Why We Help Others: The Science of Empathy and Altruism (Positive Psychology Series #6)
Dog smiling at owner listening to every word, showing empathyPhoto Credit: tvdflickr

Read about the latest science on empathy, altruism, and prosocial behavior—including research examining ways that empathy and prosociality can be increased.

Read More...
Bouncing Back When Things Get Difficult: The Psychology of Resilience (Positive Psychology Series #5)
October 9, 2018
1
resilience as demonstrated by woman lifting weightsPhoto Credit: CrossFit Fever
How much do you agree with the following statement? “Setbacks don’t discourage me. I don’t give up easily.” Psychologists who study resilience have found that some people are able to succeed... Read More...
Play to Your Strengths: The Science of Character Strengths (Positive Psychology Series #4)
Wordcloud of character strengths like wisdom, justice, love and courageMade at Wordclouds.com
According to psychologists, understanding and utilizing our character strengths and virtues is a key component of living a good life. Rather than feeding the tendency to notice what’s wrong,... Read More...
Look on the Bright Side: The Science of Optimism (Positive Psychology Series #2)
November 14, 2017
4
Ticket stub with text Yes - a word for optimismPhoto Credit: Quinn Dombrowski

Most studies show that being optimistic is good for us: optimists have better mental health and may even live longer.

Read More...
Positive Psychology: The Theory and Science – Part I
Positive Psychology diagram showing how A positive reinforces B positivePhoto Credit: Jurgen Appalo
Rather than removing pathology, the field of Positive Psychology focuses on ways to cultivate qualities like optimism, gratitude, generosity and resilience. This is the first in a series of upcoming... Read More...
Be Kind to Yourself: Four Ways to Practice Self-Care
February 20, 2017
1
Self-care. Bayfront Park Miami Free Yoga picture by Rafael Montilla at FlickrPhoto Credit: Rafael Montilla
When was the last time you took time to do something nice for yourself? If you’re like many people, you might find that you’ve been too busy to get a full night of sleep, to cook yourself a good... Read More...
Feeling Stressed? Awe Might Be What You Need
Awe, Photo titled 'Seashell' by Moyan BrennPhoto Credit: Moyan Breen
I still remember feeling awestruck when I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time as a child. I remember how incredible it felt looking at the waves and realizing that they stretched so much farther... Read More...
Can Writing Make You Healthier and Happier? 3 Easy Writing Activities To Try
April 19, 2016
3
Diary Writing - Can Writing Make You Happier and Healthier?Photo Credit: Fredrik Rubensson
You’ve probably heard that keeping a journal is good for your mental health, but did you know that writing can benefit your physical health as well? In fact, psychologists studying the effects of... Read More...
How Do You Feel About Yourself? Tips For Raising Self-Esteem
January 25, 2016
3
How do you feel about yourself? Tips for Raising Self Esteem, picture titled Observer by Hernan Pinera at FlicrkPhoto Credit Hernan Pinera
You’ve probably heard that self-esteem is important, but you may not know exactly what to do if you’re not feeling so great about yourself. In today’s post, I’ll review what self-esteem is,... Read More...
Finding the Right Balance: How to Regulate Emotions
December 1, 2015
0
Child balancing on rocks by D. Sharon PruittPhoto Credit: D. Sharon Pruitt
Emotion regulation is the process of changing the emotion we experience—whether we are trying to amp up the experiences of a positive emotion or lower the amount of a negative emotion. According to... Read More...