happy. Co-written by me, Dr Alice Boyes, Christchurch Psychologist, and Mindfood Editor Donna Duggan.
Click Here To View Article
This was the cover –
I also have articles in the October and November editions of Mindfood.
In the current (October) edition, my article is on pg. 86. It’s about Letting Go [...]
A major research paper was published last year about the links between creativity and emotions. The paper examined the results of 66 different studies about how people’s emotions affect their creativity.
It looked at various different aspects of creative thought process like flexibility, originality, and eureka/insight moments.
The researchers concluded that how a person is feeling does [...]
Self-discovery, creativity, motivation, and answering the question “What do I want?”
This article is one in a series of articles about self-discovery, creativity, motivation, and answering the question “What do I want?”
If you missed it, the previous article in the series was about understanding “What are your deepest dreams for your life and relationships?” [...]
Last week I did a phone interview with world-leading Positive Psychologist (i.e. happiness scientist) Professor Barb Fredrickson.
Martin Seligman has called Barb Fredrickson “the Genius of the Positive Psychology Movement”.
Barb is author of the 2009 book Positivity: Groundbreaking Research Reveals How to Embrace the Hidden Strength of Positive Emotions, Overcome Negativity, and Thrive.
Here’s our conversation. [...]
Mini Positive Emotions Brainstorming Activity (10 minutes)
Right now in your life, which of the emotion types on the list below do you feel least often? Which of the emotions types on the list is the most underrepresented in/missing from your day to day life?
Pick the group of emotions you’re most interested in increasing.
Types of [...]
This guide will show you how to do that.
The relationship between surface goals and deep goals
Surface goals are things like – Get married. Have a tidy house. Lose weight. Volunteer abroad. Get a university degree. Become a Psychologist. Have thousands of twitter followers.
Your Deep Goals are the deep emotional reasons why your surface goals [...]
If you head over here to Dr Barb Fredrickson’s website, you can take her “Positivity Ratio Self Test”
It takes about 5 minutes, and the results will tell you some important information about yourself.
You’ll be asked to rate a list of positive and negative emotions according to how much you’ve felt each emotion in the past [...]
If you use the link below you can get any audiobook of your own choice from a selection of 60,000, COMPLETELY FREE as part of a free trial from Audible.
You have to enter your credit card details to access the free trial but it’s easy to opt out before the trial period expires. If [...]
My favorite conceptualization of happiness is that it’s the combination of
1. The extent to which you feel positive emotions in your life, and
2. Your sense of whether your actions are moving you in your “valued life directions” (vs. the time you spend doing things that aren’t consistent with your valued life directions).
Valued life directions [...]
This is a self development exercise about positive emotions.
Grab a piece of note paper to note down your answers (you won’t need to do a lot of writing).
Positive emotions
For each of the following emotions, identify the main sources of that emotion in your life.
joy, serenity (including calm/relaxation), excitement, pride, inspiration, awe, gratitude, interest, [...]
