Inner IDEA Meditation is an approach to training the mind, similar to the way that fitness is an approach to training the body. But many meditation techniques exist. So how do you learn how to meditate? “In Buddhist tradition, the word ‘meditation’ is equivalent to a word like ‘sports’ in the U.S. It’s a family…
Alison Keane This paper, Mindfulness-just think about it: A different mental approach combats stress, advocated that legal professionals who practiced mindfulness experienced a reduction in stress. The research chose to focus on legal professionals because of the proven high-levels of stress that they face, often leading to depression, anxiety, divorce and substance abuse. Mindfulness was defined as “the capacity to pay…
Emma M. Seppälä Ph.D. | Psychology Today, September 2014 Many of us have heard of meditation’s benefits. We may have even tried meditation once or twice. And many of us will have found it hard and concluded that “meditation is not for me.” But wait! Did you know there are many forms of meditation? There are…
Karen Lawson, MD | University of Minnesota, February 2015 Emotions that are freely experienced and expressed without judgment or attachment tend to flow fluidly. On the other hand, repressed emotions (especially fearful or negative ones) can zap mental energy and hope and lead to health problems, such as high blood pressure or digestive disorders. Therefore, it’s…
Golle J, Mast FW, Lobmaier JS This study examined the relationship between emotional expressions and what we find attractive. Researchers conducted two experiments to test the link between happy expressions and attractiveness. First, participants were asked to pick the most attractive person from two simultaneously presented pictures of mophed faces with varying expressions of happiness and attractiveness. Then, participants…
Kimberly Yam | Huffington Post, January 2015 One widower has found solace in his late wife’s touching words. Jimmy Breland of Cleveland, Mississippi, was married to his wife, Billie, for 60 years. When she fell ill late last year and had to be hospitalized, Jimmy stayed by her side every single day, until her death…
Happiness Central Why do couples hold hands? And why does the touch of a mother’s hand so quickly soothe a scared and crying child? Jim Coan from the University of Virginia wanted to investigate the effect of hand holding on couples when they were experiencing a stressful event. He asked 16 happily married women to…
Daily Mail | Ryan Gorman, December 2014 A New York homeless man is about to launch his own app after learning how to code through the generosity of a software developer who passed him every day during his commute. First announced on Medium last month by software developer Patrick McConlogue, 23, ‘Finding The Unjustly Homeless…
Heather Scherschel Wagner, Britt Ahlstrom, Joseph P. Redden, Zata Vickers, Traci Mann This study sought to test if comfort foods really provide psychological benefits and improve moods. After completing an online questionnaire about their favorite comfort foods, participants participated in two lab studies, a week apart, where they ate their comfort food along with non-comfort or neutral…
Puppies. Kittens. Fat babies. These are the cute things in life we love to coo about, but who knew that the mere sight of them could heighten our mental skills? A new study by Japanese researchers now shows there are more benefits to looking at pictures of these universal delights than just getting a case…
