A study in the Journal of Psychological Science shows that we’re much happier when there’s a lot going on in our life. If keeping active and busy is positive for our health, why do we often feel overwhelmed or exhausted by our list of responsibilities? It may not be our to-do list that is the source of our unhappiness. Instead,…
By Douglas LaBier, Ph.D. In a previous post I described new research showing that a sense of purpose in life is linked with greater longevity. That’s just one of an increasing number of studies that add to the recognition that we are biological-psychological-spiritual-social beings. All dimensions—internal and external—interact with each other and shape our total experience of life: our overall health, level…
By Melissa Faulkner I had the privilege of studying abroad in Denmark for a summer after my junior year of college. There’s about a million and one reasons why this was the best summer of my life, and most of the details can be found on my blog. But the real value behind my summer in Copenhagen was not truly realized…
By Anneli Rufus Curling up with a good novel is one of life’s most solitary activities. Yet a raft of new studies suggests that reading fiction actually deepens our ability to connect with others by making us more empathetic. In one series of studies, conducted by researchers at the New School for Social Research and published in the journal Science,…
By Brittany Shoot What is Somatic Experiencing? Somatic Experiencing works from the relationship of the body to the trauma. For example, when we feel threatened or in danger, our bodies respond in a particular way. We mobilize energy to flee, or if we perceive a mortal threat, we’ll collapse. Somatic Experiencing helps people become aware of their bodies’ responses and…
Today is July 4, and our thoughts turn to freedom. Here are a few thoughts on the subject from some of our favorite Americans. View the gallery >
By Anneli Rufus In a recent study, people were asked to choose between winning a small prize immediately and larger prizes they would have to wait several weeks to claim. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 70 percent chose the smaller-sooner prize. But follow-up questioning revealed that those who chose to wait treasured their rewards more highly than those who claimed their prize immediately—even…
