by HappyQuotient | Oct 31, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Voting is an act of altruism. When you vote, you are taking your personal time and effort to advance the collective good, without any guarantee of personal reward—the very heart of what it means to be altruistic. For many, voting is a civic duty. However, in the...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 30, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Many of my seventh-grade students do not arrive at school ready to learn. Their families often face financial hardship and live in cramped quarters, which makes it difficult to focus on homework. The responsibility for cooking and taking care of younger siblings while...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 30, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Many of my seventh-grade students do not arrive at school ready to learn. Their families often face financial hardship and live in cramped quarters, which makes it difficult to focus on homework. The responsibility for cooking and taking care of younger siblings while...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 29, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
You’re walking alone in the dark when suddenly arms grab you from behind. You turn around and see…a demonic clown, who proceeds to stab you with a fake blade and lock you in a coffin. This is the genre of thrills you can expect at the ScareHouse Basement in...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 29, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
You’re walking alone in the dark when suddenly arms grab you from behind. You turn around and see…a demonic clown, who proceeds to stab you with a fake blade and lock you in a coffin. This is the genre of thrills you can expect at the ScareHouse Basement in...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 26, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
“I was told I was too aggressive, I was too blunt, I was too direct, and that I sounded pompous when I offered advice on recruiting, despite the fact that I had been there twice and was very successful,” Lt. Col. Kate Germano told Public Radio International in...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 25, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Some apologies can actually make things worse. Our Happiness Guinea Pigs, Jolenta Greenburg and Kristin Meinzer of the By the Book podcast, try a more effective way of saying sorry. source...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 24, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
In recent decades, researchers have been gaining insight into the benefits of practicing mindfulness meditation. By studying more secular versions of this ancient tradition, they’ve found that learning to pay attention to our current experiences and accept them...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 23, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
When one of our teens, who shall remain nameless, was 15, my husband Mark and I got a surprising email from another parent we’ll call Maureen. Our teen had decided to go to a concert with Maureen’s daughter, Maddie, and she was writing to let us know that she would be...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 23, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
When one of our teens, who shall remain nameless, was 15, my husband Mark and I got a surprising email from another parent we’ll call Maureen. Our teen had decided to go to a concert with Maureen’s daughter, Maddie, and she was writing to let us know that she would be...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 22, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Music seems to be a social glue. Think of how love songs enhance our romantic feelings, how marching bands intensity our affinity for the home team, or how huge rock concerts make us feel one with a crowd of thousands. Music has some special power to increase our...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 19, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
When I recently moved my youngest son into college and felt unexpected grief at my “empty nest,” I turned to my friends for help. These are women I’ve known more than 40 years, who know me better than anyone else and gave me exactly what I needed: a sympathetic ear,...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 18, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
How do you respond when you feel threatened or defensive? Our Happiness Guinea Pig, writer Wajahat Ali, discovers a way to keep himself anchored amidst the challenges and chaos of life. source...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 18, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
How do you respond when you feel threatened or defensive? Our Happiness Guinea Pig, writer Wajahat Ali, discovers a way to keep himself anchored amidst the challenges and chaos of life. source...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 17, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
In the recent Senate confirmation hearings for the U.S. Supreme Court, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford stood up to tell the world about her memories of the humiliating and sexually aggressive way that she said Judge Brett Kavanaugh violated her as a teenager. Her act took...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 16, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Like adults, kids sometimes feel wronged by others—when they aren’t invited to a classmate’s birthday party or a friend divulges their secret, for example. But in the midst of their anger or hurt feelings, they may not realize that forgiveness is an option. When...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 15, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
When I was 16 years old, I was a pretty outgoing teen with lots of friends and a busy social calendar. I took my academics seriously and was diligent about doing homework. But I also tended to worry a lot and could cry at the drop of a hat. Now here I am more than 50...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 12, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
In 2015, a Mexican-American student at Claremont McKenna College (CMC) wrote in a student newspaper that the institutional culture of the college represented certain groups but not others. Mary Spellman, the college’s dean of students, conceded in an email that “we...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 11, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
What would make you happier at work? Featuring some of our happiness guinea pigs, we share the latest insights and research on well-being and happiness in the workplace. source https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/podcasts/item/science_of_happiness_at_work
by HappyQuotient | Oct 10, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
On any given day, many of us wrestle with our fears. We might be contemplating a career change, telling someone we love them, or wanting to speak up for what’s right when we see injustice. But a voice within us pipes up saying that there’s no point, or that we aren’t...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 9, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Never in recent memory has our country experienced such deep divides in our politics and discourse. People of good will and spirit are unable to understand each other or bridge their differences across not just political lines, but also racial, cultural, and religious...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 8, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
The election of Donald Trump mobilized many Americans. Whether it’s protesting his immigration policies on the left, or rallying around protecting Confederate monuments on the right, Americans seem to be stepping up to make sure their voices are heard by their...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 5, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
As nearly 10,000 freshmen and transfers arrived on campus at the University of California, Los Angeles, last fall, they were invited to try something never before offered during student orientation: depression screening. The hope, administrators explained, is that by...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 5, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
As nearly 10,000 freshmen and transfers arrived on campus at the University of California, Los Angeles, last fall, they were invited to try something never before offered during student orientation: depression screening. The hope, administrators explained, is that by...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 4, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
As Christine Blasey Ford testified in the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, women around the country were glued to their televisions and computers. Watching a woman bravely telling her story of sexual assault—something so many of us have...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 3, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Stuff happens. Another car suddenly swerves into your lane on the freeway. You misplace your keys and wallet two minutes before you need to catch your bus to work. You shred the wrong client file at the office. These mini-disasters create quite a startle in your...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 2, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
My stomach knotted as I came home after a long day at work to find my fifteen-year-old son Nick playing “Fortnite.” Again. Just yesterday, I’d spoken with him (read: snapped at him) about screen time. Today, an argument began. Again. He felt angry. I felt frustrated....
by HappyQuotient | Oct 1, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Throughout our daily lives, we are tasked with deciding in whom we should place our trust—whether we’re predicting if a friend is likely to pay us back, evaluating whether a politician will keep their campaign promises, or choosing a romantic partner. But how can we...
by HappyQuotient | Oct 1, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Throughout our daily lives, we are tasked with deciding in whom we should place our trust—whether we’re predicting if a friend is likely to pay us back, evaluating whether a politician will keep their campaign promises, or choosing a romantic partner. But how can we...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 27, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Job applicants who want to appear calm and collected might be at a disadvantage. According to a new Stanford study, American employers are more likely to favor excited over relaxed candidates. This is one of several findings psychology professor Jeanne Tsai and former...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 27, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Job applicants who want to appear calm and collected might be at a disadvantage. According to a new Stanford study, American employers are more likely to favor excited over relaxed candidates. This is one of several findings psychology professor Jeanne Tsai and former...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 26, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Starting 15 years ago, scientists have been studying the complex and mysterious emotion called awe—one you might have felt if you’ve stood in front of the Taj Mahal, hiked among towering redwoods, or had your mind blown at a concert, play, or ballet. Inducing...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 25, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
What makes your students curious? When do you see their faces light up with interest at school? At home, my teen stepson is all about cars, all the time. My daughter is currently obsessed with astrology, while my husband can talk for hours about Roman history...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 24, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
A space-exploring robot crashes on a distant planet. In order to gather the pieces of its damaged space ship, it needs to build emotional rapport with the local alien inhabitants. The aliens speak a different language but their facial expressions are remarkably...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 20, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Recently, I went to high school Back-to-School night with my first husband, Mike, and we ran into a colleague of his I’d never met before. “This is Christine,” Mike said brightly, and then he hesitated. “My, um, my…ex-wife.” As soon as we walked away, he...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 19, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Have you ever wanted to speak up about an issue or situation at work, but were afraid to? Or wanted to share something about yourself, but worried people might judge you? Or pretended to understand something professionally that you really didn’t? If you’re anything...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 18, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
For my three-year-old son, his playmates are an endless source of entertainment: They meet up at the park to go down the slide, ride tricycles, and conspire in plenty of shenanigans. As he gets older, I hope he will also experience the unparalleled gift of great...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 17, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
I’m of a certain age when things seem to disappear a lot. Keys, glasses, my cell phone, a favorite sweater. I put them down somewhere, and, hours later, I can’t remember where that somewhere is. My memory—in particular, my short-term or “working” memory—is not at its...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 14, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Plenty of exercise. Healthy food. Positive attitude. Plain old good luck. There’s lots of advice out there about how to keep body and brain in optimal shape as the years roll by. But Louis Cozolino, professor of psychology at Pepperdine University, is deeply engaged...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 13, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
A lawyer in Bermuda became internet-famous for dancing ballet alongside his two-year-old daughter, comforting her stage fright by being there and doing the dance moves right with her. He knew the part because he had practiced ballet with his children before—and said...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 12, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Recently, Google announced that its voice-activated program, Google Assistant, will be offering a new feature called “Tell Me Something Good.” Users can now give that command and receive an earful of positive news stories. Google isn’t the only outlet offering an...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 11, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
In 2016, more than 16 million adults in the United States suffered from at least one major depressive episode—an alarming statistic, to say the least. Depression is also costly to society, affecting our health care system, workplace productivity, and individual and...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 10, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
I didn’t personally know two of them, but I knew her. I remember long locks of black hair cascading down her back as she sat in the front row of my English 9 College Preparatory class. I remember a confident voice convinced of an auspicious future as a K-9 police...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 7, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
By now, you may have heard the news that helping others is good for your well-being, too. For example, studies suggest that people who spend money on others become happier and actually reduce their blood pressure. Other research has found that people who volunteer...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 6, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Julia Samuel is a psychotherapist who has spent more than twenty-five years helping people grieve the loss of loved ones. She is the U.K.’s leading grief expert, author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving, and godmother to Prince George. She believes...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 6, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Julia Samuel is a psychotherapist who has spent more than twenty-five years helping people grieve the loss of loved ones. She is the U.K.’s leading grief expert, author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving, and godmother to Prince George. She believes...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 6, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Julia Samuel is a psychotherapist who has spent more than twenty-five years helping people grieve the loss of loved ones. She is the U.K.’s leading grief expert, author of Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving, and godmother to Prince George. She believes...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 5, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
Mindfulness meditation can help us lead happier, healthier lives…at least according to science. Yet many of us still balk at the idea of practicing it ourselves. Perhaps we fear that meditation is too new agey, or it might slow us down or lead to complacency. Some...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 4, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
As the school year looms, it’s easy for parents like me to feel a sense of intense pressure. We may worry, sometimes for valid reasons, about our children’s academic progress, independence, and social life. We get caught up in micromanaging and ruminating instead of...
by HappyQuotient | Sep 4, 2018 | GGSC, Happiness, Health, Inspire, Wellness
As the school year looms, it’s easy for parents like me to feel a sense of intense pressure. We may worry, sometimes for valid reasons, about our children’s academic progress, independence, and social life. We get caught up in micromanaging and ruminating instead of...
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