MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'happiness'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:54:05 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181896&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Fcan-a-hurricane-make-you-happy%2F I was in London at Heathrow Airport when I learned that my flight back to Newark, New Jersey was canceled.  More than that, they explained that Newark and all the surrounding airports in the New York City area had been closed because of Hurricane Irene, and that there was no possibility of getting a trans-Atlantic flight for a couple of days. Bummer. To make matters worse, the hotels in London were filled because of an annual carnival in the city.  There were no rooms. Double bummer. The airport staff was stressed because, well, weary travelers were stressed, which made for some unpleasant encounters.  A woman was spewing at the counter in front of me. “I must leave today, leaving tonight or tomorrow isn’t an option.” “I am sorry, the airports are closed tonight and tomorrow. ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181896 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:55:55 +0100 5181896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182383&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FHNUwXepMoB8%2F Image by Mike Bailey-Gates (license). Share || “Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.” Eleanor Roosevelt “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” Benjamin Franklin What do you fear in your everyday life? One common answer would probably be to be criticized. To stand there and hear those words streaming out of someone’s mouth and feel stupid or feel rejected or like you are getting smaller and smaller. I get quite a bit of feedback from my readers. Most of it is positive and supportive. But there are also sometimes criticism or harsh and nasty attacks. That part isn’t always so fun and can be hurtful. But it is a part of life if you want to live ... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182383 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:52:19 +0100 5182383 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181901&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F30%2Fwhy-a-hurricane-filled-me-with-gratitude%2F Like much of the East Coast, New York City was hit by Hurricane Irene. On Saturday, we checked our flashlights, loaded up on food, filled the bathtub, and hoped for the best. We were extremely lucky. The hurricane didn’t affect us much — we didn’t even lose power. And I’m very, very grateful for that. The hurricane was a good reminder about gratitude. For one thing, it reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for that it seems a bit preposterous that I need to remind myself to be grateful — but I do. When life is taking its ordinary course, it’s so easy to take everyday life for granted. Also, the hurricane made me much more mindful of how much I love my apartment and my city, and how safe and secure I generally feel. It’s a sad foible of human nature that ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181901 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 19:53:47 +0100 5181901 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5182384&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FdtasXiwT2h4%2F Just before the summer I launched a course on simplifying the major parts of life called Simplicity. The news is that you can now get my Simplicity Course as a monthly membership course. The six-module course is then split into four parts, and you get one new email each month with the download links for the written guides, the workbooks and the audio guides. Here’s what you’ll learn each month: Month #1: The Principles of Simplicity and Simple Productivity The first month you get two modules focused on the basics of simplifying your life and on simplifying your work and effectiveness. And on lowering your stress levels and stop feeling overwhelmed. A brief summary: Module 1: The Six Principles of Simplicity What you should use your precious attention for in life. The three keys to ma... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5182384 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:55:32 +0100 5182384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5181911&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34786&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdrmichelletempest.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F08%2Fdrinking-and-surroundings.html Winkielman, Berridge and Wilbarger (2005) found that by subliminally presenting happy or angry faces, with no subjective change in affect, influenced peoples drinking behaviour. Subjects placed more value on beverages, and consumed more beverages, after subliminally being presented with happy faces. Whereas, beverage value and consumption decreased after subliminally being presented angry faces. The conclusion is that nonconscious stimuli can influnce judgment and behaviour without consciously being aware of it. (Source: The Psychiatrist Blog) The Psychiatrist Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5181911 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:15:00 +0100 5181911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5174614&cid=t_107019_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-beneficial-effect-of-laughter-on-your-health%2F2011.08.29 I stumbled upon the article ‘Laughter: gender-specific variations’ in Revista Clínica Española (‘Spanish Clinical Journal’) and I can’t help thinking about the need for taking this into account to improve doctor-patient relationships. The text can actually be read as a guide to understand how every person laughs and how to use it in clinical practice. Table 1. Laughter effect on health (more…) *This blog post was originally published at Diario Medico* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5174614 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:00:27 +0100 5174614 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169572&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F27%2F5-tips-for-staying-calm-in-a-hurricane%2F When hurricanes or tropical storms are forecast to reach us, we often go into a panic and fear the worst about the coming storm. The uncertainty of the storm provokes a certain in anxiety in most of us. Some of those fears are very real, as government officials ask residents to evacuate areas directly in the path of the hurricane. Low-lying areas are especially at risk for flooding. Calm is a hard emotion to muster when our entire environment is turning against us. It is ever harder to remain calm when you’re asked to evacuate your home, and live in a shelter or with a family member for a few days. Will my home still be standing when I return? What about my most cherished possessions? Even folks who aren’t asked to evacuate fear the loss of electricity to their homes, and wheth... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169572 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 15:18:51 +0100 5169572 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5169574&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F26%2Fpresidents-as-patients-an-interview-with-dr-connie-mariano%2F Eleanor Concepcion “Connie” Mariano has quite an impressive resume — even for a doctor. Not only was Dr. Mariano — or, Dr. Connie, as she’s more intimately known by a few — the first Filipino-American to become a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, but she was also the first American woman to be appointed the Director of the White House Medical Unit. In June 2010, Dr. Mariano released The White House Doctor: My Patients Were Presidents: A Memoir (Thomas Dune Books, 2010). I was able to speak with her recently about the psychology behind spending nine years caring for three Presidents of the United States through everything from surprisingly panic-inducing blisters to that sex scandal heard ’round the world. Alicia Sparks: Whether you were headed to a lo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5169574 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:31:24 +0100 5169574 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159490&cid=t_107019_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fwelcome-to-the-human-condition%2F Sometimes life comes at us with such force, surprise and ruthlessness, it stuns us. I don’t have any more answers than you do but I do have it whacking me in the face or elsewhere, every day of my life. I know if you’re reading this, you do, also. This week has been a good example of that as so much is going on in our little world as well as the impending danger for millions of Americans facing a hurricane in the east. Let me use yesterday as an example. Jim, my dear man, who had just returned from a trip to California on family business had missed his flight because the hotel did not give him the wake-up call he had requested. While he was in CA he went to visit an old friend many miles from where he was staying to discover that old friend’s wife had been found dead tha... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159490 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:04:24 +0100 5159490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159911&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2F3-clear-reasons-to-change-careers%2F Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Jennifer Gresham at Everyday Bright. I sat in my hospital room, anxiously twirling the strings that were not securing the gown behind me, waiting for the nurses to wheel me into surgery. My husband squeezed my hand and told me we’d be okay. Up until that moment, it certainly looked like I had it all. I’d spent 16 years in the military, and by all accounts, had a bright future in front of me. I wasn’t on the fast track, but my boss valued my ideas and was a gifted mentor. I was engaged with my work and liked my co-workers. I told myself again and again how lucky I was, but I still felt a kind of euphoria every time I took a day off. Worse, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the opportunity for the life I’d always w... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159911 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:20:41 +0100 5159911 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159198&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F25%2Fcan-religion-or-spirituality-help-ward-off-depression%2F People of all shapes, sizes, colors and nationalities get depression. There seems to be little rhyme or reason to whom it strikes and when. Many people swear by certain things to help them keep depression away. Some people use exercise, while others throw themselves more into their work. Others take a daily dose of a herb like St. John’s Wort or fish oil, because of the association these ingredients have had with a reduction in depression in some studies. But what about religion? Can a strong sense of spirituality or religion help you ward off depression? According to new research that followed a group of people over 10 years, the answer is a qualified “Yes.” The new longitudinal research out of Columbia University wanted to followup on previous research demonstrating th... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159198 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 15:10:27 +0100 5159198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159931&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F9mxaJfR-oYc%2F “I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter and to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.” - Louis D. Brandeis It’s become popular over the last several years, to create vision boards in order to manifest your dreams. Vision boards are collages, made with images cut from magazines. Their purpose is to represent the abundance you want in to create and obtain in your life. The manifestation guru’s want you to believe that reaching your goals and manifesting your dreams will bring you happiness. The problem with vision boards is that they are all about ‘me,’ my needs, my wants, and my desires. They don’t stand for community, service to oth... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159931 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:07:25 +0100 5159931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159943&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FrSb0G9vXoAc%2F Image by Shermeee (license). Share || “For myself I am an optimist – it does not seem to be much use being anything else”Winston Churchill If you are reading this then there is good chance that you agree with me that optimism is pretty awesome. But it is not always easy to adopt a more optimistic attitude and there are roadblocks. So today I’d like to share a few of them that I have bumped into and how I have overcome them. You are swimming in a sea of negativity. If you are trying to change your attitude then it’s not very helpful to live in a world where forces try to drag you back to your old mindset each day. It makes it very hard to change. What you allow into your mind will have a big effect on you. So be selective. If you’re hanging out with negative people all the time ... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159943 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:53:31 +0100 5159943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159202&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F23%2Fsecrets-of-adulthood-family-vacation%2F Good-bye, I’m off for vacation! Right now, I’m in that stage where it feels like so much work to get away, I’d rather just stay home. But I’m sure once we’re underway, I’ll be glad we undertook it. As I’m getting ready to leave, I’m reminding myself of my Secrets of Adulthood for family vacations. What are they? Click through to find out! (And then add your own in the comments…) Less is more. Start early if possible. When packing an item that might leak, put it in a plastic bag. Don’t let anyone get too hungry. Especially me. Cheerfulness is contagious, and crabbiness is even more contagious. Wear sunscreen. Carry tissues. Remind kids to visit the bathroom—don’t wait for the thought to occur to them. Never choose the buffet opti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159202 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:37:03 +0100 5159202 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159551&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F7ZpS00I-esc%2F Is happy is as happy does? What if what happy does is follow all the latest and greatest happiness advice? That’s what filmmakers Hillman Curtis and Stefen Sagmeister set out to do in their feature-length documentary, The Happy Film. ‘Is it possible to train our mind in the same way that we train our bodies?’ and ‘Can we change our behavior to make us happier?’ are the main themes,” Curtis told The Atlantic. It’s not so much about ‘finding happiness’ as trying to ‘become more of the person you want to become.’ [Actually, right now it’s not so much about anything—as the Atlantic article notes, the film is stalled at the moment due to lack of funding.] So Curtis and Sagmeister try out different personal happiness advice given by ‘serious psycho... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159551 Tue, 23 Aug 2011 15:45:17 +0100 5159551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159205&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F22%2Fthe-myth-of-the-one-and-other-relationship-fantasies%2F Psychologist Jason Seidel, Psy.D, has heard partners lament all-too often: “This isn’t the person I married” or “I’m worried this person isn’t perfect for me.” And you know what? They’re probably right. But there’s more to relationships than a partner who remains the perfect fit your entire life. Seidel explains more about the myth of the perfect partner and other relationship fantasies. 1. Myth: Your partner will always be the one. Fact: There is no “once-and-for-all best match,” said Seidel, founder and director of The Colorado Center for Clinical Excellence in Denver. People and relationships rarely remain static. So that once great fit may “become broken, stale or wrong for [you].” In fact, according to Seidel, as you continue to grow in your life, you might ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159205 Mon, 22 Aug 2011 10:47:51 +0100 5159205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140355&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FhxAIjIxibh8%2F Do you ever feel like curling up in a ball and trying to forget the problems around you? With everything going on in the world today — sky high unemployment, the housing market at its lowest point, prolonged wars in the Middle East, famine and genocide in Africa, the stock market in free-fall, and our economy sputtering almost to a stop — you sure wouldn’t be alone in wanting to do this. But there may be another option… What typically happens when you experience a crisis in one part of your life such as a major health problem, getting laid off, or having trouble paying your bills? Everything else in your life grinds to a halt. You stay at work a little longer. You exercise a little less. You dismiss your healthful diet for something faster. You neglect to write in y... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140355 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:42:19 +0100 5140355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140055&cid=t_107019_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fthe-public-you-versus-the-private-you-in-a-life-of-chronic-pain%2F Early on in a life of chronic pain we learn to guard ourselves against being hurt by callous comments from others. We say, “I’m fine, thanks.” What we’re really thinking is, “If only you knew, even as I stand here my knees are buckling, my rear is throbbing and I’m trying to concentrate on what you’re saying. I don’t think you could handle the truth and I don’t want to see that cold dead look come into your eyes if I dump the truth on you.” We ask the checker at the supermarket to keep our cloth bags light; which we bring with us because we’re “green” citizens and because the plastic bags will leave our fingers numb for the rest of the day. We continue to watch as the checker puts a five-pound bag of sugar and a five-pound bag of flour topped off by a half gallon ... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140055 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 22:15:36 +0100 5140055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139877&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F17%2Fquiz-do-you-make-other-people-happy%2F As put forth by the Second Splendid Truth: One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy; One of the best ways to make other people is to be happy yourself. Everyone accepts the Second Splendid Truth, Part A; the Second Splendid Truth, Part B often isn’t as clear to people. But to focus on Part A here — how do you know if you’re making other people happy? What are some signs? Are the following statements true for you: Do people seem to feel comfortable confiding in you? Do people follow your recommendations? Are you a source of material comfort or security for someone else? Do people whom you’ve introduced often go on to have a continuing relationship? Do people seem to drift toward you? Join a conversation that you’re having, sit down next... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139877 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:46:16 +0100 5139877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5139759&cid=t_107019_90_f&fid=34474&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCasesBlog%2F%7E3%2FA7XXX3PfPSQ%2Fcan-happy-relationship-predict-happy.html The association between overall life satisfaction (LS) and relationship satisfaction (RS) was investigated longitudinally among 67,000 mothers in Norway. Data were collected twice during pregnancy, and at 6 and 36 months postpartum: - Satisfaction increased during pregnancy. - However, relationship satisfaction decreased immediately following birth. - Life satisfaction showed an initial increase followed by a decrease postpartum. Relationship satisfaction predicted change in life satisfaction. Having a satisfying romantic relationship was important for retaining and increasing future life satisfaction. References: Can a Happy Relationship Predict a Happy Life? A Population-Based Study of Maternal Well-Being During the Life Transition of Pregnancy, Infancy, and Toddlerhood, Journal of ... Clinical Cases and Images - Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5139759 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:17:00 +0100 5139759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5140110&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FVxLAG4V4Gqk%2F Ever called someone—or been called—a narcissist? Chances are, it wasn’t a compliment. In popular culture (as opposed to psychoanalytic theory), ‘narcissist’ is generally used to describe someone vain, conceited, egotistical, selfish or deluded about their self-worth. But a new study suggests that a little bit of narcissism, at least in the young, is actually a good thing. Where narcissism goes bad is (alas! like so many things) with age. “Most people think of narcissism as a trait that doesn’t change much across the lifespan,” said University of Illinois researcher Patrick Hill, who conducted the study with psychology professor Brent Roberts. “But a lot of recent studies have shown that the developmental trajectory of narcissism goes upward in adolescence ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5140110 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:33:12 +0100 5140110 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125806&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F13%2Fthe-idiots-guide-to-dealing-with-idiots%2F Idiots. The world is full of them. How hard it is for us, non-idiots, to put up with them. But to get our jobs done, our kids fed, and our pets groomed, we must deal with them. Idiots come in many shapes, forms, and types, but the ones that frustrate me the most are those who don’t believe in any form of mental illness. These creatures maintain that all mood disorders are cute, creative stories crafted by persons who enjoy obsessing, ruminating, and crying their eyes out… a wealthy bunch who can’t think of anything better to do than come up with a make-believe tale about a few neurons wandering around the limbic system afraid to ask for directions, just like Moses. We must tune out the idiots to achieve any kind of sanity or serenity. But how? Here are four ways that have work... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125806 Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:07:11 +0100 5125806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5125982&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fmindful%2F ‘Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.’ ~Thich Nhat Hahn Post written by Leo Babauta. How can you bring calm and peace to the middle of a stress-ful, chaotic day? The answer is simple, though not always so easy to put into practice: learn to be present. No matter how out-of-control your day is, no matter how stressful your job or life becomes, the act of being present can become an oasis. It can change your life, and it’s incredibly simple. When I asked people what things prevent them from having a peaceful day, some of the responses: Work, the internet, my own lizard brain. Social media and other digital distractions. For me it’s too many things coming at me all at once. Whether it’s news, or decisions, or work to be done. My four children. Dishe... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5125982 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:20:00 +0100 5125982 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118709&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F11%2Fthe-ecstasy-of-crossing-something-off-the-list%2F Recently, my older daughter and I went to the post office to apply for her passport. I’d been dreading this trip for days. Every task associated with it filled me with anxiety — but nothing ended up being as hard as I expected. And as we walked out of the post office, I felt a giant surge of energy, happiness, and relief. Ah, the ecstasy of crossing something off the list! Even accomplishing the smallest task gives me a little jolt. This is my new Secret of Adulthood: Crossing something off the list is very cheering. (Also: Make sure you know where to find family members’ birth certificates. I was very happy when I found that document in the proper file.) (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118709 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:25:40 +0100 5118709 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5107973&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FffzKUSR5sTQ%2F Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/circo_de_invierno/ / CC BY 2.0 Share || “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” Swedish Proverb “If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” E. Joseph Cossman ”People become attached to their burdens sometimes more than the burdens are attached to them.” George Bernard Shaw You are going about your regular day in your usual fashion. Then a thought or a feeling strikes you. It multiplies and start circling around and around in your head. Becoming louder and louder as it saps your strength and makes you feel weaker. Worries can really put a wet blanket over your life and suck the excitement and fun right out of it. So strategies are needed. Strategies to redirect our thoughts and f... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5107973 Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:54:55 +0100 5107973 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103378&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F06%2Fwhat-trivial-habit-gives-a-giant-boost-of-happiness%2F Is it…getting enough sleep? Yes, but that’s not what I’m thinking of. Is it…getting some exercise? Yes, but that’s not what I’m thinking of. Give up? It’s….putting things away in the proper place! Zoikes, this (admittedly fairly insignificant) habit gives a disproportionate boost of happiness. Just this past weekend, I tried to find: The cord that connects my camera to my computer The headphones for my husband’s iTouch My younger daughter’s swimming goggles A copy of Patricia Clapp’s novel, Jane-Emily, for my older daughter (a terrific young-adult book, by the way) A business card I’d picked up at a meeting I attended three weeks ago The flight information for my upcoming trip A legal pad A pair of AA batteries My vi... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103378 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 10:33:16 +0100 5103378 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103466&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FSU4US2eCe8w%2F A lesbian affair can be forgiven, as long as your boyfriend is an undergrad imagining it in great detail Ladies: a word to the wise, if I may. If you’re going to cheat on your man, do it with a woman. A new study by a psychologist at the University of Texas has found that men are more than twice as likely (50% compared to 22%) to forgive an affair if it takes place with a fellow member of the fairer sex. Women, on the other hand, apparently consider straying straight the lesser of two evils (though they aren’t super thrilled either way—28% likely to continue dating a boyfriend who has had a heterosexual affair versus 21% if her man goes gay). In defense of, well, science, this study doesn’t seem like a paragon of empirical rigor. The researchers simply asked 700 college students �... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103466 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:51:17 +0100 5103466 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5097188&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F70Cr_HG6atc%2F Have you ever felt totally filled with enthusiasm, fired up for achieving something new? Chances are, you felt that way at the start of a big project. Perhaps you were determined that you’d finally lose weight, or that this year, you’d actually start that small business you’d been dreaming about. Motivation can give you a ton of energy when you’re embarking on something new. The problem is, motivation doesn’t always last. After a few weeks of sticking to your diet, or slogging away every evening at your business, it’s easy to start feeling discouraged. Don’t Give Up You’ve already achieved a lot – even if you can’t see that yet. Try asking yourself these three questions. If possible, write down your answers – it’s much more powerful than just thinking about them. #1... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5097188 Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:06:03 +0100 5097188 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096343&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F03%2Ftrue-beauty-is-found-underneath-the-skin-an-interview-with-susanne-veder-berger%2F Since birth, Susanne Veder Berger was taught to hide herself, to cover the six-inch “port-wine stain” that dominated nearly the entire left side of her face. (Doctors call the condition “naevus flammeus,” a vascular birthmark resulting from deep dilated capillaries below the surface of the skin.) When Susanne was only four years old, she was taught how to apply a mask of thick makeup to her face each day in an effort to avoid teasing and humiliation. Susanne did this literally every day of her life for more than 50 years as she attended Seneca College in Toronto, got married, moved to the New York City suburbs and raised two children. Conditioned to believe that if the mask ever slipped — from careless application of her makeup or perhaps by shedding a tear — the world ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096343 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:22:43 +0100 5096343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096827&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FwOQXx0BJIGk%2F I was flipping through the latest issue of Yoga Journal last night, and I came across an article about how to “uncover your personal blueprint for happiness.” Excited to see what they had to say, I dove in: Happiness. We all seek it. There is no more basic or universal drive than the desire to be happy. Agreed. So far so good… Everything that human beings have accomplished or aspired to, our every endeavor, has been and always will be rooted to the impulse to satisfy our longing for happiness. Got it. Then, it goes on to describe how yoga provides one of the most effective systems for achieving happiness, followed by the statement: There may be no more important step to achieving ultimate fulfillment than accepting what the Vedas teach us about desires—that some desires... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096827 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:50:07 +0100 5096827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5096344&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F02%2F7-books-that-changed-the-way-i-see-the-world%2F One of my favorite things: when I read a book that transforms the way I see the world, or the way I see the possibilities of writing. Another one of my favorite things: when I convince someone to read one of those books, and he or she loves it as much I do. So keeping that in mind, here’s a short list of books that transformed the way I see the world. I could go on for pages, but here’s a start, and if you’re at your bookstore or the library, check these out… 1. Christopher Alexander, A Pattern Language. I’ve never been interested in interior design or architecture, but this book taught me how to be aware of why certain spaces are pleasing — or not. I think about it all the time. 2. Scott McCloud, Understanding Comics. I’ve never been interested i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5096344 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:42:19 +0100 5096344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086169&cid=t_107019_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fheart-health-related-to-satisfaction-with-life%2F2011.08.01 For centuries, health providers have focused on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. This time-honored paradigm has generated phenomenal advances in medicine, especially during the last 60 years. It has also created a bit of an image problem for providers. That’s because the paradigm encourages consumers to perceive health care as a negative good; an economic term describing a bundle of products and services that we use because we must, not because we want to. Recent trends towards empowered consumers are a symptom of this problem more than a solution to it, as I described here. Recently, the concept of Positive Health has emerged as a possible antidote for the malaise. Pioneered by University of Pennsylvania psychologist Martin Seligman, Positive Health encourages us to i... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086169 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:00:39 +0100 5086169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086257&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F08%2F01%2Flove-suicide-and-well-being-international-positive-psychology-associations-second-congress%2F We live in a world that needs our help. – James Pawelski, Director of Education and Senior Scholar at the Positive Psychology Center, University of Pennsylvania, just before asking for a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist act in Norway. From July 23rd through July 26th, the International Positive Psychology Association’s second congress took place in Philadelphia.  Two years ago, during a particularly miserable time in my life, my best friend, Professor Joel Morgovsky, suggested we go to the first congress together. I wasn’t in the mood. But I went, and I was sitting in talk after talk and workshop after workshop; mostly they were interesting, but please, when do we get to go home? Then I heard Barbara Fredrickson speak.  There are a few transformative lect... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086257 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:17:53 +0100 5086257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5086260&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F31%2Fsometimes-im-tempted-to-fight-my-new-passion%2F For the last month or so, I’ve been possessed with a passionate interest in the sense of smell. I follow the resolution to cultivate good smells — I’ve read lots of books, I’ve started disciplining myself to be more aware of the smells that I encounter in my day, I’ve been eliminating sources of bad smell in my home (a very worthwhile endeavor, by the way), and I’ve also become interested in perfume. I’ve never had much interest in perfume, but suddenly I am, because so much of the energy and writing around the subject of smell is related to perfume. I’m newly fascinated by perfume, but I’m also fascinated by my own process of becoming fascinated. As Virginia Woolf noted in her Diary: “I must remember to write about my clothes next time I have an impulse to write. M... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5086260 Sun, 31 Jul 2011 11:39:58 +0100 5086260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078077&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F5-qFJHxzqCQ%2F This article is for them. If you are one of them, then this article is for you.   Because I truly want to you help you and make you life more enjoyable and stress-free. I want to elevate you to a higher level and equip you with tools and action points to handle problems (wait for my definition of a problem). Be with me for the rest of this article. Difference between a problem and an activity When you face an unexpected situation or unplanned task, instead of embracing stress and start getting panic attacks, stop here for a moment. Is this really a problem? Or it could be an additional activity you need to perform. Then just do it. Don’t think too much that why this is happening for you. If you don’t know what is that additional action you need to take, then just ask others and se... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078077 Sat, 30 Jul 2011 05:23:52 +0100 5078077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5077771&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F28%2F5-reasons-for-the-joy-of-craft-or-why-is-computer-programming-fun%2F I recently read (sort of) Frederick Brooks’s The Mythical Man-Month. As I understand it, this book is a cult classic, and I was very curious to read it. It’s about software project management, and even though that’s a subject about which I know nothing, I found the book very interesting — that is, the parts I could understand. My favorite section was a discussion of “The Joys of Craft,” in which Brooks answers the question, “Why is programming fun?” This question interests me because it’s such a good reminder of my Secret of Adulthood: Just because something is fun for someone else doesn’t mean it’s fun for me — and vice versa. Nothing is inherently fun. Some people find computer programming fun, or skiing, shopping, ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5077771 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:21:46 +0100 5077771 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069847&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fignite%2F “Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.”- Hardy D. Jackson Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Scott Dinsmore of LiveYourLegend For the past 8 years I’ve run experiments on myself and others to better understand what makes us come alive. This has taken me on ultra-marathons, to the tops of mountains, the bowels of bookstores, around the world and in front of some pretty fascinating people on some very deep soul searching. Finding passion and helping folks do work that embodies it has become a bit of an obsession of mine and has turned up some interesting results. It turns out passion is not as elusive as we think. Just like daily exercise leads to a more fit and healthy body, there are habits that lead to fire in yo... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069847 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 19:05:16 +0100 5069847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5069710&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F_gD-fO-T6HA%2F Farmer's Market: McKarren Park or Main Street Lafayette? At about age seven, my favorite movie was Baby Boom, featuring Diane Keaton as a fancy New York City businesswoman who inherited a distant relative’s daughter, moved to the ‘country’ (well, Connecticut) and learned to can applesauce. I’ve never quite approached fancy businesswoman status, and I’ve yet to can anything, but last week I moved to Lafayette, Indiana, after years of living and working on the east coast, and I can’t help thinking that seven-year-old-me would approve. The so-called good life is bound to be easier here, with no dirty subways, crowded commutes, tiny railroad apartments or exorbitant rents, right? Or will I perish for lack of constant movement, new faces and ample vegetarian restaurants? I supp... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5069710 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:49:18 +0100 5069710 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062293&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F25%2Fchange-in-relationships-what-to-do-when-your-partner-changes%2F Your once sort of neat partner becomes a sloppy mess. Or they start spending more time on the golf course. Or worse, when you first met they wanted to have children, but now say they’re not interested. What do you do when your partner changes in small or big ways? Here, Terri Orbuch, Ph.D, clinical psychologist and author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great, offers her insight on change in relationships. Myths about Change It’s a myth that people or relationships don’t change, Orbuch said. In fact, it’s inevitable. Relationships go through different developmental stages and situations, such as job loss, health problems, financial issues and family conflict. So it’s natural for changes to occur. Another myth, according to Orbuch, is that change is bad. So m... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062293 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:48:21 +0100 5062293 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062529&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FRqRSoXEWdpM%2F This study had three other important findings about the pursuit of happiness. Firstly, if you pursue a life goal to do with autonomy, competence or relatedness and fail, it’s likely to bring you down more than failing at a life-circumstances goal. Presumably this is because it means more. You’ve got more to gain, but you also have more to lose. So make sure you pick a realistic goal. Secondly, to continue at a higher level of happiness, you need to continue to work at success in those life-need-related goals. It’s the flow of new challenges, successfully met, that seems to be producing the happiness. So pick a goal that allows you to continue to challenge yourself. Finally, people who went in believing more strongly that they could increase their happiness (and that this ... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062529 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 06:36:53 +0100 5062529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057764&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2F7-tips-for-deciding-how-best-to-spend-your-time-energy-and-money%2F We all have to make decisions about how to spend our time, energy, and money. Because of my happiness project, I now explicitly ask myself, “Will this decision make me happier?” I’m determined to get the most happiness bang for the buck. Here are some questions I consider: 1. Is this decision likely to strengthen my relationships with other people? Strong relationships with other people are a key — the key — to happiness, so decisions that help me build or strengthen ties are likely to boost my happiness. Yes, it’s a hassle and an expense to go to my college reunion, but it’s likely to have a big happiness pay-off. 2. Will this decision provide me with novelty and challenge? Novelty and challenge make me happier—but they also make me feel insecure, intimidated, frustrated,... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057764 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:55:45 +0100 5057764 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050712&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F22%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-july-22-2011%2F Yesterday, I was stuck in traffic when I had to consciously take a deep breath and go to my happy place so I wouldn’t freak out at the scene in front of me. There were three or four cars spread out in an accident across four lanes. A tow truck was on the right and its driver was cautiously, but assertively attempting to stop cars from hitting him as he walked valiantly across the freeway to help a car get towed. I was amazed by two things. First, that merely putting up his hand “sort of” stopped track. The second is that it didn’t stop cars completely. As I sat there, I saw cars wiggle next to me on my right almost hitting the truck driver in the process. I saw him make it to the shoulder lane, briskly carrying a crying little boy who had been in the car and helping... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050712 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 12:25:15 +0100 5050712 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050713&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Fthe-5-types-of-girlfriends-you-need-in-your-life%2F In her classic book, Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh articulates the process of gathering girlfriends. She writes, “I shall ask into my shell only those friends with whom I can be completely honest. I find I am shedding hypocrisy in human relationships. What a rest that will be! The most exhausting thing in life, I have discovered, is being insincere.” Girlfriends are as unique as the shells Lindbergh describes in her pages. Some have the gift of empathy and compassion, while others challenge us in ways that lead to growth; some friends listen, while others dole out smart advice. Women need different kinds of friendships at different points in their lives. I have compiled these five types of girlfriends, drawing from the examples in Robert Wick’s book, Bounce: Living the Res... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050713 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 19:36:13 +0100 5050713 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050714&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F21%2Fknowing-when-to-say-goodbye-how-to-break-up-with-a-friend%2F The heartbreak of ending a friendship can be devastating whether you were friends for two or twenty years. And it can be particularly hard when it’s with girlfriends. In a study (PDF) published in Psychology Review (2000), UCLA researchers found that in response to stress, instead of “fight-or-flight,” women “tend-or-friend.” Although both sexes release oxytocin associated with relaxation when stressed, it is more prominent in women — and this feel-good hormone promotes a maternal behavior to tend and bond with others. The feedback I received after posing a related question over on our Facebook page was a testament to that. Out of the over thirty responses we got, only a few were from men. Facebook friend William Miller, for example, left this comment: “Do most people a... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050714 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:57:36 +0100 5050714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051329&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FHEzgQweCFQY%2F “Everything in moderation,” my grandmother tells me. It seems as if the generation that went through the Depression and their offspring have held that belief as a method to happy living, or at least contentment. I have often contemplated that attitude, and while I can begin to feel somewhat comfortable with it to an extent, and understand it’s precipice, I’ve always felt it lacking. The problem with living moderately is that eventually life becomes mediocre. The body-brain machine is an amazing vehicle for our spirits. It is built to withstand tremendous pressures and excitement and change, countering them with chemicals and ideas that give us the strength to overcome. As importantly, the human machine produces other drugs and thoughts that bring us back to equilibrium, able to mai... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051329 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 06:05:07 +0100 5051329 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051013&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FMNSoUxiGIB4%2F They may call it ‘retail therapy,’ but shopping while in a bad mood is more likely to do you harm than good—and research confirms it: A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research suggests shoppers don’t make the most “efficient assessments” when feeling blue. Instead, we tend only to consider the positive sides of something we want. Makes sense: Part of the reason so many people like to shop when they’re down is that buying something you want triggers a momentary rush of pleasure. It’s easy to see how you might over-exaggerate the benefits you’ll derive from buying that dress or juicer or pint of ice cream when feeling otherwise unhappy—and downplay any nagging thoughts about what it will do to your bank account or girlish figure (or your manly physique; I should add... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051013 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 19:56:13 +0100 5051013 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050716&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fthe-psychology-of-a-heat-wave%2F As the U.S. and Canada enter into a heat wave, I get a lot of questions about how heat impacts human behavior and our moods. So three years ago, I wrote a blog entry that reviews the research about weather affects our moods and behavior. It’s still a good overview of the research in this area and worth the read. But it’s nice to highlight a few points from that article, as well as other research, that demonstrates how the weather — and especially hot weather, in this case — can impact our mood. Does a heat wave lead to more violence? Do we have more or less energy during high humidity? What about depression and anxiety? Read on for the answers. Heat waves come and go nearly every year in some part of the world. What makes them especially difficult for indigenous po... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050716 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:32:10 +0100 5050716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051336&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FX8UBSpt0sIo%2F Image by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiovenni/ / CC BY-SA 2.0 Share || “If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.” Max Ehrman One very common and destructive daily habit is to constantly compare your life and yourself to other people and their lives. You compare cars, houses, jobs, shoes, money, relationships, social popularity and so on. And at the end of the day you pummel your self esteem to the ground and you create a lot of negative feelings within. And perhaps also outside of yourself. So what can you do? How can you get a handle on this habit? In this article I’ll share what I have done. I’ll start with two habits that I use to replace that destructive habit. Then I&#82... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051336 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 16:27:10 +0100 5051336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050717&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F20%2Fif-i-cant-accomplish-anything-else-today-i-can-do-these-10-things%2F We’ve all had days where it seems as though nothing gets done. For those times when I seem to be spinning my wheels, I keep a list of things that I can do every day, even when I have no extra time, money, or energy to spare. I sometimes forget to write in my one-sentence journal and I don’t always make it to the gym, but I do try to make sure I hit all these items. That way, even if I feel like I had a day when I got nothing accomplished, I can comfort myself, as I climb into my smooth, tidy bed, “Well, at least I went for a walk. I ate an apple. I hugged my daughters.” Every day, I… 1. Make my bed. 2. Wear sunscreen (well, most days). 3. Wear my seat belt. 4. Jump up and down a few times. 5. Pick up one object that’s in the wrong place and put it away. 6. Go for a ten... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050717 Wed, 20 Jul 2011 15:04:06 +0100 5050717 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051016&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FvS8-FS__jm0%2F Even though a recent study discovered that employees who telecommute to work are more productive, happier and less stressed than their cubicle-bound coworkers, only 2% of the American workforce partakes in this. It was previously thought that interpersonal connections with fellow employees gave people job satisfaction and a sense of connection. But as important as good relationships are at work, they can also be distracting. Telecommuters had fewer interruptions from coworkers, didn’t have to worry about office politics as much and weren’t forced to sit through long, boring meetings, thereby allowing them to focus more on their work. Wondering what working from home would be like? Here are the top eight signs you may be ready to telecommute: 1. You love your boss — from afar. May... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051016 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:12:09 +0100 5051016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050722&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F18%2F9-tips-to-keep-reality-tv-from-ruining-your-life%2F At lunch today, I was part of a spirited conversation on the pros and cons of reality TV. That’s a broad category, of course, covering a wide range of shows from The Real Housewives to American Idol to Jersey Shore to Project Runway. My older daughter loves that show where they do fancy cake decorations — what’s it called? TV is significant for happiness — if for no other reason, because of the time involved. In terms of hours, watching TV is probably the world’s most popular pastime. Among Americans, it’s the most common free-time activity — for an average of about five hours a day. It’s a source of relaxing fun. But while television is a good servant, it’s a bad master. It can swallow up huge quantities of our lives, without much happiness bang for t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050722 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 12:15:55 +0100 5050722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036277&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F16%2Fwhy-is-this-particular-part-of-happiness-so-hard%2F I love the novels of J.P. Marquand, and over the weekend, I re-read The Late George Apley. (I love to re-read.) I thought I remembered that it touched on the issue of happiness, and it does. The novel is terrific — funny, poignant, and very thought-provoking. The first, and most important, of my Twelve Personal Commandments is to Be Gretchen. Why is it so hard to know myself? and to act in accordance with my own nature, my interests, my values? It would seem that nothing would be easier and more obvious — and yet it’s very, very challenging. The novel describes the life of the late George Apley — a man who does not manage to “Be George,” and instead allows himself to be pushed by his parents and others away from the choices he wants to make, and who in ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036277 Sat, 16 Jul 2011 15:05:00 +0100 5036277 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029290&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fhappy%2F Post written by Leo Babauta. My friend Barron recently asked, “If you could be anywhere right now, doing anything you want, where would you be? And what would you be doing?” And my answer was, “I’m always where I want to be, doing what I want to be doing.” I’ve notice that in the past, like many people, I was always wishing I was doing something different, thinking about what I would do in the future, making plans for my life to come, reading (with jealousy) about cool things other people were doing. It’s a fool’s game. Many of us do this, but if you get into the mindset of thinking about what you *could* be doing, you’ll never be happy doing what you actually *are* doing. You’ll compare what you’re doing with what other peo... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029290 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:35:10 +0100 5029290 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5029315&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F9dFxEIRj2BA%2F Unlocking the riddle of what makes humans happy is the subject of much research, aimed perhaps at finding a formula or creating a map to help us in this endless and universal quest. The following are 10 recent studies that examine the factors at play in human happiness. 1. Disproving the myth of the grumpy old man… Stanford research conducted over a period of a dozen years suggests that age brings increased happiness, balance, and even ability to get along with others – contradicting the stereotype of the grumpy old man. That comes as good news to a society that is, itself, growing older; baby boomers can look forward to leaving behind the frustrations and let-downs of youth, and gain an appreciation for each moment as the time to enjoy them dwindles. 2. Keeping up with the Joneses... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5029315 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:45:17 +0100 5029315 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028456&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F12%2Fhow-to-reach-members-of-the-military-and-their-families%2F As I was researching The Happiness Project, I was struck by the fact that I often found it more helpful to read about one person’s idiosyncratic happiness project than to read about general principles applying to all humankind or studies applying to large populations. For some reason, reading about Thoreau’s very individual decision to move to Walden Pond, or St. Therese’s struggle to stay patient with the nun who made clicking noises during evening prayers, was what taught me most about myself. I’ve heard from people whose lives are very different from mine, on the surface — but it turns out that we face many of the same challenges in our happiness projects. Here’s a question for you, readers: I’ve been steadily getting email from members of the ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028456 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 21:06:59 +0100 5028456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028461&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F10%2Fwant-to-feel-happier-by-the-end-of-the-day%2F Do you need a happiness boost — right now? If so, take a look at this menu of options and make your choices. Remember, the more you tackle, the bigger the boost you’ll receive. When you’re feeling blue, it can be hard to muster up the physical and mental energy to do the things that make you happier. Plunking down in front of the TV or digging into a tub of ice cream seems like an easier fix. However, research shows (and you know it’s true) that these aren’t the routes to feeling better. Try some choices below. The more you push yourself, the better you’ll feel; but if you can’t tackle a big task, just do something small. Even a little step in the right direction will give you a lift. According to my ground-breaking happiness formula, to be happy, you need to think about... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028461 Sun, 10 Jul 2011 16:46:57 +0100 5028461 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008729&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FkQo5rLddKlM%2F Share “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill is probably no stranger to anyone. He was an inspirational British leader during the Second World War. He was also a writer, historian, poet, artist and the only British Prime Minister to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Here are a few of my favorite fundamentals from Churchill on how to improve your life. 1. Focus on what you are doing right now. “It is a mistake to look too far ahead. Only one link in the chain of destiny can be handled at a time.” “It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look further than you can see.” When you start to look too far into the f... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008729 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 15:41:03 +0100 5008729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008716&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fteens%2F Post written by Leo Babauta. How do you improve your life and find happiness when you’re a teen-ager, and can’t control much of your life? You change what you can control, and let go of trying to control everything else. Several teen-agers have written to me recently, asking for a post on how to improve their lives when they’re still under their parents’ control. It’s not easy, I’ll admit. But there’s a lot you can do, no matter what your situation. For example … if your parents are constantly getting mad at you, constantly negative, constantly controlling your life and not letting you do what you want to do, how do you handle that? Try this: Look at every interaction with your parents as an opportunity. It’s an opportunity to practice ... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008716 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:24:51 +0100 5008716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008726&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FsrvorhNwPLk%2F Do you have a friend or colleague who complains constantly? If you do, you’ll know how you feel after a conversation with them: tired, drained, feeling a bit fed up about your own life. Do you know anyone who’s always cheerful and positive? If you talk to them, you’ll feel quite differently afterwards: enthused, re-energized, happy. I’m guessing you can see why positive thinking matters. By being grateful for the good things in life – instead of moaning about the bad ones – you’ll find that your mood is better, and that almost miraculously, more good stuff starts happening to you. It’s easy, of course, for me to tell you to “look on the bright side!” – but I know that’s easier said than done. So here are five ways to be more positive about life, every single day: #1... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008726 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:06:08 +0100 5008726 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008308&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F06%2Fever-had-such-an-intense-interest-in-a-subject-that-learning-was-easy%2F As I’ve noted here before, I’ve recently become obsessed with the sense of smell — which has been an interesting experience, for several reasons. One reason: this obsession has reminded me about the nature of learning. I’ve been struck by how much I’ve learned in the last few weeks. I went from knowing almost nothing about the scent of smell to knowing… well, quite a bit more. And without any effort, any drilling, any assignments on my part. Quite the contrary. I’m gulping down books, jumping around websites, eager to learn more, more, more. The same thing happened when I was working on my Churchill biography. In college, I’d taken classes that covered World War II, and I had to force myself to do the reading, and I struggled to memorize the facts. But through the l... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008308 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 17:45:37 +0100 5008308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008727&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fza2WQt6ks-0%2F Conclusion I hope that I have opened some of your eyes to the idea of thinking positively rational about yourself and your life.  If you will begin to think more rationally and positively about yourself, your life will dramatically change.  You will feel happier, healthier, have more friendships, do better at work and do amazing things you may not have thought possible.   Joshua Shelton is a freelance blogger and founder of the site Break Through Self Image. : Finding Bliss: How to Reverse Engineer Happiness The 6 Components of a Happy Life   (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008727 Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:30:20 +0100 5008727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5008310&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F05%2Fa-quick-shot-of-happiness-thanks-to-winston-churchill%2F One of the great joys of my life was writing my biography of Winston Churchill. What a pleasure it was to write that book! I had so many complicated things (both praise and blame) to say about Churchill, and the problems of biography, and human nature, and I felt that I managed to express them all — to my own satisfaction, anyway. When I feel a little blue, I often console myself by thinking of some of my favorite passages of Churchill’s writing. So many examples stand out in my mind. One, for instance, is the extraordinary eulogy to Neville Chamberlain. Another is a passage from Their Finest Hour, the second volume in Churchill’s six-volume history of World War II. Of a visit to a very poor London neighborhood that had been devastated by the Blitz, he wrote: Already litt... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5008310 Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:12:27 +0100 5008310 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4997618&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F07%2F02%2Fkahlil-gibran-on-pain%2F One of my favorite passages on pain is what Kahlil Gibran writes in his classic, “The Prophet”: Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart may stand in the sun, so must you know pain. And could you keep your heart in wonder at the daily miracles of your life, your pain would not seem less wondrous than your joy; And you would accept the seasons of your heart, even as you have always accepted the seasons that pass over your fields. And you would watch with serenity through the winters of your grief. Much of your pain is self-chosen. (If I cut one line, it would be that one.) It is the bitter potion by which the physician within you heals your sick self. Therefore trust the physician, and drin... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4997618 Sat, 02 Jul 2011 19:34:09 +0100 4997618 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4992878&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fky0ue5Z2I5g%2F Independence Day Weekend — a time to kick back, spend time with friends and family and celebrate our inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness! And after all, what good is all this food and fitness and health living business if it’s not helping make you happy? Healthy bodies, healthy relationships, good food and green living shouldn’t be end goals in and of themselves but tools to help you and those around you get the most out of life. In that vein, here’s a roundup of some of the best research and/or advice on happiness we’ve come across recently: The Best Is Yet to Come: Our culture might glorify youth, but “from the mid-forties, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic, perhaps reaching a maximum in their late seventies or eighties,&#822... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4992878 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 21:26:00 +0100 4992878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984497&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F30%2Fdesign-psychology-beyond-pretty-properties-and-nice-knickknacks%2F Design psychology goes beyond aesthetics, and beyond art and decor books to find something more — it seeks to uncover your very emotions and thoughts about settings. Design psychology seeks to connect you to the types of places, spaces and items that evoke the most pleasant memories. Design psychology is about discovering your personal style and finding a place that truly fulfills you and feels like home. Here’s an excerpt from a Los Angeles Times article on how design psychology works… When Ran and Ronit Ever-Hadani expanded their Mar Vista home, they ended up with a long, narrow space that had a fireplace smack in the middle. Because the room was almost like a bowling alley with no natural flow, the couple didn’t have a clue what to do with it. So the area remained u... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984497 Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:18:26 +0100 4984497 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984727&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fah%2F ‘Act without expectation.’ ~Lao Tzu Post written by Leo Babauta. How much of your stress, frustration, disappointment, anger, irritation, pissed-offedness comes from one little thing? Almost all of it comes from your expectations, and when things (inevitably) don’t turn out as we expect, from wishing things were different. We build these expectations in our heads of what other people should do, what our lives should be like, how other drivers should behave … and yet it’s all fantasy. It’s not real. And when reality doesn’t meet our fantasy, we wish the world were different. Here’s a simple solution: Take your expectations, and throw them in the ocean. Picture all the expectations you have for yourself, your life, your spouse, your kids, your cow... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984727 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:11:30 +0100 4984727 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4984733&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2F0dVk7Is4Lgg%2F Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nerdegutt/ / CC BY 2.0 Share || “Bad habits are easier to abandon today than tomorrow.” Yiddish Proverb “Men’s natures are alike; it is their habits that separate them.” Confucius Most of us have one or a few habits that we consider bad and we’d like to get rid of. But how do you do it? Today I’d like to share I have a few suggestions that have helped me and people around me greatly. Here are 8 tips that can help you to finally get rid of that bad habit once and for all. Tell your friends and family. If you tell people around you that you will stop smoking or start working out three times a week then they will check up on you. And you will feel a social pressure to keep up with your promise now that it is let out into the world. I ... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4984733 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:18:48 +0100 4984733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975940&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F28%2F10-myths-about-happiness%2F I’m leaving my desk for a few days, so in my absence, thought I’d re-post one of my favorite round-up pieces, about ten widespread myths about happiness. A while back, each day for two weeks, I posted about Ten Happiness Myths. Here they are, for your reading convenience. (Click on each myth to read a longer explanation of it.) 1. Happy people are annoying and stupid. Wrong. Actually, studies show that people find happy people much more likable than their less-happy peers. Happy people are viewed as friendlier, smarter, warmer, less selfish, more self-confident, and more socially skilled — even more physically attractive. 2. Nothing changes a person’s happiness level much. It’s true that there’s a powerful genetic link to happiness — usually it’s estimated t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975940 Tue, 28 Jun 2011 19:23:58 +0100 4975940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4975943&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F27%2Fdare-to-be-happy%2F If there is no struggle, there is no progress. ~ Frederick Douglass Let’s get this out in the open: I am bipolar II. That means the mania is really low-key and infrequent and the depression, at least in my case, for most of my life, has been pretty much nonstop. There are degrees of depression, of course. Mine gets severe relatively quickly and stays that way a relatively long time. Yes, I have been an inpatient at psychiatric hospitals. Yes, I have self-harmed. Yes, I have been on every psychotropic medication known to man, and failed most of them. The two that I’m on right now combine for one really annoying side effect. I have even, since about New Year’s, been undergoing a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). My memory is shot, along with many other things, but the suggesti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4975943 Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:49:03 +0100 4975943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968576&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F26%2Fdont-have-enough-time-7-practical-steps-to-try%2F Some mornings Theresa Daytner spends hours hiking. She also goes on trail rides, used to weight-lift twice a week with a trainer, reads nightly, watches her favorite TV show, enjoys massages, gets her hair done and planned a huge surprise birthday party for her husband, with people arriving from all over the country. And she sleeps at least seven hours a night. Oh, and as journalist Laura Vanderkam writes in her book, 168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, Daytner is busier than most. She’s the owner of a seven-figure revenue company and the mother of six children, including twins! She also coaches soccer and regularly attends her kids’ games, is helping her 21-year-old plan a wedding and is expanding her business. I barely have time to clean my room, do one load of laundry, coo... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968576 Sun, 26 Jun 2011 10:20:10 +0100 4968576 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968577&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F25%2Fwhy-celebrities-like-katy-perry-dont-want-people-to-make-eye-contact%2F A few weekends ago, I was intrigued to see this story in the New York Post: “The ultimate star perk is forbidding eye contact.” According to the Smoking Gun, singer Katy Perry’s contract covering her driver provides that the driver isn’t supposed to “stair” (sic) at her in the rear-view mirror. The piece notes that there have been many similar rumors over the years — that people were prohibited from making eye contact with Luke Perry, Tori Spelling, Sylvester Stallone, and others. When I read this story, I had a huge rush of intellectual pleasure. Because I think I’ve figured this out! Darshan. Years ago, when I was doing the research for my first book, Power Money Fame Sex: A User’s Guide, I was struck by how often celebrities made rules about eye contac... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968577 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 19:03:06 +0100 4968577 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968582&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F23%2Ffrustrated-by-devices-read-the-manual%2F Handsome, well-made tools are a joy to use; confusing devices are a drain. So often, I find, things once easy to operate — TVs, irons, dishwashers, alarm clocks, washing machines — are now humiliatingly challenging. Cognitive-science professor Donald Norman points out that when we expect a device — like a toaster or video camera — will be fairly simple to operate, and it’s not, we assume we’re at fault, instead of holding the object responsible. One Sunday afternoon, when I was frantically trying to synchronize the data on my laptop with my desktop, I kept getting strange error messages. In desperation, I asked my husband to take a look. “Oh. Our internet service isn’t working,” he announced after fifteen seconds on the computer. I’d assumed I was doing ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968582 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:22:03 +0100 4968582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960209&cid=t_107019_129_f&fid=36038&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Ftrevis-life-with-multiple-sclerosis-ms%2Fthe-little-things-we-can-still-do-for-ourselves%2F Like many of my generation and those who came before, I feel now like I may have spent too much time in my “former life” chasing the elusive brass ring. It wasn’t enough to be recognized wherever I went, professionally. Not enough to have the house in town and an apartment in the city. Even my dear Jaguar was a few years older than I would have liked. Now, please don’t get me wrong! I was very appreciative of the things I had attained, but they did not make me happy — Things seldom make us happy. Because of the way I have learned to live my life post-MS, I feel much more attuned with what happiness rarely is and I find it mostly on the inside. That being said, there are still a few little things that I do that make me very happy indeed. Last week, while in New York I treated myse... Life with MS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960209 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:36:22 +0100 4960209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960121&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcultivating-self-compassion%2F When something has gone wrong, when there’s been a mistake made, no matter how small, many people are all too quick to point the finger — at themselves. They flog themselves for any failure, letting their self-esteem bend and bow at the face of disappointments and triumphs. For many, self-esteem is shaky at best. But there’s something you can build that’s more substantial than self-esteem. Something that doesn’t waver and can actually boost your well-being — and your performance isn’t a factor. According to psychologist Kristin Neff, Ph.D, in her book Self-Compassion: Stop Beating Yourself Up and Leave Insecurity Behind, that something is self-compassion. Being self-compassionate means that whether you win or lose, surpass your sky-high expectations or fall short, you sti... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960121 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 15:12:04 +0100 4960121 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4960122&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F22%2Fcan-you-learn-about-happiness-from-virginia-woolf%2F Assay: Recently, I posted a quotation from Virginia Woolf for my weekly quotation. I often quote from Woolf, because she’s one of my very favorite writers. And, as has happened before, I got a few comments from readers saying, in effect, “Why are you quoting Virginia Woolf about happiness? She committed suicide — what can she know about happiness?” This response always surprises me, for a few reasons. First, Woolf aside, there’s a big difference between writers’ works and what they personally experience and how they behave in their own lives. Tolstoy, for example. I love Tolstoy’s fiction, and find it elevating and very illuminating on the subject of happiness, but I can’t bear to read about the actual Leo Tolstoy, who was a dreadful person. Nevertheless, suffering “... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4960122 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 13:17:07 +0100 4960122 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952985&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F21%2F6-tips-to-help-summer-depression%2F The kids are out of school. Your neighbors are whistling on their way to work, greeting you with an enthusiasm peculiar to warm weather. And if you hear one more person ask you about your summer vacation plans, you will throw a US map and atlas at them. You don’t mean to be grumpy. But darn it, you are miserable in the oppressive heat, your kids are home for 90 consecutive days, and you are don’t have the stamina to pretend you are giddy that summer has arrived. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. After publishing a piece recently about the trigger of Memorial Day for me — reminding me that most of my relapses have happened in the summer months — I’ve heard from so many readers that fear this time of year for the same reason: summer depression. Ian A. Cook, MD, the direc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952985 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:39:48 +0100 4952985 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952992&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F17%2F7-tips-for-minding-my-own-business%2F Lately, I’ve really been focusing on trying to be less judgmental. It’s a tricky resolution, because it’s hard to turn it into specific, manageable resolutions to keep me on track. What, exactly, do I do differently in my life to be less judgmental? I need to change the way I think. One of my helpful mantras, though, is to “Mind my own business.” I remind myself: 1. No one asked for my advice. Except in the rare instance when people specifically ask me for help clearing their clutter, raising their children, or deciding their careers, I should keep my advice to myself. 2. I don’t know the whole story. It’s very easy to assume that I understand a situation and to form a judgment when in fact, I understand almost nothing about what’s happening. 3. It doesn’t affect me. A f... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952992 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:12:20 +0100 4952992 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934586&cid=t_107019_129_f&fid=36035&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-chronic-pain%2Fsues-patient-rights-responsibilities-and-opportunities%2F You have the right to life as long as you realize it might not be quite as you planned. You have the opportunity to change what you can and accept that which you cannot change. Just remember the word impossible is a relative term. You have the responsibility to seek options, be they health care, marital status or parenthood. All three require early action rather than late. You have the responsibility to judge each situation you face with candor, good judgment, and valor. If you choose not to do the above, you have the right to screw things up. It is your life, after all. You have the responsibility to maintain your body even though it appears to not give a fig about you. Disloyal lot these physical shells. You have the responsibility to remember your brain and your heart are in charg... Life with Chronic Pain blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934586 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:46:43 +0100 4934586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934328&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F16%2Fthe-incredible-shrinking-american-vacation%2F Vacations are theoretical concepts that exist today only on paper. That’s according to Joe Robinson, work-life balance speaker, trainer, and author of “Don’t Miss Your Life.” His statistics are dire: Some 25 percent of Americans and 31 percent of low-wage earners get no vacation at all anymore, according to the Center for Economic and Policy Research. This is because, unlike in 138 other countries around the world, you’re not entitled to a vacation longer than the current news cycle. You happen to live in a country that, along with the esteemed likes of Myanmar, the Guyanas and North Korea, has no minimum paid leave law to make vacations statutorily legit. Now maybe it’s because I have been self-employed for most of my working life — and the few jobs I have held, I di... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934328 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:12:02 +0100 4934328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934331&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F15%2Fcultivating-your-passions%2F Many of my happiness-project resolutions are meant to help me keep my vision wide. To counteract my impulse to work all the time, I push myself, with moderate success, to follow resolutions like Force myself to wander, Take time for projects, Read at whim, and Take notes without a purpose. And my most important resolution, of course, is to Be Gretchen. These resolutions have dramatically changed the way I react when I develop — as I sometimes do — unusual interest in a new subject. Nowadays, I allow myself to follow a new passion as far as I want. Sometimes, it’s true, I’m lucky enough to have been able to turn these passions into my work. When I became obsessed with Winston Churchill, I wrote a book about Churchill. What a joy it was to write that book! My preoccupatio... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934331 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:49:12 +0100 4934331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4945317&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FhyP_NY8YU8M%2F Image by notsogoodphotography (license). Share || “Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe “If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau Does this sound familiar? You are sitting on the bus or you are standing in shower. Suddenly a great or very useful idea plops into your head. Or you have a moment of inspiration on your daily walk to work or school. You are pleased with yourself and excited about the idea. But then the days go by. A month goes by. And nothing has happened with your idea or moment of inspiration. Life just continues as usual. I gu... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4945317 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 16:49:10 +0100 4945317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934337&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F13%2Fwhen-my-mother-died-she-told-me-to-try-to-enjoy-life-more%2F Happiness interview: Meghan O’Rourke. Meghan O’Rourke is a writer in many incarnations — an essayist, poet, critic, and editor. I got to know Meghan during the time that this blog appeared on Slate , and I was very eager to get my hands on her new book. The Long Goodbye is a memoir of her mother’s death from cancer in 2008, at the age of 55, when Meghan was 32 years old. Going through great unhappiness is one of the best, and most difficult, teachers of happiness, so I was very interested to hear what Meghan had to say. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Meghan: Taking a walk. I used to run a lot, and that always made me happier (even if I was unhappy lacing up my shoes to do it). But I tore the cartilage in my right hip and n... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934337 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:34:15 +0100 4934337 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934339&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F12%2Fmoney-problems-6-steps-to-transform-your-money-life%2F I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t have a money problem right now, in this economy. Even the wealthiest of the wealthy are fretting because the fortunes they stashed in bonds and stocks aren’t performing with the same gust of the 90s, and, even if you have 5 billion dollars, seeing that figure change by a half of a billion produces anxiety and pacing. I wouldn’t know. But I’m guessing. So it was with interest I read financial advisor Karen Lee’s book, It’s Just Money, So Why Does It Cause So Many Problems?. Lee has worked in the financial services industry since 1987. During that time, she has worked with hundreds of families, individuals, and small businesses to help them work towards their financial goals. And to boot, she’s a regular guest expert on CNN. Here are... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934339 Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:28:50 +0100 4934339 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4934341&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F11%2Fcan-a-negative-emotion-like-regret-actually-make-you-happier%2F Assay: Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the important role of negative emotions in a happy life. Some people seem to believe that the purpose of a happiness project would be to achieve a life in which you were 100% happy, 100% of the time. This isn’t realistic, and in any event, even if it were possible, it wouldn’t be desirable. Negative emotions are a key part of rational thought and effective performance. Also, up to a point, they can be of great service to happiness. They’re loud, flashy signs that something isn’t right. Because they’re so unpleasant, they can sometimes prod us to take action when nothing else can. For instance, envy and deception have helped me to make useful changes in my life. I just finished Neal Roese’s book, If Onl... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4934341 Sat, 11 Jun 2011 15:46:28 +0100 4934341 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921518&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F10%2Fcan-you-have-too-much-happiness%2F I can safely say that I think few of us struggle with having too much happiness. We turn to the happiness gurus to help us increase our happiness for a reason — who wouldn’t want to be happier? Pretty much all of us do. For many of us, the pursuit of happiness is not only something we’ve grown up on, it’s something we’ve come to expect as a right. I mean, it’s right there in the Declaration of Independence! But like everything in life, too much of a good thing is a bad thing. This includes the pursuit of happiness. Too much happiness can be just as detrimental in your life as not having enough. That’s the finding anyway of Gruber and her colleagues (2011), in a recent review of the happiness research. Let’s see what they had to say. Too Muc... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921518 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:25:45 +0100 4921518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4921520&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F09%2Fthe-seed-9-pieces-of-advice-for-graduates%2F In his new book, The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work, international and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jon Gordon tells the story of Josh, a guy who, like so many of us, has lost his passion at work. When Josh’s boss challenges the young worker to take two weeks off to assess his attitude and intentions, Josh heads to the country. There, a farmer hands him a seed and tells him that when he discovers the right place to plant the seed his purpose will be revealed to him. This tale takes readers on a quest to explore their own passion, purpose, and happiness in life and work. The themes presented are most appropriate for graduates just embarking on their path. Here, then, are nine such lessons presented in the story, in the words of Gordon: 1. Focus on Get to i... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4921520 Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:45:54 +0100 4921520 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911857&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FsfSh0xSDqq0%2F Image by Sanna R (license). Share || “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”Leonardo da Vinci “The aspects of things that are most important for us are hidden because of their simplicity and familiarity.” Ludwig Wittgenstein I love simplifying my life. It makes me more effective and life less stressful. It makes me calmer and happier. But where do you start? Or continue if you are already on your way? In this article I’ll share 21 small habits that help me to live a simpler life. I hope you’ll find something helpful here and that you get started with one of these suggestions today and continue doing it until your new habit sticks (that usually happens after about 30 days). Breathe. When stressed, lost in a problem or the past or future in your mind breathe with your bell... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911857 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:56:10 +0100 4911857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911570&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fwhy-these-6-happiness-boosters-might-actually-make-you-feel-worse%2F Everyone has a few tricks for beating the blues. It turns out, however, that several of the most popular strategies don’t actually work very well in the long term. Beware if you are tempted to try any of the following: 1. Comforting yourself with a “treat.” Often, the things we choose as “treats” aren’t good for us. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt, loss of control, and other negative consequences just deepen the lousiness of the day. So when you find yourself thinking, “I’ll feel better after I have a pint of ice cream… a cigarette… a new pair of jeans,” ask yourself — will it really make you feel better? It might make you feel worse. In particular, beware of… 2. Letting yourself off the hook. I’ve found that I sometimes ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911570 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 15:45:45 +0100 4911570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4911571&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F08%2Fhow-to-do-great-work-and-a-giveaway%2F When you’re on the job, you might feel like the last thing you’re doing is meaningful work. Like you’re stuck in a rut and just going through the motions. Email? Check. Phone calls? Check. Data entry? Check. Meeting? Check. Lunch? Check. More email. More calls. Home. Whether or not your days feel this mundane, you still might not be involved in exhilarating, engaging work that makes you happy. In Do More Great Work, Canadian coach Michael Bungay Stanier — founder of the company Box of Crayons — helps readers “stop the busywork, and start the work that matters.” Specifically, the book features a variety of exercises, which Stanier calls maps, and thought-provoking questions that help readers figure out what their own meaningful work is and how to do more of it. (It... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4911571 Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:15:12 +0100 4911571 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4902485&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F05%2Fhow-is-your-happiness-challenge-going%2F Unbelievable as this is, the year 2011 is half over. If you’ve joined the 2011 Happiness Challenge, how are you doing? If you’ve managed successfully to keep even one resolution, give yourself a big gold star. It’s hard to make change; it takes mindfulness, self-knowledge, and self-mastery. I’m often surprised by how hard it is to make even a change that’s pleasant, like my resolutions to Read more or to Jump. Why is it so hard to push myself to do something that I like doing? And yet it is. Have you followed any resolutions that have made a particular difference to your happiness? I’m always so curious to hear what people have tried, and what has worked. For instance, to my surprise, one of the resolutions I most often hear mentioned is… Make your be... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4902485 Sun, 05 Jun 2011 15:58:19 +0100 4902485 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893554&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F03%2F6-tips-for-battling-loneliness%2F The more I’ve learned about happiness, the more I’ve come to believe that loneliness is a terrible, common, and important obstacle to consider. A while back, after reading John Cacioppo’s fascinating book Loneliness, I posted Some counter-intuitive facts about loneliness, and several people responded by asking, “Okay, but what do I do about it? What steps can I take to feel less lonely?” I recently finished another fascinating book, Lonely — a memoir by Emily White, about her own experiences and research into loneliness. White doesn’t attempt to give specific advice about how to combat loneliness, but from her book, I gleaned these strategies… 1. Remember that although the distinction can be difficult to draw, loneliness and solitude are dif... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893554 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:22:22 +0100 4893554 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893557&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2Frun-like-a-girl-how-sports-can-empower-you%2F I never considered myself an athlete. My twin sister grew up with the reputation of being the tomboy of the family, the sporty one who participated in soccer and other organized sports. I was the brain and artsy one, who spent more time practicing my scales and arpeggios on our baby grand piano and perfecting pirouettes in the dance studio. I was intimidated by sports. And I found that I had absolutely no coordination once you threw a ball into the competition. So out were softball, volleyball, soccer, and pretty much every other sport. I swam during the summer and for my high school, and I started running in junior high, but just to lose enough weight to stop my period (I was a tad anorexic). I continued jogging and swimming through college into early adulthood. But just to stay in shape.... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893557 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:37:03 +0100 4893557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893558&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F02%2F9-tips-to-find-a-fulfilling-work-life-balance%2F Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing several amazing women on how they juggle all the responsibilities that come with their professional and personal lives. (Stay tuned for the article in our mental health library!) In addition to sharing what works for them, they provided a slew of solutions for readers, too. Here’s what they had to say… 1. Challenge society’s standards. In our society, productivity is prized and praised. We reward workaholic ways, even though this is both emotionally and physically unhealthy. As such, productivity coach Laura Stack, MBA, suggested “challenging the social acceptance — even society’s encouragement — of these common phrases: ‘Look how productive you’re being. You are accomplishing great things’ ‘After all, you posses... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893558 Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:07:08 +0100 4893558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893959&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Ftrap%2F Post written by Leo Babauta. I love reading about other people’s work setups, I really do. It’s one of my guilty pleasures. I’ll read about another blogger’s computer setup, or what kind of notebook and pen he uses, or how he works standing up or on a treadmill or while doing handstand pushups and growing a vegetable garden. And when I read about some cool setup someone else has, some cool new way of working, I inevitably want to try it. I’m only human. You’ve done this too, probably. You might read a review of some new software that will help you create, or a new fashion style or some cool shoes or beautiful furniture or the newest iPad, or the latest iPhone app. Or maybe you’re a minimalist and read someone’s barefoot running article, or ho... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893959 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:55:11 +0100 4893959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4893560&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F06%2F01%2Fare-you-always-late-7-tips-to-arrive-on-time%2F Feeling as though you’re always running twenty minutes behind schedule is an unhappy feeling. Having to rush, forgetting things in your haste, dealing with annoyed people when you arrive… It’s no fun. If you’re chronically late, what steps can you take to be more prompt? That depends on why you’re late. As my Eighth Commandment holds, the first step is to Identify the problem — then you can see more easily what you need to change. There are many reasons you might be late, but some are particularly common. Are you late because… 1. You sleep too late? If you’re so exhausted in the morning that you sleep until the last possible moment, it’s time to think about going to sleep earlier. Many people don’t get enough sleep, and sleep deprivation is a re... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4893560 Wed, 01 Jun 2011 10:28:03 +0100 4893560 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4883944&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FENUJegvb93w%2F Traditionally, when we evaluate what direction to take our lives in we do a ‘values assessment’. This is a checklist of what you believe to be important to you. It might come out something like this (in a particular area): Business/Career Serving customers Creating a great product that adds value Paying for my South American holidays Contributing to the world Helping people grow and develop their thinking skills Etc Once you’ve ordered your list the standard advice is to seek a career that allows you to engage and live out your values. You can then feel that you are doing something that interests and compels you. All well and good: – if you are satisfied in determining your future based purely on what interests you in your head right now. But this appr... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4883944 Mon, 30 May 2011 06:31:53 +0100 4883944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872240&cid=t_107019_117_f&fid=37824&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.doctorkalitenko.com%2Fblog%2Fbotox-limit-emotions%2F A recent article on WebMD highlighted a study where one doctor says he found that not being able to express emotion, may actually impact the emotion. He did this by studying people who had Botox injections and  Joshua Ian David, PhD was out to prove that not being able to express actually takes away from the emotional experience. But a second opinion on the study actually states the exact opposite, saying that Botox normally makes people feel more beautiful, look happier and actually nicer. See the full story here (http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/news/20100623/botox-may-affect-ability-feel-emotions) The idea that facial expression Botox limits emotions seems far fetched. When a person gets Botox they should leave the office looking and feeling beautiful. The most important thing to know... Doctor Kalitenko antiaging blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872240 Fri, 27 May 2011 15:37:16 +0100 4872240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872162&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F27%2Fbest-of-our-blogs-may-27-2011%2F I remember the first time I ever felt in control of my life. I was about 8 or 9 years old at the time and had a reoccurring nightmare about two kids chasing me down the street. When I told my dad about it he said, “You know you can control your dreams right?” He told me all I had to do was visualize what I wanted to happen in the dream before I went to sleep. Because I had the kind of faith in magic and pure wonder that only occurs in childhood, I wholeheartedly believed him. The next morning I woke up with a smile on my face. In my dream, the two kids that were chasing me finally caught up. But in their hands were melting ice-cream cones they had been trying to give me. That dream was years ago, but I will never forget it. More than teaching me how to control my dreams, it tau... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872162 Fri, 27 May 2011 10:40:45 +0100 4872162 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872163&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Fdo-you-fall-into-the-trap-of-overthinking%2F I was looking up something in Professor Sonja Lyubomirsky’s excellent book, The How of Happiness, and I came across an interesting passage. (I’d marked it, so clearly I’d read it before, but I didn’t remember it well.) Many of us believe that when we feel down, we should try to focus inwardly and evaluate our feelings and our situation in order to attain self-insight and find solutions that might ultimately resolve our problems and relieve unhappiness. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, I, and others have compiled a great deal of evidence challenging this assumption. Numerous studies over the past two decades have shown that to the contrary, overthinking ushers in a host of adverse consequences: It sustains or worsens sadness, fosters negatively biased thinking, impairs a person... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872163 Thu, 26 May 2011 23:20:53 +0100 4872163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872164&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F26%2Fsexual-chemistry-and-keeping-your-relationship-alive%2F Our partner, YourTango.com, recently completed a scientific survey of over 20,000 people with their partner sites, MSN’s lifestyle website Glo.com and Chemistry.com, on sexual chemistry and what keeps a relationship alive and growing. The effort was overseen by a leading biological anthropologist and relationship expert, Dr. Helen Fisher, who also analyzed the results. Some of their findings might just surprise you, including the finding that 90 percent of men and women believe that dwindling attraction in a relationship can be rekindled. Their findings are detailed below. Did you know? The Truth About Sexual Chemistry (Video) The New Age Of Relationships: Sex, Love And Attraction In 2011 (An interview with Helen Fisher) Survey: 90% Of Americans Believe Attraction Can Be Rekindled... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872164 Thu, 26 May 2011 16:34:38 +0100 4872164 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862625&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fwhat-little-awesome-things-make-you-happy%2F One of my friends from blogland is Neil Pasricha, who has the wonderful site 1000 Awesome Things, where he lists, yes, awesome things! It always makes me happy to visit there. For example, some awesome things include: The Kids’ Table The smooth feeling on your teeth when you get your braces off Pulling a weed and getting all the roots with it That moment in the shower when you decide to make it a really long shower Letting go of the gas pump perfectly so you end on a round number Sneaking cheaper candy into the movie theater Picking the fastest moving line at the grocery store checkout Coming back to your own bed after a long trip Neil has also written two books of awesome things, and the second one hits the shelves today: The Book of Even More Awesome. (Neil and I bond over Canada&... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862625 Wed, 25 May 2011 23:32:40 +0100 4862625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862628&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fpoliticians-and-sex-the-type-t-personality%2F Colleague and psychologist Dr. Frank Farley has an interesting op-ed over at the LA Times the other day about some of the underlying psychological motivations that may explain why politicians stray from their marriages. In the article, Dr. Farley refers to the “Type T Personality” — the T stands for Thrill. He makes the argument that we elect the politicians we do because we’re drawn to their bold ideas, their intensity, their charisma. But those same qualities that may make them a good politician (we don’t really know, because there hasn’t been a lot of research done in this area yet), also may put them at greater risk for engaging in unethical relationship behavior, such as cheating on their spouse. Politicians, like Hollywood celebrities, are also con... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862628 Wed, 25 May 2011 15:45:32 +0100 4862628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862797&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2F_Y2rkzi__MA%2F Now that Oprah‘s show is drawing to a close, I can’t help but reflect on the many ways that she changed the face of daytime television, and people’s lives. When The Oprah Winfrey Show hit the airwaves 25 years ago, it followed the same formats as Phil Donahue and Sally Jessie Raphael, in that it portrayed sensationalist every-man stories about family gossip, medical wonders, and relationship blunders. Then in the mid-90s, Oprah switched gears and decided her show was going to help people’s self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence. Segments like “Remembering Your Spirit,” “Oprah’s Book Club,” “Live Your Best Life,” and “Favorite Things” popped up, cataloging different items people could purchase to enhance the... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862797 Wed, 25 May 2011 14:14:34 +0100 4862797 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862972&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FmQGF4AgahdU%2F Image by goodsurfers2008 (license). Share || “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain Motivation can be a huge help for you to achieve what you want in life. But how can you find all that motivation you need? Well, looking at timeless advice from time to time helps me. And in this article I’ll share four of my favorite timeless thoughts on motivation, four thoughts that motivate and inspire me. Make a conscious choice. “Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice.” Wayne Dyer “I was thinking one day and I rea... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862972 Tue, 24 May 2011 15:53:25 +0100 4862972 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853255&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38603&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzenhabits.net%2Fage%2F Editors’ Note: This is a guest post from Christopher Foster of The Happy Seeker. Many years ago, when I was a young fellow of 23, I said goodbye to my native England and journeyed to British Columbia. My heart said I would find meaning and freedom in that big, wild country. About a year after arriving in BC my entire life changed in an instant one summer afternoon. A friend had arranged for me to meet a British lord named Martin Cecil. He was a member of a famous British family, a well-known B.C. cattleman and also leader of a spiritual community in the interior B.C. I had a good job as a reporter in Victoria, B.C., but wanted to learn more about this community. I had a strong feeling that I would know, as soon as I met Martin Cecil, if I could trust him — and if the community ... Zen Habits blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853255 Mon, 23 May 2011 16:02:18 +0100 4853255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4852940&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F22%2Fam-i-a-defensive-pessimist%2F Photo credit: vrogy (Flickr) This blog post, I’m convinced, will be a real disaster. I mean, just think of all the things that could possibly go wrong! If I post it at the wrong time of day, no one will read it. If I don’t write with super-engaging language and in a clever tone, potential readers will bypass my post for something else on the internet that’s far more exciting. Oh, and I’ll probably (unknowingly!) insert a blatant typo that my eyes refuse to notice — even after several rounds of proofreeding. Or proofreading. Yeah, that second one. I’ve painted a pretty gloomy picture there, haven’t I? It feels a little awkward to admit that I’m a pessimist. The world really seems to be riding the wave of optimism these days, at least as far as... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4852940 Sun, 22 May 2011 22:14:59 +0100 4852940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4848092&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FhJmilUrGMdo%2F The next time you manufacture a lie, whether a little fib, or a colossal corker, don’t beat yourself up about it. Turns out you will probably sleep better at night, live a happier life, and stave off illness. According to a new book Born Liars: Why We Can’t Live Without Deceit by Ian Leslie, lying is the force behind evolution. Odds are, the smartest strategist will succeed and prosper immensely in comparison with less-clever competitors. Lying makes us more reproductively-attractive, gives us balance, and interestingly enough, Leslie says that without them, we are prone to illness, depression, and even reality-induced insanity. Although, popularly frowned upon, I have to agree, and I’m sure my father Wayne Gretzsky, my husband Javier Bardem, and my pet unicorn who like... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4848092 Fri, 20 May 2011 19:45:30 +0100 4848092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841582&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F18%2Fapa-mental-health-blog-party-2011-roundup%2F Here is our roundup of posts from the Psych Central Blog Network that blogged about mental health today as a part of the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Mental Health “Blog Party.” Psych Central is the world’s largest independent mental health network run by ordinary mental health professionals. Each month, over 1.5 million people visit our site from around the world to learn more about better mental health and conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, ADHD and anxiety. Psych Central bloggers are some of the most dedicated and passionate people I’ve met in the field of mental health. Some are professionals, some are not, but all share one thing in common — they have a knack for writing about psychology and mental health issu... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841582 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:55:30 +0100 4841582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841816&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FUtg1R4d_UmM%2F How do we measure happiness? It’s an age-old question, and one that most people would say is largely rhetorical. And now Martin Seligman, the man who wrote the book on happiness—literally—says it’s largely a mute point, as well. In his latest book, Flourish, Seligman says there are five things crucial to well-being: positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning and accomplishment. These are the kinds of things that can’t be measured by any sorts of ‘happiness surveys,’ which simply measure respondents’ ‘life satisfaction’ at the time they’re interviewed. Life satisfaction essentially measures cheerful moods, so it is not entitled to a central place in any theory that aims to be more than a happiology,” he writes in Flourish. By that standard, he notes, a gove... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841816 Wed, 18 May 2011 14:27:58 +0100 4841816 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4842039&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FJl8wU8iYBM0%2F Share || “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” Brian Tracy I believe that one of the biggest reasons why people get stuck in reading and discussing things instead of taking action to change their lives for the better is simply that it is uncomfortable. But to make real changes in your life you have to step outside your comfort zone. At least for a little while. And regularly. In this article I’ll share three habits that have helped me to make it easier to step out the comfort zone. Develop a habit of mixing things up. This is an easy and simple way to expand your comfort zone and to keep your curiousness up. Try new music. I mix things up by trying new music every month. I have a look at th... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4842039 Tue, 17 May 2011 15:34:37 +0100 4842039 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829362&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38619&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FALifeCoachsBlog%2F%7E3%2FuY2KtcdmvG0%2F Shortly after we announced that we were planning on giving away 1,000,000 copies of How To Be Rich and Happy to good causes, I received a DM from a marketing guy on Twitter telling me he thought it was a brilliant strategy to help build my profile. I stared blankly at the screen in disbelief for a few moments wondering whether it was a joke. When I realized it wasn’t I started to Continue reading... (Source: Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone :) Life Coach Blog: The Discomfort Zone : blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829362 Sun, 15 May 2011 20:35:11 +0100 4829362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4828987&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F14%2F8-reasons-why-twitter-can-make-you-happy%2F I’m a huge fan of Twitter, and I’ve tried to persuade several people to give it a try. (My greatest triumph: convincing my sister to use it. Seeing my sister in my Twitter feed — that makes me very happy.) We’ve all seen how Twitter can play an unprecedented role in world events and in news communication. But on a very personal, routine level, there are several (other) ways in which Twitter can boost your happiness. After all, is it just a coincidence that a blue bird is both the symbol for happiness and the symbol for Twitter? Probably yes, I know, but still, it’s a happy coincidence. 1. Twitter allows you to pursue your passion — even if only in your imagination. A key to a happier life is to have fun – people who regularly have fun are twenty times ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4828987 Sat, 14 May 2011 16:30:58 +0100 4828987 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4820924&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F12%2Fi-focused-on-who-i-wasnt-by-my-mid-30s%2F One reason that this blog has brought me so much happiness is that blogging has widened my circle of friends so much. I met Melanie Notkin because we’re both interested in using social media to engage with readers, and I’m very excited for her this week — her first book just hit the shelves, Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, Godmothers, and All Women Who Love Kids. In it, she shines a light on relationships that bring a tremendous amount of love and happiness — the bond among “aunties” and their nieces, nephews, god-children, etc. I knew Melanie has done a lot of thinking about happiness, so I was eager to hear what she had to say. Gretchen: What’s a simple activity that consistently makes you happier? Melanie: I call my... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4820924 Thu, 12 May 2011 12:27:26 +0100 4820924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4829163&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FbU2cz9zqJhM%2F Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College London has recently unveiled research that demonstrates how significant art is to our collective happiness and well-being. In fact, he posits that when we look at art, the effect on our brain is analogous to being in love, as art stimulates the pleasure centers of our brains. If that’s the case, then for years I’ve been having an illicit affair with Banksy, and he doesn’t even know it. Zeki says, “We’ve recently found that when we look at things that we consider beautiful, the activity in the pleasure and reward centers of the brain goes up. There’s a lot of dopamine, which is also known as a feel-good neuro-transmitter, in these areas, so it essentially, the feel-good centers are being stimul... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4829163 Wed, 11 May 2011 17:53:46 +0100 4829163 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813542&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FbU2cz9zqJhM%2F Semir Zeki, Professor of Neuroesthetics at University College London has recently unveiled research that demonstrates how significant art is to our collective happiness and well-being. In fact, he posits that when we look at art, the effect on our brain is analogous to being in love, as art stimulates the pleasure centers of our brains. If that’s the case, then for years I’ve been having an illicit affair with Banksy, and he doesn’t even know it. Zeki says, “We’ve recently found that when we look at things that we consider beautiful, the activity in the pleasure and reward centers of the brain goes up. There’s a lot of dopamine, which is also known as a feel-good neuro-transmitter, in these areas, so it essentially, the feel-good centers are being stimul... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813542 Wed, 11 May 2011 17:53:46 +0100 4813542 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813361&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F11%2Fthe-fear-of-making-mistakes-and-interesting-insights-on-being-wrong%2F My whole life I’ve been terrified of making mistakes. When I was giving a talk about Germany in my sixth grade class and the teacher asked me who the chancellor was, it took me a minute to utter his last name — all the while I was stuttering. When I gave presentations in school, I never veered away from my index cards — not even a word. I made myself memorize the words in their exact order — perfectly. If I fumbled, I was a failure. When I started a job in college, the first time I swept the floor, I took an inordinate amount of time. I was worried that if the manager saw any dirt, she’d think that I wasn’t working hard enough to pick up every speck. When I was accepted to grad school, I thought they could sense my stupidity and lack of skill and send me on my way. (Im... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813361 Wed, 11 May 2011 12:29:54 +0100 4813361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813362&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F10%2F7-tips-for-giving-effective-praise%2F Gold-star junkie that I am, I was once grumbling to my mother about the fact that some extraordinarily praiseworthy effort on my part had gone unremarked. My mother wisely responded, “Most people probably don’t get the appreciation they deserve.” That’s right, I realized — for instance, my mother! Whom I certainly don’t give enough praise for everything she does for me. This got me thinking about the importance of praise, and how to praise effectively. The right words of praise can be so encouraging, but bland, empty praise is meaningless. Be specific. Vague praise doesn’t make much of an impression. Find a way to praise sincerely and realistically. It’s a rare situation where you can’t identify something that you honestly find praiseworthy. Ne... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813362 Tue, 10 May 2011 19:30:59 +0100 4813362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4803570&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2F-maF8n3xDXg%2F Slipped into the doldrums? Feeling sad and low and lonely? We all feel this way from time to time. Often, all we need is a good distraction to shake us out of the funk. Here are 45 quick and easy mood lifters that you can use right now: 1.Tell a good joke – or ask people nearby to tell you their favorites. I just read this one, in the intro to Tina Fey’s book Bossypants. “Two peanuts walked down the road. One was a salted (peanut.)” And a personal favorite: “What do you call cheese that isn’t yours? Nacho cheese.” 2. Follow funny people on twitter.  I am partial to goofy humor and silly puns, so Ellen DeGeneres always gets a giggle from me @theellenshow. Conduct a search on twitter to see if any of your favorite comedians tweet. 3. Spend a few minutes watching babies giggle... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4803570 Mon, 09 May 2011 06:54:37 +0100 4803570 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4794896&cid=t_107019_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F06%2Fthe-greek-miracle-how-ancient-greek-philosophy-can-save-you-or-at-least-improve-your-life%2F Former nightclub owner Nicholas Kardaras died ten years ago. That’s right. For a few minutes his pulse was flat. Then he “pulled a Lazarus” as he describes it. He was revived and clung to life for a bit with the help of a respirator. When he finally emerged from his coma, he was a changed man. Plato, Pythagoras, and the other ancient Greeks saved him. That’s what he says in his new book, How Plato and Pythagoras Can Save Your Life. A drug addict living the glamorous life, rubbing elbows with the likes of John F. Kennedy, Jr., Tom Cruise, and Brooke Shields, he decided to turn all of his time and energy toward ancient Greek philosophy? Why? Kardaras writes: After my post-coma resurrection, I was desperate to better understand the universe and my purpose within it; I guess that a ne... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4794896 Fri, 06 May 2011 17:45:18 +0100 4794896 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4795079&cid=t_107019_180_f&fid=38614&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FThePositivityblog-PutSomePersonalDevelopmentAndPositivityIntoYourLife%2F%7E3%2FdcYi6duQ1Cw%2F Image by Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix) (license). Share || “When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers.” Ralph Waldo Emerson What is holding you back from trying new things and improving your life in big or small ways in your daily life? When you boil it down it is most often not about anything outside of you. Or that is at least not the biggest reason why you feel paralyzed. It’s the fear that gets to you. It holds you back from trying something new for lunch, a new place for the evening out or a new hobby because you feel somewhat afraid that you’ll have a bad experience. So you stick to your u... The Positivity Blog | Increase Your Happiness and Awesomeness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4795079 Fri, 06 May 2011 14:03:18 +0100 4795079 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789492&cid=t_107019_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FEBRdSm55Mm0%2F Did you know that it’s North American Occupational Health and Safety Week? Neither did we, so don’t feel too badly. Even though we don’t happen to work in an inherently dangerous industrial factory, mine, on a construction site, or an oil rig, sometimes going to work can be a real pain. Meaning that, aside from the normal stresses that can surround our daily job, where and how we toil can actually cause serious chronic pain. And because most of us spend an inordinate amount of time at work, we’d prefer it to be a pleasant, rather than painful experience. So how can we avoid developing physical pain in the workplace? (Besides not tripping over that power cord.) For answers, I turned to Charles Friedman, a Florida-based doctor who specializes in pain management issues... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789492 Thu, 05 May 2011 16:32:44 +0100 4789492 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4789249&cid=t_107019_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-happiness-lead-to-suicide-confusing-correlation-with-causation%2F2011.05.04 On Tara Parker-Pope’s NY Time Well Blog, she tells us that in places where people are the happiest, for example Denmark & Sweden, for example, have the highest happiness ranks, and the highest suicide rates. This is perplexing. And apparently, the various United States are also ranked. New Jersey, where I grew up, is the 47th happiest state– surprising given Full Serve gasoline, good pizza, and beaches. You were looking for something more out of life? Also it has the 47th suicide rate, so the miserable apparently tough it out. Ms. Parker-Pope writes: After analyzing the data, the researchers found a relationship between overall happiness and risk of suicide. In general, states with high levels of life satisfaction had higher suicide rates, according to the report, which has... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4789249 Wed, 04 May 2011 22:00:00 +0100 4789249