7 Books on Human Behavior Times Now
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7 Books on Human Behavior - Times Now
Category Archives: Human Behavior
Euphemisms increasingly used to soften behavior that would be questionable in direct language – Norfolk Daily News
During questioning of Fulton County, Georgia, prosecutor Nathan Wade about his relationship with District Attorney Fani Willis there was a moment that cut through all the euphemisms we have become accustomed to when it comes to human behavior.
Scott Sadow, an attorney for Donald Trump, who is trying to get an indictment against Trump dismissed for Trumps alleged interference in the 2020 presidential election, received an answer to a question that appeared to surprise him. Asked about his relationship with Willis, Wade said, Do you mean intercourse? Sadow said he wasnt going to use that word, but since Wade brought it up, then yes, thats what he meant.
It was a classic example of how euphemisms are increasingly used to soften the meaning of questionable behavior.
A forceful Willis tried to obfuscate her relationship with Wade, even calling him at one point a Southern gentleman. But in an earlier court filing, she admitted to an affair (meaning sex) with Wade, who she put on the payroll as part of her Trump prosecution team.
So many descriptions of human behavior have been modified or changed to gloss over their real meaning. In part, I think, it is to avoid judgment which can lead to a change in behavior that benefits individuals and the wider culture. Failing to identify certain behavior for what it is can have the effect of legitimizing that behavior in the eyes of people who are engaging in it and in the wider culture that refuses to accept a standard defining right and wrong.
How many speak of cheating on ones spouse, as Wade is alleged to have done, as adultery? Todays preferred description is a romantic relationship.
Could we also stop saying boyfriend and girlfriend when speaking of adults? These are not dating teenagers. They are mature people who have presumably been exposed to what used to be called the right way to live, but who have chosen another way.
Lying doesnt always bring the consequences it once did, even when witnesses take an oath to tell the truth. It is more than fishy that Wade and Willis exchanged cash and have no receipts or other records to back up their claims of legal behavior and propriety. Wade refused to say where he keeps his cash, but suggested some of it might be under his pillow. Willis said she once paid Wade $2,500 in cash that came from her pocketbook. Who carries around that kind of money? Wade even obfuscated on whether he used a credit card and how he was reimbursed for part of his expenditures when he and Willis traveled together. Who doesnt keep receipts, especially for tax purposes? Will the IRS investigate?
Two of the Ten Commandments prohibit adultery and bearing false witness. Those two forms of behavior are increasingly allowed in our non-judgmental culture. We see daily the corrosion violating these commands have caused.
Using words that accurately describe behavior, instead of euphemisms, can have the effect of limiting that behavior. It once seemed to. Approving, or at least failing to reject such behavior, contributes to more of it. As one translation of Proverbs 29:18 puts it, If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control.
Linking environmental influences, genetic research to address concerns of genetic determinism of human behavior – Phys.org
Emerson’s Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature – The Good Men Project
Earlier today, I had a brief conversation with a superintendent at my worksite; he had a long career in construction spanning 45 years, so he is a wealth of knowledge. I asked him what he does to keep himself motivated in our industry. He paused momentarily and mentioned some words that his favorite writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, had said.
If you dont know Ralph Waldo Emerson, he is a towering figure in American literature and philosophy and is often remembered for his insightful observations on human nature and society.
The superintendent told me that Emerson once said that 3 wants are fundamental desires that drive human behavior:
1 The want for more (greed),
2 The want for health,
and
3 The want of Anywhere but here.
While seemingly straightforward, these desires offered a deep glimpse into the complexities of human motivation and our quest for fulfillment. So, I decided to dig deeper for a better understanding.
The first desire Emerson identifies is the want for greed, encapsulated in the phrase its never enough. This desire stems from an insatiable longing for more more wealth, more success, more possessions. It reflects a deeper discontentment, a belief that happiness and satisfaction can be attained through the accumulation of material wealth.
However, this endless pursuit often leads to a cycle of dissatisfaction, where each achievement or acquisition only fuels the desire for more, leaving people trapped in a perpetual state of wanting.
This want for greed speaks to a broader societal issue, where success is often measured by material wealth and social status.
It challenges us to reconsider our values and question whether true contentment can ever be achieved through external means.
Emersons observation invites us to explore alternative sources of fulfillment that are not contingent on accumulating wealth but are rooted in the richness of our internal lives and relationships.
The second desire Emerson discusses is the want for health.
This desire is universal, transcending cultural, economic, and social boundaries.
To want to be healthy is not merely to be free from illness but to experience a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. It reflects an understanding that health is the foundation upon which we build our lives, enabling us to pursue our goals, enjoy our relationships, and engage fully with the world around us.
However, the want for health also highlights the challenges and inequalities within our societies. Access to healthcare, nutritious food, clean air and water, and safe living conditions are not uniformly available, making pursuing health a privilege for some and a distant dream for others.
Emersons identification of health as a fundamental desire serves as a call to action, urging us to address these disparities and work towards a world where the want for health can be a reality for all.
The third desire, characterized by the sentiment anywhere but here, is a longing for change, something different from our current circumstances. It reflects a belief that happiness and fulfillment lie elsewhere, that if we could only change our location, situation, or surroundings, we would find what we are looking for.
This desire is often rooted in dissatisfaction with the present and romanticizing the unknown.
However, Emerson suggests that this want overlooks a crucial truth: that our external circumstances are not the sole determinants of our happiness. The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment. By focusing on changing our perspective rather than our location, we can discover that contentment is not a distant reality but a possibility within our current existence.
The energy we bring to our experiences, the attitudes we adopt, and the meaning we find in our daily lives shape our fulfillment.
Emersons identification of these three wants greed, health, and the desire for change serves as a powerful reminder of the complexities of human desire and the search for fulfillment. It challenges us to look beyond the superficial markers of success and happiness and to delve deeper into the values and attitudes that truly shape our well-being.
In doing so, we can address the underlying discontent that drives these wants and work towards a more fulfilled, contented existence.
I was fortunate to come across this wisdom passed on to me from my worksite superintendent from Ralph Waldo Emersons insights.
Examining these desires invites us to contemplate the true sources of happiness and fulfillment. Emersons observations encourage us to reconsider our priorities, to value our health and well-being above material wealth, and to find contentment in our current circumstances through a shift in perspective.
In embracing these lessons, we can navigate the complexities of life with a deeper understanding and appreciation for the journey toward fulfillment.
What are your thoughts? I would love to know.
This post was previously published on medium.com.
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Emerson's Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature - The Good Men Project
Dogs can recognize a bad person and there’s science to prove it. – GOOD
Dogs can smell fear, but can they sniff out the truth? Your dog might actually be smarter than you're giving it credit for.
It turns out, dogs are pretty good at picking up on human behavior. Science says so. A team led by Akiko Takaoka of Kyoto University in Japan conducted a study which found out that dogs actually know if you're to be believed or not.
The study involved tricking dogs in the name of science. Humans have known for a long time that if you point at an object, a dog will run to it. Researchers utilized this information in their study. During the experiment, they pointed at a container that was filled with hidden food. Sure enough, the dog ran towards the container. Then, they pointed at a container that was empty. The dogs ran towards it, but found that it had no food.
The third time the researchers pointed at a container with food, the dogs refused to go to the container. They knew the person pointing wasn't reliable based off their previous experience. 34 dogs were used in the experiment, and every single dog wouldn't go towards the container the third time. This experiment either proves that dogs can spot a liar or that dogs have major trust issues.
In other words, if you lie to your dog, your dog forms the opinion that your word isn't good and will behave accordingly. "Dogs have more sophisticated social intelligence than we thought. This social intelligence evolved selectively in their long life history with humans," said Takaoka, who was also surprised that dogs were quick when they devalued the reliability of a human."
John Bradshaw of the University of Bristol in the UK, who wasn't involved in this study, says that the results indicate that dogs prefer predictability. When gestures are inconsistent, dogs tend to become nervous and stressed.
The researchers have plans to repeat the experiment swapping out the dogs with wolves because wolves are closely related to dogs. The point of this isn't to get bitten by wolves, but rather, to see the "profound effects of domestication" on dogs.
This article originally appeared on 06.06.19
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Dogs can recognize a bad person and there's science to prove it. - GOOD
What Is Organizational Behavior? Everything You Need To Know – MarketWatch
The role of a companys human resources department is to cultivate a healthy and productive workplace. HR can use the insights from an OB study to do this by making improvements in the following areas.
The Big Five is a widely recognized framework that categorizes personality traits into five dimensions: Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness and Neuroticism (OCEAN). The idea is that every person has a little or a lot of each trait. Once you know where your employees personalities fall along the OCEAN spectrum, you can determine how they work and how they interact with coworkers.
Leadership requires specific skills that managers learn and hone throughout their careers. For instance, they need emotional intelligence, teamwork, adaptability, communication, collaboration and other soft skills. After conducting an OB study, you can see how managers interact with their employees, which tells you what skills they still need to work on.
Effective teams go through four stages of development: forming, storming, norming and performing. During forming, the focus is on building relationships. Storming involves dealing with conflicts and power struggles that arise. Norming is about establishing norms and best practices within the team. Performing is when the team reaches its peak performance level. OB can tell you if youre spending too much time or not enough time on forming, storming and norming, preventing you from reaching performing.
OB can help you determine if you have a tall or flat organizational structure and if that structure is right for how your company operates.
A tall structure has multiple hierarchical levels with narrow spans of control, meaning there are several managers that each oversee only a few employees. This type of structure has a clear line of authority, but it can lead to slower decision-making because the decision has to get passed up the chain through several levels.
By contrast, flat structures have fewer levels of hierarchy and wider spans of control, allowing for quicker decision-making and more direct communication. However, flat structures may need help maintaining clear lines of authority and control.
There are several human motivation theories out there, but one popular one is Abraham Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. It begins with basic physiological needs, such as food, shelter and water. Once those needs are met, a person can concentrate on their psychological needs, such as self-esteem and self-actualization.
In practice, employees at the top and bottom of the pyramid both want to be successful at work. However, the why behind this want for success differs. An employee whose motivation is survival wants to perform well so that they have steady income coming in to pay for food and shelter. In contrast, an employee whose basic needs are met wants to find meaning in their life, so they may search for a career that they love and invest in growing in that field.
At the end of the day, both types of employees are hard workers and worth having on your team. However, you want to do whatever you can, such as adjusting pay based on cost of living, to help more of your employees reach the latter stage. That way, they get a better quality of life because they dont have to worry about living paycheck to paycheck, and you get a workforce that is invested in growing with you.
There are several dimensions to communication. Here are some definitions to keep in mind as you study how your employees communication with one another:
Once you know what communication methods your employees use, you can decide if that aligns with how you want your company to operate. For example, maybe you picked up on a lot of crossed arms and frowns during your research, which would indicate unhappiness. You would want to reinforce a work culture of open communication so that employees feel comfortable telling their managers about challenges that are making them unhappy.
There are two approaches to decision-making: rational and intuitive. Rational decision-making is when you thoroughly analyze the situation, including all of the potential solutions, before choosing a path forward. With intuitive decision-making, you make a spontaneous decision based on what your gut tells you.
Employees within your team likely use different decision-making methods. You want to use OB to determine what works best for each person so that the team can meet in the middle to avoid conflict.
Change is unavoidable as a business. It can happen for internal or external reasons. External pressures are beyond the companys control (e.g., economic downturn or market competition). By contrast, internal factors, such as releasing a new product or losing key clients, can necessitate change from within.
Kurt Lewins Model of Change Theory provides a framework for handling both types of change. Its a three-step process that starts with unfreeze. Unfreeze is when you prepare your employees for change by communicating what necessitated the change and what the change will be. Change is the actual implementation of the changes, and refreeze is about solidifying the changes and making them a permanent part of the organization.
By studying your workplace, you can determine if your employees are comfortable with change. If you see them struggling, you can put them at ease and prepare them for the next change by educating them on Lewins theory.
There are two types of conflict: constructive and destructive. Constructive conflict, characterized by using open communication and diverse perspectives to find a solution, can stimulate creativity, foster innovation and improve decision-making. On the other hand, destructive conflict is marked by hostile exchanges and personal attacks, which can disrupt teamwork, damage morale and impede progress.
If you notice characteristics of deconstructive conflict appearing within your team, you may want to implement a mediation system. You act as the mediator as each party explains their side. You can then come to a compromise that addresses both parties concerns.
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What Is Organizational Behavior? Everything You Need To Know - MarketWatch
Overcoming ‘Otherness’ in Scientific Research Commentary in Nature Human Behavior USA – English – USA – PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a provocative commentary in Nature Human Behavior, Dr. Jane L. Delgado of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health and Dr. Rueben C. Warren former Director of the National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care at Tuskegee University and now at Meharry Medical College, call for a critical examination of 'otherness' in science to advance the meaningfulness and quality of research and movebeyond health disparities, a sanitized catch-all phrase, that defuses what are more accurately labeled as harmful health outcomes (HHO). They also provide interventions to proactively address otherness to produce better science.
Dr. Delgado explains further, "True scientific excellence requires all voices, and varied experiences and perspectives. To harness the full potential of our society, we must recognize and actively address the biases that 'otherness' introduces into scientific research." Dr. Warren adds, "It's crucial to acknowledge that our collective progress is hindered when research is skewed by the exclusion of significant populations based on gender, race, or other dimensions of identity."
The commentary highlights the detrimental impact of 'otherness' in scientific methodologies and outcomes, particularly in health-related research. They describe how the factors that define a sense of belonging produce the corollary of otherness. These factors include race, ethnicity, sex/gender, religious affiliation, heritage, political association, and other dimensions.The impact is science that is limited by its methods and scope producing adverse health outcomes. Negative otherness distorts all aspects of science from how teams are structured, participants invited, questions asked, answers that are developed, follow-up actions, interpretation of findings, final conclusions, and clinical decision-making."
The commentary makes clear, "Otherness is not a new concept and while the focus on otherness focuses on the negative consequences there are also positive outcomes that may occur. Positive outcomes from otherness occur when there is a recognition of differences that are taken into consideration to tailor actions to the individual to produce positive outcomes." A good example of positive otherness is the movement for precision or tailored medicine.
The authors call for a recalibration of the scientific enterprise by building diverse teams, encouraging multiple perspectives, improving AI algorithms with comprehensive data sets, and leveraging 'otherness' to foster innovation rather than division. The authors conclude that individual actions and leadership are paramount to overcoming the entrenched biases of 'otherness' and achieving a future where scientific discovery is unbounded and all-inclusive.
For the full commentary, please visit Nature Human Behavior: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-01821-y
About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health(The Alliance) The Alliance is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States with a mission to achieve the best health for all. For more information visit us atwww.healthyamericas.org
About Meharry Medical College (Meharry) Meharry is one of the nation's oldest and largest historically black academic health science center and includes amedical school,dental school,graduate school,applied computational sciences school, and theCenter for Health Policy. For more information visit Meharry at: https://home.mmc.edu
SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health
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Overcoming 'Otherness' in Scientific Research Commentary in Nature Human Behavior USA - English - USA - PR Newswire
"Reichman University’s behavioral economics program: Navigating human be – The Jerusalem Post
Human behavior takes center stage in times of crisis. Amid the "Swords of Iron" war, this aspect becomes even more crucial. Adhering to the directives of the Home Front Command and navigating the economic crisis stemming from the ongoing situation compel individuals to act against their usual habits and inclinations.
Seeking shelter during alarms, exiting vehicles promptly, handling unpaid leave, and cutting expensesall these actions underscore the societal challenges, highlighting the necessity for a deeper comprehension of human behavior. This is precisely the focus of behavioral economics, a field that the MA in Behavioral Economics program at Reichman University seeks to explore.
But how does behavioral economics contribute during wartime? This emerging scientific discipline melds insights from economics and psychology to unravel the motivations and influences behind people's decisions. Armed with this understanding, behavioral economists craft practical tools and interventions to guide individuals toward better and more adaptive choices. These tools include subtle environmental changes, like signage indicating the location of protected spaces, facilitating access during alarms, even in unfamiliar places, and financial management aids to navigate price hikes and income reductions.
Students in our MA in Behavioral Economics program receive a robust theoretical foundation in economics and psychology. Simultaneously, they acquire practical tools designed to enhance decision-making processes for individuals and organizations. The program's social orientation fosters engagement with Israeli society, addressing the growing need to formulate public policies and interventions that enhance resilience and mitigate the social impacts of war.
During the initial weeks of the war, students from our program, alongside faculty members, spearheaded various initiatives. These initiatives aimed to enhance the personal resilience of international students at the University and assist organizations in tackling economic challenges.
The program's faculty and I led research projects addressing the economic crisis. This research informs policymakers about designing interventions and campaigns that promote suitable behavior to bolster resilience. The challenges post-war are abundant, and our MA program in Behavioral Economics encourages student and faculty initiatives to address them. Guided by our faculty, students gain hands-on experience in behavioral interventions, leading projects to help people cope with anxiety, mental stress, and financial difficulties. This practical approach aims to enable Israeli society to resume normal life efficiently.
For more info >
This article was written in cooperation with Reichman University
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"Reichman University's behavioral economics program: Navigating human be - The Jerusalem Post
Of trees, symbols of humankind, on Tu BShevat – The Jewish Star
By Rabbi Yossy Goldman
There is a wealth of symbolism to the holiday of Tu BShevat and many lessons for human behavior.
While Tu BShevat (the 15th of the month Shevat), observed this year on Thursday, Jan. 25, had an halachic link tothe first fruit offerings, its observance today is mainly symbolic. It includes such traditions as eating fruit (particularly those of the holy land olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates).
But there is a wealth of symbolism to this day and many lessons for human behavior. I remember once teasing a friend whose birthday is on Tu BShevat, the New Year for Trees. I told him: Make like a tree and grow up!
The source linking trees to humans comes from Deuteronomy 20:19, ironically, in the laws of warfare. The Torah teaches us not to destroy fruit trees wantonly, even on the battlefield. Is the tree like your human enemy? asks the verse. Indeed, to this day, we continue to practice ethics and morality during intense warfare South Africas accusations to the International Court of Justice notwithstanding.
But that scriptural verse can also be construed as a statement of fact. Man is as the tree of the field. Indeed, this interpretation has inspired many a commentary on the similarities between trees and people and the numerous lessons we can learn from trees. Let me share a few of my favorites.
There are three structural elements to a tree, especially a fruit tree: the roots, the trunk and the fruit.
The roots, from which every tree is nurtured, represent our forebears, particularly our parents and grandparents who nurtured us and have had such a powerful influence on our growth, upbringing and personal value systems.
The trunk is, of course, the main body of any tree expressing its fundamental identity. It represents the person, himself or herself.
And the fruits symbolize our progeny our children and grandchildren, who grow and are sustained by us, and then go on to live their own independent lives.
Alternatively, according to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the roots are our faith; the trunk is our own good deeds and Torah study; and the fruits are the positive impacts we have on our family, friends and broader spheres of influence.
And our roots are long and deep. When we are inspired by our history, traditions, teachers and role models of the past, we are able to produce fruits that nourish and sweeten the world that is, our own strong, positive values and way of life.
Another idea the Rebbe often borrowed from trees was a message on the vital importance of educating our children. When it comes to a fully-grown tree, a scratch on the trunk will cause little damage. But if someone scratches the body of a young sapling, it can have devastating effects and leave a massive scar as the tree grows. Similarly, the formative years of a child require exceptional sensitivity and great care as we would give a sapling.
Trees also present a symbol of continuity down the generations. The Talmud tells the story of a very righteous man named Choni Hamaagal, who once saw an elderly man planting a carob tree.
How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit? asked Choni of the old man.
70 years, said the man.
What? Do you think you will live so long to enjoy the fruit of this tree?
I found carob trees in this world, said the old man. Just as my predecessors planted trees for me, so do I plant trees for those who will follow me. (Taanit 23a)
It may take many years for the trees we plant to develop and become productive, but we must ensure our generational continuity for eternity.
So on Tu BShevat, let us remember the importance of our trees, for the ecosystem and for all the important lessons we learn from them.
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Of trees, symbols of humankind, on Tu BShevat - The Jewish Star
Tapping Into The Power Of Positive Psychology With Acclaimed Expert Niyc Pidgeon – GirlTalkHQ
[Trigger warning: mention of suicide and suicide attempt]
According to Psychology Today, the term Positive Psychology refers to a branch of psychology focused on the character strengths and behaviors that allow individuals to build a life of meaning and purpose. Positive psychology emphasizes meaning and deep satisfaction, not just on fleeting happiness.
While there is overlap with traditional areas of psychology, positive psychology has been described as different from other areas due to its primary interest in identifying and building mental assets, as opposed to addressing weaknesses and problems.
Positive Psychology expert Niyc Pidgeon not only makes it her life mission to help clients build a life of meaning and purpose, she has the personal experience to back it up. She isan award-winning and best-selling motivationalspeaker, accomplished author, business mentor, and positive psychologist, deeply committed to igniting joy and personal empowerment in her clients. Niyc shares her insights and tips through her podcast series Unstoppable Success, which we highly recommend subscribing to.
Niyc has a thriving positive psychology practice that she scaled from her friends bedroom floor and has touched the lives of over 100k people through her seminars and books like Now is Your Chance. Shes opened up about incredibly tough subjects, like inher interview with Marie Clairewhichcovers the time she was abducted and sexually assaulted while on vacation in Ibiza. She has also lost several friends to suicide and survived a suicide attempt herself.
Without falling into the tropes of toxic positivity we see online and in mental health conversations today, Niyc has found ways to encourage others to tap into their communities for support and buoy their resilience in the face of the insurmountable.Today, Niyc is known as one of the most influential positive psychologists, according toForbes,Marie ClaireandRichard Branson. NBD
As 2024 continues to unfold and we work our way through goal-setting, and living up to the resolutions and commitments we have made for ourselves this year, we wanted to learn more from Niyc and tap into the power of positive psychology. Read on below to learn how Niyc utilizes her personal story to create connection, the daily rituals she swears by, and her definition of success.
I became fascinated by human behavior after having a conversation with my boyfriend back in 2005. He was a professional cricket player and the sport psychologist he was working with had him do a visualization process in a session where he guided him to imagine he was on the cricket field with the bat in his hand. He asked him not to look at the fielders, but to look for the gaps in between them instead.
It made me think about what might be possible when we focus on opportunities instead of problems. And from that single conversation I was inspired to cancel my mechanical and automotive engineering degrees and study psychology instead and Im so glad I did.
Ive always been entrepreneurial with a desire to help people. My first business was as a kid ironing my dads work shirts and charging him 50p per item. I wasnt very good at it at all!
Then after reading Tim Ferris 4 hour work week back in 2009 I decided I wanted to set up an online business to create passive income. My first online business was actually a supplements company, and alongside that I was working as a personal trainer, as well as lecturing in universities, and running my own events, and studying my masters degree! I was far too busy and I had to reassess my strategy because I was making money some months and struggling other months. The income rollercoaster was also an emotional rollercoaster and I was putting in a lot of effort and helping a lot of people, but wasnt getting paid enough to thrive.
So I decided to look at what was most profitable and scalable in alignment with my vision for the future. I set up my online courses and coaching in 2015 based on what Id learned from so many years of testing and doing it wrong! Then finally things started to take off. I made $35,000 in my first month of getting focused and taking my coaching business online, then went on to scale a multi million dollar business from there.
All of the challenges we experience in life are opportunities for us to grow and learn. I know Im able to help other people now from a place of more depth and strength and Im able to support people to keep going even when they feel like giving up. Post traumatic growth is a phenomenon we study in positive psychology which shows it is possible to not just bounce back after experiencing hard things, but actually go on to be stronger than ever before.
My challenges help me lead with greater compassion and perspective we all go through tough times and by sharing and supporting each other to show theres a light at the end of the tunnel were able to foster more resilience and live with more hope.
Every step of the way Ive looked for the lessons and the blessings within the challenges. In positive psychology we talk about about two types of mindsets the growth mindset and the fixed mindset. The fixed mindset is very rigid and only focuses on the outcome and sees absolute failure or absolute success. The growth mindset finds the joy in the journey, trusts the process and looks for the learning along the way.
When you realize the process is the reward youre able to gain perspective more easily and enjoy the journey instead of just wishing you could get to a goal. Knowing the growth mindset framework helps me to remember Im always capable and that Im developing my emotional, spiritual and psychological tool kit which allows me to help myself, and then share with others how they might be able to navigate tough things too. On paper youd think Id had a terrible life with a suicide attempt, losing 7 close friends 3 of which died by suicide, surviving an assault, domestic violence, and healing heavy metals poisoning, mold poisoning and adrenal fatigue.
But all of these experiences have given me so much energy for my mission to help other people. As Ive healed through one tough experience, Ive had multiple other people who have come to me for support with the same thing. Its helped me help more people, and helped me guide the narrative for my books too.
We all need to feel we have somewhere to belong whether thats within your family, a social club, or within an online network. Consider which platforms or relationships bring you joy and choose to get more intentional about showing up there.
Humans are social creatures and we cannot thrive alone so its important to remember to cultivate positive relationships in your life. Look for who you already have in your circle who is a cheerleader for you and invest more energy into the people who are already supporting you. Look at what it is you love and value about this person and ask yourself how you might be able to demonstrate more of that quality yourself so you can become a great friend too both for your existing connections and new people who come into your world. Starting from this place of strength can remind you of the simplicity of looking for what already works and doing more of that.
Relationships are one of the core 6 elements of psychological flourishing, along with positive emotions, engagement, meaning, accomplishment, and health. A simple question you can ask to help build relationships, whether online or offline, is whats been going well for you this week? People love to talk about themselves and instead of complaining and blaming this shifts a conversation into celebration which helps both of you access more positive emotions. Following up with active constructive responding and asking more questions about the thing they are celebrating can help you to deepen your connections.
Its not all about pretending to be positive all of the time too. Being a safe place for a friend to share vulnerably, and you being willing to open up to a friend about where you have been navigating something tough, can also be a powerful way to deepen relationships and remind each other that we are stronger together.
Success is having the freedom to choose to live your life exactly the way you want to. This is going to be different for everybody. For me it means having peace in my heart, peace in my home, and the ability to structure my day as I wish, and travel whenever I want. I always start with the vision and version of success thats present for that person and work backwards from the goal. When you know how you want your ideal day and week to look you can build a business model and personal success systems to support that.
The strategy and protocols wont be the same for everyone and its never a prescription. I always invite our students to discover more about who they are through positive psychology and use what they learned to guide the development of their business on their terms.
Women come to work with me when they want to accelerate within themselves and their career. They know theyre made for more but they often need more clarity around the steps to take to reach their goal. As well as this I see theyve often been jaded by negative comments or people around them which has affected their self belief. Sometimes we are our own biggest barrier to success and were getting in our own way without realizing it.
Coming into a supportive community with a new perspective and a trusted mentor always helps them feel more certain on their path. Theyre able to break through past perceived income ceilings, and create values driven, purpose led businesses which allow them to make more money, reclaim their time and invest more special moments with their loved ones many have also even retired their husbands too!
I start my day in gratitude by saying to myself as soon as I wake up and even before I open my eyes, thank you thank you thank you thank you for this day, I am grateful in every possible way. I then meditate with a kundalini mantra and practice a breath work which helps energize me for the day. Ill listen to Abraham hicks, workout, and use the sauna, infra-red PEMF mat, and ice bath daily. I love to hike, and also have a Pilates trainer. Or Ill go for a run or do a workout on my peloton bike or lululemon mirror. I like to stay active and always have so many ideas when Im moving my body too!
First of all I highly recommend diving into positive psychology and learning about yourself through practicing the exercises and tools. Even after 15 years of working with the science of happiness Im still learning so much about myself and I love boosting my well-being through the practices.
What I love about positive psychology is its not difficult to start using it. The tools are really simple steps you can take daily to shift the way you feel. The small positive actions compound together to create big results and youre able to look back and see how far youve come.
Now more than ever before it is vital to take action to support your own mental well-being. And through the ripple effect of positive psychology youre then able to impact your family and loved ones. Working on your own well-being isnt selfish as youre also helping everyone around you too.
Want to tap into the power of positive psychology with Niyc Pidgeon? See more of her work on her website, and connect with Niyc on Instagram, Facebook and Linkedin.
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Tapping Into The Power Of Positive Psychology With Acclaimed Expert Niyc Pidgeon - GirlTalkHQ