Friday Feature: Get Happy

There's no denying it's been a tough news week and perhaps an even tougher week for IRAs and 401Ks. It's frighteningly easy to become overwhelmed by it all and adopt a negative outlook, especially since we, as humans, are predisposed to see the negative.

Luckily, there's a ready antidote: positivity. Happiness researchers have postulated that we are in control of almost half of our own happiness. While critics point to this as an oversimplification, then bottom line is that we aren't victims. We can improve our own wellbeing.

Want to know more? Check out this article on the habits of happy people.

Because everyone can use a little happy in their day.

Friday Feature: Building on Success

So often, we zoom in on our weaknesses, our imperfections and the things we've left undone. A part of human nature, this negativity bias is not a lot of fun. While it could be argued that this is how we grow stronger, more perfect and complete, it seems like a steady journey on this rocky road might be unnecessarily harsh.

What if there were another route?

Strengths-based approaches offer just that. They don't ignore the bad; they just focus on the good instead. Rather than focusing on fixing what's going wrong, they look at replicating what's going right.

In his article in Inc., Peter Economy shares two easy ways to do this so we can increase both our success and our happiness. Taking our successes from one area of our lives and applying them to another area is not only easier than starting from scratch, it's a lot more fun as well.

Sounds like the perfect plan for the most wonderful time of the year.

Friday Feature: Wisdom from RBG

Last night, I was scrolling through Twitter and a priest I know from Twitter only (NOT one of my parish priests) posed a snide question along these lines: "Have you ever met a feminist who is kind or gentle?" I'm taking liberty with the quotation marks as I don't remember the exact wording. I only remember how it made me feel.

This was a member of the clergy, not only stereotyping but writing off an entire segment of his congregation as not meeting standards of human kindness. I thought of any number of snarky remarks, but those would only prove his point. I thought about him being on the other side of the screen or, heaven forbid, face-to-face with me during the sacrament of reconciliation. I thought about how he'd feel if I wrongly painted him with the broad brush of scandal that the church is facing right this minute.

In the end, I said nothing. His mind was made up and our views were clearly different enough that he wasn't someone I wanted to continue following as I was sure I'd offend him at some point.

And he'd already offended me.

When I re-read today's feature article, I wish I'd remembered it last night. The Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a kinder, gentler feminist. She is diminutive, soft-spoken and smart, smart, smart. She has earned her spot on the Supreme Court step-by-step beginning, perhaps, by graduating first in her class at Columbia Law School.

In his Inc. article, "17 Powerfully Inspiring Quotes from Ruth Bader Ginsburg," Peter Economy leads into those 17 quotes with this one: 

"Ginsburg is a powerful example of someone who lives her beliefs and isn't afraid to voice them."

The same, I suppose, could be said of that priest, though when it comes to phrasing, I think he could learn a thing or two from Justice Ginsburg.

Then again, I suppose that's true for all of us.

Friday Feature: 17 Quotes from Stephen Hawking

Anyone who's known me for any length of time knows math and science aren't my pursuits. Those same people have probably also heard me say that I had a fantastic physics teacher, and that if Mr. Faubl couldn't teach me physics, no one can.

My lack of ability in physics doesn't mean that I'm not fascinated by science, though, and some of that has to do with not just Mr. Faubl, but also scientists who brought their ideas into the mainstream.

One of those scientists is Dr. Stephen Hawking, who passed away on Tuesday. That day, I found an article in Inc. by one of my favorite business writers, Peter Economy, featuring 17 of Dr. Hawking's quotes. One of the quotes was particularly appropriate for a positive psychology class I'm teaching, so I copied it and used on my slides for Tuesday's class:

"However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. Where there's life, there's hope."

Indeed.

Want to read the other sixteen quotes? Click here.

Rest in peace, Dr. Hawking.

Friday Feature: Remarkably Simple Habits

Ah, a day off. A day in the middle of the week all to myself means skipping the schedule and meandering through the day, right?

Not if I'm smart.

When I read Peter Economy's article, "5 Remarkably Simple Daily Habits that will Change Your Life," I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was doing (almost) all of them. True, my vacation day schedule looks quite a bit different from my work day schedule, but each begins with the same routine -- and with a list. From there, some meandering definitely takes place, but sticking to some semblance of structure -- albeit a loose one -- really does make the day more productive and more relaxing.

Although I have to work on what I'm staying hydrated with (more water, less caffeine) and I will never be a "wake up early" kind of girl, according to this article, I'm on the right track to changing my life.

Or at least keeping things running smoothly.

Friday Feature: Training Your Brain

Brain research fascinates me. New technologies that enable us to see the human brain in action can teach us so much about brain development and brain health, not to mention suggesting interventions and strategies that can help to keep the brain healthy.

Unfortunately, a misreading or misrepresentation of research can also inspire "solutions" that range from useless to dangerous. Fearful of losing our faculties to Alzheimer's, or even the natural process of aging, we can be easy prey for products that promise to prevent these things, especially when they carry the what looks like a research seal of approval.

Often, simply making an existing practice a habit is all we need to preserve our health, our intellect and our well-being. If you're looking for some easy ways to strengthen your brain, check out this article in Inc. by Peter Economy. Easy and fun, these strategies are habit-forming which, in this case, is a good thing.

Friday Feature Draft: Courageous People

I've never thought of myself as particularly courageous. I try to be brave when the situation calls for it, but if you asked for a list of my top ten traits, neither courage nor bravery would be on it.

I've never really considered what creates courage, or what habits courageous people practice. Reading this piece by Peter Economy made me think about courage and fearlessness in a completely different way; I never really thought about open mindedness or perseverance being connected to courage.

Worth a read. You just might discover that (to borrow from A. A. Milne) "You are braver than you believe... [and] stronger than you seem."

Friday Freebie: Think Like a Success

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As a glass half-full kind of person, I love the power of positive thinking. I also happen to enjoy list articles by Peter Economy, so this Friday Freebie was a hit on many levels.

Want to know what successful people are thinking? Check it out here.

I have a little trouble with #4, and while I usually embrace the rest of the list as well, I think #12 is my favorite.

How about you?

Friday Feature: 7 Ways to Become Influential

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It's rare that I don't enjoy a piece by Peter Economy, and this week's Friday Feature is no exception. Having spent the last week teaching Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People to a group of freshmen, I was drawn in by the title, and anxious to make a comparison. As it turns out, the "7 Highly Effective Habits to Become the Most Influential Person in the Room" dovetail quite nicely with their Covey cousins. A mix of common sense and common courtesy, they're a lot less complicated, too. 

Chances are, if you were raised with a mix of common sense and common courtesy, you're already more than halfway there. I'm happy to report that this is the case for my own child, and most of my freshmen as well. 

At least when I'm watching.