When my parents responded to a drunk, despondent and aggravated old woman with compassion and respect, they did not know that this kindness would reach the child quietly listening in the next room, plant seeds in his soul, and continue to grow outward for forty years. Whether we are seeking peace in middle school or …
Category:
Love
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AllBusinessGratitudeHumilityIn-the-NewsLoveOptimismPathway 3 "Meaning"Positive EmotionStrengthsTaking ActionThree Branches_3 Positive Organizations
Beer and Philosophy: Engagement Japanese Style
According to several news reports, what Inamori did to re-engage employees and lead Japanese Airlines back into the black was to insist on compulsory philosophy sessions for all staff, washed down with free beer. I was so intrigued by this story that I wanted to delve a bit deeper. I hoped Kazuo Inamori’s business philosophy …
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AllCreativityCuriosityGratitudeHumorKindnessLovePositive EmotionSelf regulationStrengths
Should You Play To Your Signature Strengths or Not?
Some new research from René Proyer and colleagues at the University of Zurich suggests that not all strengths are equal and that strengths-based interventions should focus on those strengths which are correlated highly with life satisfaction. But fortunately for those who do not have curiosity, zest, gratitude, hope and/or love in their signature strengths, all …
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In Malaysia, we are celebrating 15 days of the lunar new year beginning January 23, with much ado. The expressway has been packed with tens of thousands of vehicles moving North and South depending on where Home is. I thought about the reasons for going home in that crazy traffic. Most return home for filial …
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Under the broad umbrella of Positive Psychology, Leary and Guadagno have related research and theories of the hypo-egoic state, a “psychological state characterized by relatively little involvement of the self,” to the achievement of optimal functioning. That’s not something you would typically find in a basic book on Positive Psychology or happiness.
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At a recent leadership conference, a speaker discussed new research on high performance workplaces in Australia. He showed that some positive emotions are highly correlated with performance. However feeling loved rated as low, at almost equivalent levels in the high and low performance organizations. In the discussion, nobody mentioned the word, love. A no-go area? …
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In her keynote speech at this summer’s IPPA Congress, Barbara Fredrickson invited the audience to suspend their ideas about love for 45 minutes in order to absorb her definition, and then see what resulted when they put her definition together with what they already knew.
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AllAweGratitudeHome and FamilyHopeIn-the-NewsLoveOptimismPositive EmotionRelationshipsSpirituality
Oprah’s Last Class
For twenty years my dear friend Ann and I have been watching the Oprah Winfrey show, so it seemed appropriate that we watch Oprah’s last show together. Through the power of storytelling and television, Oprah brought to life many lessons taught by positive psychologists around the world. She used her final show to share her …
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What should we expect when we lose someone who is important to us? Is there an evolutionary purpose for sadness? What does it mean that people also laugh at funerals? What distinguishes resilient mourning?
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AllLovePositive FeelingsRelationships_1 Positive Experiences
Smile and the World Smiles with You… or So They Say
In the Yearbook Study, the genuineness of women students’ smiles in their college yearbook photos predicted, 30 years later, whether they were married and scored highly on life satisfaction, good relationships, and managing stress. One of the limitations of this research is, obviously, that its participants are all female. Yesterday I accidentally came across a …
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While Valentine’s Day reminds us of romantic love, the concept of intimacy can be overlooked. Intimacy can be a profound and far-reaching lens through which we can understand the self, the power of creative expression, and participation and giving in community. Moreover, intimacy is an inspiring way of connecting these aspects of human experience.
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In about two months, my husband I will celebrate our Pearl Anniversary (30 years). While we haven’t yet shown the stamina of my grandparents’ generation, I think we can claim some stick-to-it-iveness. Fortunately for us, it has gotten easier and more rewarding with practice. Why is that? That’s what I’d like to explore here, based …
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AllCreativityFieldsIn-the-NewsLoveMindfulnessParenting & SchoolsPositive FeelingsRelationshipsResilienceSocial IntelligenceSpirituality_2 Positive Traits
Award-winning Research Launches Positive Neuroscience
by Denise Cleggby Denise CleggThe Positive Neuroscience Project has announced the recipients of the 2010 Templeton Positive Neuroscience Awards, $2.9 million given to 15 new research projects at the intersection of neuroscience and positive psychology. Read on to learn about the winning projects that explore a range of topics including how the brain enables humans to flourish, the biological …
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The Brain Does Not Love, Humans Do: Positive Psychology and the Brain
Note from Timothy T.C. So, PPND author and Associate Editor of the Chinese PPND: “I am more than grateful to introduce Theodore Cheung, a clinical psychologist and neuroscientist, to share his view on positive psychology and neuropsychology.” Forty years ago, it would have been a dream to talk about tapping emotions in the brain. At …
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AllAweIn-the-NewsLoveMindfulnessPathway 3 "Meaning"Positive FeelingsRelationshipsSavoring / In-the-MomentSpirituality_3 Positive Organizations
Take Me to Pandora, or The Positive Psychology of Avatar
by Louis Alloroby Louis AlloroI want to travel to Pandora, the fictional planet depicted in Avatar. I saw James Cameron’s newest film that has rocked box offices since its release in December on I-MAX 3-D and have since been urging friends to run, not walk, to see this movie. The message inherent in the panoramic view is profoundly positive …
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AllCommunicationGratitudeHabitsHumorLovePositive FeelingsRelationships
For Women Only: Two Secrets about Men that Can Transform your Relationship
My dear friend, even though I do not write for Cosmo magazine, my advice truly could reignite passion and connection in your relationship. In my five years of post-divorce dating, I have gathered valuable information about men from men. They have described what led to their own divorces, as well as what they most value …
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AllGratitudeHabitsHome and FamilyHumorLovePositive FeelingsRelationships
For Men Only: Two Secrets about Women that Can Transform Your Relationship
For years, I have seen men roll their eyes and exclaim, “Women! I’ll never understand them!” I have always been at a loss for how to respond to this outburst, since I have always found myself and other women completely understandable. I’ve tried to find out just what it is that men can’t comprehend, but …
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Gottman’s “Art and Science of Love”
by Amanda Horneby Amanda HorneIn the positive psychology world, Dr. John Gottman is well-known for his 5:1 ratio of positive to negative language and how it can predict successful relationships. But actually, much more than the 5:1 is important. More generally, John Gottman is widely known for his work on marital stability and relationship analysis through scientific direct observations …
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AllHopeLoveMindfulnessPathway 3 "Meaning"Positive FeelingsRelationshipsResilienceSpirituality
The Art of Comforting
by Denise Cleggby Denise CleggWhen we chose the theme of relationships as a topic for PPND this month, I asked myself, what is true love? I would describe myself as a (covert/genuine/tentative-but-rational … Heathcliff!!) Romantic, so was a bit surprised when one story – and only one story – kept popping into mind. In an interview with Krista Tippet, …
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Recently The Atlantic wrote an article summarizing a 70-year Harvard project, The Study of Adult Development. When I was interviewed as the director of the study for 40 years, I made two rash generalizations, “The only thing that really matters in life are your relationships to other people,” and “Happiness equals love—full stop.” Let me …