Final Act of Kindness

I haven't been blogging much, but I came across this. See how much spreading acts of kindness helps influences others?

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"Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom."

- Benjamin Franklin

Five Ways to Become Sustainably Happier

Do you guys remember the post about the novel I was currently reading called, The How of Happiness? Well, I have finally finished it as the book also is related to one of the classes I took for the semester. Well since this blog's goal is to help you guys become a "happier" person, I thought I might sum up the book for you with other psychologists' points of views.

First, I would like to list the 5 reasons:

1) Positive Emotion
2) Optimal Timing and Variety

3) Social Support

4) Motivation, Effort, and Commitment

5) Habit

1) Positive emotion: Positive emotions can come from positive experiences, such as doing something that benefits you in the long run ( going back to school, learning something new, etc.) A psychologist named Barbara Fredickson states that "Moments of pleasures don't make you feel good." Instead, "They broaden your horizons and build your social, physical, and intellectual skills." As an example used, working out not only makes you loose weight, but it makes you feel invigorated, which causes you to enhance your self-well being. Not only can positive emotions enhance your well-being, but it can also become a cure for depression. You may wonder how?

Remember, depression is a syndrome depressed by a deficit of positive emotions, but if people are experiencing depression remember the positive events that occurred early on in their life, it can actually bring them up from the dumps. Or, participants could experience something new and feel as they accomplished something. A study in the UK showed that woman improved from depressive episodes by having a new positive experience, or hence "a fresh start. " Positive emotions can become a great start to cure those in a depressive state, but it will take baby steps.

2) Optimal Timing and Variety: Remember my posts about paying it forward and 10 ways to increase your happiness? Well this relates to optimal timing and variety. If you vary the way you can make yourself become happier, you actually do "become happier." For example, if you are a religious person who does blessings before dinner, or go to church, that already is a step to becoming happier. But you might want to switch it up and try other creative ways to make yourself sustainably happier. For instance, helping someone else out. As you continue to commit these activities, you really do become a positive person. In the book it states,

"Alternating attention among several projects at work, by changing the route, time of day, and speed of your running regimen, or by exploring a variety of software programs and websites, your activities  could remain intrinsically enjoyable and conductive to many rewarding flow experiences."

So try something new everyday; you don't have to do something out of your comfort zone. There are many ways to make yourself happier.

3) Social Support: Using my personal experience, one way that made me happier, is my social networks. Social support can range from friends, family, coworkers, and even strangers. But what's the relation to making you sustainably happier? Social supports remind and motivate you to become happier, especially when you are experiencing such negative emotions. They also compliment you and give you great advice, and most of all, they are there for you. There was a study that involved hypertension participants who had to take some sort of medication everyday; with social support, they are more motivated to take the medication. Another example, is loosing weight. Working out and being committed is not easy. If your loved ones worked out with you, you are more motivated to actually work out, or if your loved ones even support you while you are trying to loose weight, you are also motivated. Think of having social networks as a behavior change. They help you think differently and change your moods dramatically.


4) Motivation, Effort, and Commitment: Here are 4 steps listed by the author to remind you how to become sustainably happier.

1) You must resolve to undertake a program to become happier.

2) You must learn what you need to do.

3) You must put weekly or daily effort into it.

4) You must commit to the goal for a long period of time, possibly for the rest of your life.

Let's use an example.. making New Year's resolutions pertain to these 4 steps. Once you make the resolution, you have to find a way to start it off right. For instance, loosing weight. Most individuals sign up for a membership at the gym. Well, you can cross the first step out. Now, you wonder.. which machines or methods would you use to help you loose your extra fat? Well you can either ask a personal trainer or experience different ways. That's step two. The third and fourth step is the hardest because you have to motivate yourself to work out regularly, but keeping yourself committed can change you in the long run, and you will finally be satisfied with the change you put using your effort.  There is no excuse into why you can't change yourself. You don't have to do the same thing every day. Here are two quotes I liked from the novel..

"Recommit your goal every day of your life. Renew your commitment."

Secret recipe for motivation: "The more motivated you are to do something, the more likely you'll invest effort in it!"

5) Habit: As you start becoming more motivated and committed to ways to make yourself sustainably happier, they start to become a routine. It may sound kind of boring, but really, it turns out to be a positive change. The more you participate in positive activities, the more happier you are. When you constantly work out, help others out, and forgive, you gain more positive emotions. Sometimes you'll notice that you stopped being committed to working out, helping others out, or forgiving, but at least you don't have to go through the process of becoming sustainably happier since you already know the steps.

These 5 steps to making yourself become sustainably happier may not work for everyone, but they are instructional steps to help someone become happier. If you know anyone who experiences bad days constantly, just shoot them this post or create your own list. With your support, they could change. Like I said, it just takes baby steps.

A bit more personal

As stated before in my introduction, I chose to write about positive psychology due to economic struggles individuals face, but recently I had experienced one of my biggest downfalls in my life. Not that long ago, my boyfriend (at the time) and I broke up after 3 years. This was my longest and my most life changing relationship. I understand that I am young to say I love someone, but only he and I know what goes behind closed doors, so only he and I can judge our relationship. It has been hectic for the last month and a half to focus on my studies and my life, but focusing on my blog helped distract my mind off the stressor for a bit. Since I am writing this blog to help increase one’s happiness, I thought it would be relevant to include one of my personal experiences. I have tried a variety of things to increase my happiness, and I would like to share with everyone. Hopefully after this post, you all can get to know me a little bit more and realize that achieving happiness is possible.

             

One important factor that distracted my mind off the break-up was having one of the biggest support networks (includes family, friends, and even strangers). Generally, I am a very happy person because of my networks, but when some incident such as the break-up occurred, it was hard to pick myself back up on my feet. My parents helped me clean out my apartment, throw away items that reminded me of the relationship, and took me out to shop and dine. Also, rather than having company from family, I also received love from my friends.

      One important factor that distracted my mind off the break-up was having one of the biggest support networks (includes family, friends, and even strangers). Generally, I am a very happy person because of my networks, but when some incident such as the break-up occurred, it was hard to pick myself back up on my feet. My parents helped take my mind off the whole situation by checking up on me more than they used to, and doing whatever it takes to get my mind off it. For example, my parents helped me clean out my apartment, throw away items that reminded me of the relationship, and took me out to shop and dine. Also, rather than having company from family, I also received love from my friends.

        

           Even though my friends and family distracted me, I felt that I needed to do something for myself. Since I am committed when participating in hobbies, I decided to continue learning how to snowboard. I went for my first time last year in December, but I decided to go two more times and learn how to better my techniques.  My first time snowboarding was with my boyfriend (at the time), and there were not many fond memories because all we did was argue, and no one taught me how to stand up on the board, or even teach me how to ride down the mountains. Therefore, I was stuck on the mountain for more than an hour, and it was not pleasant especially when it was freezing cold. Not only did I master some basics, but it felt great to get out of the city and see the mountains; it was relaxing and I felt more freedom being in the outdoors.  

   

Learning how to snowboard took my mind off the break-up, and had me thinking things for myself. What I mean by thinking things for myself includes focusing more on school, bettering myself, and trying to finish school so I can leave the city and start off new. Just being in the mountains gave me a sense of relief, and I thank my parents for also being supportive to helping me pay for all the expenses; to have them encourage me to  engage in an expensive hobby means a lot. I think when we commit to learning a new sport or focusing on a new hobby, we distract our mind from all the current stressors. When you guys are stressing over something huge, such as like my break-up, try learning something new or going back to your old hobby; you’ll be happier than you may think.  These two methods are not the only reasons to achieve happiness, but for me, these are the most influenced reasons why I am more positive today.

                I took the time to share a bit of my personal life with you guys, and to show that you can become positive when you’re down in the dumps. When you guys are sad or going through some difficult situations, take the time to talk to the people you care about and commit into something new. Are there any other ways to achieve happiness that you guys use?

               

"Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence."

- Aristotle

Spring Time Happiness

 

    Besides the Spring allergies, have you ever noticed what beauty Spring brings to the world? Do you see the cherry blossoms blooming, the sun's reflections in the water, the butterflies flapping their wings, or the sweet smell of pollen? In an article by Psychology Today, an author teaches readers that Spring season can increase positive psychology. This exceptional quote stated, 

             "If so, you have the personality trait that experts in Positive Psychology call 'appreciation of    

      beauty and excellence,' a component of the human strength of transcendence. Compared to people 

      who have a low level of this type of appreciation, lovers of beauty and excellence are more likely 

      to report finding joy and meaning in everyday life. They also display a stronger tendency to create

      deeper, more loving connections with other people."

 As human beings are attracted to beauty, they are in awe of how beauty is created in just one piece. Imagine yourself looking at a flower that just bloomed; wouldn't that make you smile? I believe when nature leaves little surprises out, individuals can feel a sense of happiness when surprised.  Here is a list of things to do during the rest of the season to boost up your happiness. Give it a try and see if your mood has increased from the last couple of months.

• Take a mindful walk. A mindful walk is one you take slowly, noticing every step along the way. You can do this from your front door to your car in the morning or take a longer walk at lunchtime or in the evening. Walk at a very slow pace - many people take one step as they inhale, and the next step as they exhale. Set the intention to experience the world around you with all your senses while you walk. Very often, just taking the time to notice your world is all it takes to find lots of beauty in it.
• Do something differently each day. Take a different route to work. Take your coffee break outside instead of in your office. Say hello to someone you don't know very well. Adding these little novel elements to your day makes you more attentive, increasing the likelihood that you'll see something lovely.
• Make time for the things you think are beautiful or excellent. If you love modern art, get a couple coffee table books of your favorite artists. Leave one on the coffee table, and take one to your office. If you love flowers, buy some forced bulbs and put them around your house. Indulge in an exotic blossom when you shop for groceries.
• Become an amateur photographer. This is really easy to do nowadays, when most mobile phones have cameras built in and fun photography applications abound. Make a deal with yourself to take one photo of something you think is beautiful every day for a month. Before long, you'll find yourself seeking, and finding beautiful people, places and things every day.
• Read biographies and memoirs about people who have accomplished things you admire.

 (http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/head-toe-happiness/201104/see-beauty-feel-happy)

Pay it forward; random acts of kindness.

Random acts of kindness is a selfless act performed by a person or persons wishing to either assist or cheer up an individual (Wikipedia).

Paying it forward: the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead (Wikipedia).

So what about this concept? Since my blog is based on the issue of "happiness," random acts of kindness can help boosts an individual's and your own self-esteem. Random acts of kindness can include any action towards another person. In this Youtube video, this random guy at the gas station offers to buy strangers a full tank of gas. This man also paid it forward by doing good deeds towards other people. Pay attention to the reactions on peoples' faces when the man approaches them into buying their gas. And notice, that the man does not for ask for anything in return. After finishing the video, see how your emotions react to the man's random act of kindness.

After watching the video, did you feel any sympathy, hate, love, or other emotions towards the man's actions? My heart literally melted towards this man's actions because he did not even know these individuals, and yet bought different people gas. In the video, he quoted about remembering his random act of kindness. As another alternative to positive psychology, performing random acts of kindness can help increase one's happiness ranging from the individual itself and the other persons included. This method is just one of many ways to increase happiness. Other ways to pay it forward includes: helping someone out, comforting an individual, saving someone's life, or even just tipping a restaurant. Sometimes we commit these actions without realizing it, but just remember that once you help someone randomly or someone you know, you are performing a random act of kindness of paying it forward. So, when you're feeling down, do something for someone else, and I am sure that person will make your day better.

                                      

Positive Psychology fallicious?!

Almost every idea someone puts out there, another rejects it; but that's what makes the world so interesting, right?! After reading around for my next post, I came about a post on another blog that criticizes the idea of positive psychology with association to mental health.

Positive Psychology: Where The Big Bucks Are…

As any psychologist knows you have to publish or perish and the best way to do this is with unrestricted funding and an ‘in’ topic; enter positive psychology! The New Age has arrived in the field of psychology and it’s making quite an impression.  Though its basic tenets are laudable from an empirical perspective the hype that surrounds it is not. The field of psychology seeks to understand humanity in all its complexities, be they good, bad or ugly and though one could argue that its focus has been primarily pathological such an approach may be justified  given the costs socially, financially and culturally of such psychopathologies.
Mental illness is a major concern in modern society. It impacts families, communities and government policies. Psychology, both research and applied, has contributed greatly to our understanding and treatment of mental illness. To accuse Psychology of being a science of victimology is tantamount to negating the immeasurable value of these contributions. Fifty years ago people with serious mental disorders were institutionalised. Today, thanks to mainstream psychology, there are a range of alternatives available. Advances in psychopathology and various therapies now enable many people who would have previously been institutionalised to lead more fulfilling lives within the community. Not everyone has the luxury of engaging in learned optimism
As stated earlier positive psychology’s basic tenets are sound. However the emphasis on optimism and learned optimism immerse the discipline in tautology. Proponents of the science have engaged in practices which render it nothing more than a New Age movement. Lyubomirsky, as a serious psychological researcher, has written a book that would make Oprah proud. “The How of Happiness’ can change your life, from a purely scientific perspective of course and for those not big on literature there is always her I phone application “Live Happy”. This is science for the masses. On a more serious note many of the arguments raised by positive psychologists are fallacious. They are guilty of a
“, failure to clearly define or properly apply terms, the identification of causal relations where none exist, and unjustified generalisation. Instead of demonstrating that positive attitudes explain achievement, success, well-being and happiness, positive psychology merely associates mental health with a particular personality type: a cheerful, outgoing, goal-driven, status-seeking extravert.”       (Miller, p.592, 2008)
Another problem with this emphasis on optimism, learned or innate, is its failure to recognise the validity of pessimism. Though Seligman acknowledges that there are some psychological benefits to pessimism he also dismisses pessimists as a small minority (Ruark, 2009). More than a quarter of the population (Norem, 2002) is not, I would suggest, a small minority. Lillenfield (In Ruark,2009) voiced similar concerns. He intimated that the popular notion that positive psychology is for everyone could have a detrimental effect on people with low self esteem as research showed the use of positive affirmations (such as I am a loveable person) made them feel worse, not better. Another interesting point in relation to the issue of self-esteem raised by Murk, (2006) is positive psychologies role in someone with negative self esteem. He believes that this area has been neglected by positive psychology and argues for a more humanistic which encapsulates self esteem at every point on the continuum and does not simply focus on positive personality traits and those who have them.
The new and burgeoning field of positive psychology furthers our understanding of the human condition; but at what cost? Happiness, happy people and happy places are not the be all and end all of our society. Trauma, crisis, illness and negative emotions all have a place and a function in life. Since the inception of humanistic psychology researchers have endeavoured to investigate and comprehend human nature and in so doing have studied positive as well as negative traits and behaviours. As far back as 1954 Maslow used the term positive psychology so it is not necessarily a new and recent concept or field of study. What is new is the hype and controversy which surrounds this discipline. It connotates, for many, self-help and New Age movements and given the speed with which many of its psychologists have jumped on the self-help book bandwagon this is hardly surprising. Publish or perish should not mean anywhere at any cost. These pop culture enthusiasts bring the whole discipline of psychology into disrepute. As Sundararajan (p.35, 2005) says “An empirically based version of the good life as proposed by positive psychology is a donut with something missing at the core–the moral map.”

References:
Lyubomirsky, S. (2008).  The How of Happiness; A scientific approach to getting the life you want. Penguin; London
Maslow, A. (1954).  Motivation and Personality. Harper: NY
Miller, A. (2008). A Critique of Positive Psychology – or ‘the new science of happiness’. Journal of Philosophy of Education, 42, 3-4, 591-608.
Mruk, C.J. (2006). Self-esteem, research, theory and practice: toward a positive psychology of self esteem, (3^rd Ed.). Springer: NY.
Norem, J. (2002).  The Positive Power of Negative Thinking: Using defensive pessimism to harness anxiety and perform at your peak. Perseus: NY
Ruark, J., (2009). An intellectual movement for the masses. Chronicle of Higher Education, http://chronicle/ariticle/An-Intellectual-Movement-for/47500  accessed: 18/04/10.
Sundararajanl, L, (2005). Happiness Doughnut: A Confucian Critique of Positive Psychology. The Journal of Philosophical Psychology, 25, 1, 35 -60.


"http://controversiesinpsychology.wordpress.com/2010/04/29/positive-psychology-where-the-big-bucks-are/."

 

  After reading the post about the disagreements about positive psychology, I can say I can agree with the author that yes, positive psychology is not for everyone just like playing a sport is not for everyone.  I believe the author only focused on one side pertaining to research of mental patients rather than research of mental patients that used positive psychology, and saw that it worked. The blogger also connects positive psychology with mental illness, which is more in depth with the concept. I only look at the bigger picture in how to improve your lifestyle pertaining to stress, depression, and anger.  I am sure with mental illnesses; there are different types of procedures to cure individuals, such as the ones listed in the article. Also, not everyone can look towards the positive side during difficult situations especially with mental patients; those individuals need assistance.  For instance, mental patients need psychotherapy and support from professionals. Positive Psychology is not just another alternative on how to cope with difficult situations, but a lifestyle that we all carry without realizing that we are doing it. Imagine having a bad week and nothing was going your way, yet you have something special planned for the next upcoming weekend; wouldn’t you be excited for that weekend to come up? As you’re excited, you’re applying positive psychology to your mood. Sometimes we don’t think about applying positive psychology, but everyone does it. As for mental patients, they have a harder time focusing on concepts such as positive psychology because of their “difficulties." Mental patients are diseased to think about the next upcoming event, so they struggle to find happiness.  As for optimism, many people still fail to achieve hope for their future.

Personality traits of a person can influence if one can be optimistic; some people tend to always be negative during their whole life without realizing that there is hope. Positive psychology is supposed to help those who have trouble seeing the brighter side. As the author argues that not everyone has the luxury of engaging in learned optimism, he forgets that positive psychology tries to work on that area.  As he also forgets that every individual is different; one can be happy with mental health, but struggles to find it.  I don’t understand where the Lillenfield gets the idea that adapting positive psychology to those individuals of self esteem can make someone feel worse. The author did not use enough evidence to prove his point, such as, he did not state why compliments or positive thinking made the patients feel worse. Therefore, we cannot prove his idea.  Those who are already hold a negative self esteem can also struggle to use positive psychology, but honestly, everyone can achieve happiness; it just takes time to find that miracle.

     I am not disagreeing with the blogger about how positive psychology still lacks evidence, but so does every other idea; that’s what researchers are for. Researchers still seek ways to better “positive psychology methods” for different types of individuals, but for mental patients, that is more looked at from another perspective, such as clinical psychology.  The author also focuses on those with negative self esteems, but forgets to show evidence of the before and after affects of applied positive psychology. After reading and writing about this controversy, I can conclude that we all have different opinions about a subject, so don't be afraid to let your words speak!

15 Simple Ways to be Happier in 2010.

According to Shine on YAHOO, in 2010, there are 15 ways to make an individual's mood more happier.

1. Be your own BFF (best friend forever). Enjoy your own company. Embrace everything about you! Without a doubt, it's the most important step towards being a happy person.
My thoughts: Love what you do and do it for yourself

2. Smile, giggle, snicker, or chuckle! Smiling releases serotonin in the brain, which instantaneously gives your mood a lift.
My thoughts: Smiling also makes your day "brighter."

3. Dream big in every area of life. Set your life in motion and manifest your heart's desire.
My thoughts: Everyone has dreams that they want to come true. Keep believing you can achieve it, and you will be happier.

4. Shut the doors and the windows tight! And then put on your favorite song and sing out loud. Let it rip!
My thoughts: HAVE FUN in your own room!

5. Cook a healthy, delicious meal. Serve it up pretty and savor the flavor, one bite at a time.
 My thoughts: Eating something tasty can put you in a good mood.

6. Expect a miracle. Believe that something wonderful will happen for you today. The universe is waiting to shower happy blessings on you.
My thoughts: Always think that "today will be a good day."

7. Meditate, pray and chant. Research shows that people who are spiritual tend to be happier and healthier than those who are not.
My thoughts: Believe in something or someone you admire, or learn about a new "spirituality."

8. Pull up your best pair of warm socks. Wiggle your toes and enjoy a cozy kind of bliss.
My thoughts:  Slip into something comfy.

9. Sleep baby sleep. Seven or eight hours each night should increase your energy and decrease your moodiness.
 My thoughts: If you feel like you're going to have a bad day or something negative happened, sleep on it.

10. Count your blessings daily. Gratitude, the emotion of thankfulness, is one of the key ingredients for living a happy life. Make gratitude a habit and happiness will be yours.
My thoughts: Jot down a list of the things you are grateful for and put it somewhere you can see it everyday.

11. Wake up early! Start the day off on a happy foot, with a happy thought. The morning hours are full of spiritual energy and prana (life force).
My thoughts: You can get a lot more done to satisfy your happiness.

12. Let the sun shine in. 20 minutes of sunlight per day improves mood and wards of Seasonal Affection Disorder (SAD).
My thoughts: Looking at the sun can be calming.

13. Take a hot bath. Feel the tension melt away as you sink into a pool of happiness.
My thoughts: Taking a hot bath can ease your negative feelings and make you feel more relaxed.

14. Say "Good Job!" Give yourself permission to pat yourself on the back. Recognize your accomplishments and positive qualities.
My thoughts: ALWAYS reward yourself when you accomplish something.

15. Happiness is contagious! Surround yourself with happy, positive people who share your values, your goals and dreams.
My thoughts: You want friends who are positive, not negative because they can bring your mood down.

( http://shine.yahoo.com/event/newyear/15-simple-ways-to-be-happier-in-2010-558317).

Authentic Happiness = Increases Happiness?

Can a website improve someone's happiness? If so, what are its methods? According to Martin E.P Seligman, he introduces a website called "Authentic Happiness" to help evaluate one's daily moods. For instance, there are  many varieties of different surveys that pertain to one's mood and actions; otherwise known as well-being journaling. So how can taking daily surveys improve our happiness? Since participants take the well-being journal everyday, they are apparently deciding which mood and thoughts to choose from the given survey. According to Seligman, when thinking about the choices to select from, individuals are realizing how they think or act in the present, but also reminisce about their past actions. One example includes mood after purchasing a materialistic item. Later, the participants learned what held them back from "being happy." According to the statistic, "A large scale random assignment placebo controlled study of users of this website found that three interventions reliably increased positive emotion and decreased depressive symptoms with six month follow-up." If this is true, shouldn't everyone try this website?
       Since this website was such an interest to me, I decided to sign up on the website and participate in the different surveys that the website has to offer. Truth is, I am going to have to agree with Martin E.P. Seligman. After bubbling in the choices offered, it made me realize what I have been doing in my past, especially with the way I spent my money. Now, I have more closure with the actions I am permitting to. Also, while bubbling in the different choices for my current feelings,  it made me realize how I feel about accomplishing my daily routines; there were some mood words that I never thought about until seeing and having to think about. Since Martin's conclusion was about taking the surveys to better our happiness, I see no difference in mine. But at the end of each survey, each individual is placed on a chart with a percentage to compare how much happier we are from other people. For myself, I was among the higher percentage ranges; I listed 75%-90% happier amongst others that participated in the surveys. I guess comparing yourself with other can also increase your happiness because I was surprised with my results.Enough about contemplating if this website can increase happiness. Try it out for yourself at the link below.

 http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/default.aspx

Science of Happiness

Even though, the article may be dated back to year 2005, it is still important to embrace how positive psychology impacted a world-wide magazine called, TIME. In this issue, the authors are speaking on behalf of many different psychologists. There are also various of methods into ways into how we can achieve to be happier. One quote that really sums up the whole issue, is

"Who's right? This is an experiment we can all do for ourselves. There's little risk in trying some extra gratitude and kindness, and the results — should they materialize — are their own reward."

As TIME magazine explores different methods, it runs into many conclusions such as how to be more generous, more sociable, more relaxing, and more focused. TIME magazine also looks at opposite ends with those with money and those with children. Based on experiments, money can ONLY make us happy for a shot period of time. For example, those with money were surveyed on a Happiness Scale while the same applies to those of middle- class. At the end, it revealed that those with most money still match results with those with "little" or "enough" money. Why is that? Wouldn't people with the most money who can receive everything in the world be happier than those who struggle to make ends meat? In the magazine, it was also quotes that "circumstantial factors like income, marital status, religion and education contribute only about 8% to one's overall well-being." So what covers the rest of the percentage? As stated before, being more sociable, more relaxed, more generous, and more focused can be more fulfilling towards being happier. A psychologist quotes,  "but the cerebral virtues — curiosity, love of learning — are less strongly tied to happiness than interpersonal virtues like kindness, gratitude and capacity for love." Doing five kinds of acts a week can increase our happiness because we are building relationships with others and we are making ourselves feel good.  Take a look at the article and tell me what you think about psychologists' approach on happiness. This magazine highly focuses on issues we all face and provides help that we all need.

LINK TO ARTICLE: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1015902-1,00.html

The How of Happiness.

The How of Happiness by Sonja Lyubomirsky is one of my favorites by far! Although, I have not finished reading it, it's too difficult to place this book down! I recommend everyone renting this at the library or purchasing one on Amazon. Not only do I think it is a great book, but on Psychology Today, many journalists are reviewing this novel. As I am focusing on "happiness," one of the solutions addressed in this book includes, "giving to others." What does that mean? In Psychology Today, the author Sonja Lyumbomirsky wrote an article about generosity. She tells educators about a research experience she tested with two different control groups known as the "givers" and the receivers." Every member wore a wristband that detects social interactions. To conclude her study she states that "generosity" makes people more happier, more creative, and more successful with outer relationships.

(http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/how-happiness/201011/does-the-pay-it-forward-effect-really-exist).

I want to know what you guys think about the experiment. The way the author states her experiment is pretty bland, but at least she proved her point. In the book, "The How of Happiness," she also speaks about how we should give to others and somehow in return our kindness will make us happier. I believe this method because it will make us feel good about doing or giving something to someone else. One thing I tend to always do while living in San Francisco, is give food or money to the homeless and in return, I get a smile. That literally just makes my day! So whenever you are having a bad day, maybe you can make someone's day better and in the end hopefully you will be happier and your day will get better.

Introduction.

Hello fellow blog readers!

           My name is Amanda Nguyen and I am interested in studying the behaviors of other individuals. As a psychology major, I want to find solutions to current issues. Some current issues include mental illnesses, stress factors, how to increase happiness, and other psychology related issues. I created this blog to help teach readers about an issue (mentioned later) that is useful during these economic times. Since the economy is suffering, we must find solutions to cope with such a tragedy. I believe one of the biggest solutions that we all need in our lives, is happiness. Happiness is the key to a positive day, and hopefully a positive life. After reading for my other major class, I decided to address thoughts on the issue of happiness through a psychologist's mind. A psychologist's mind holds techniques and ways in which we can increase our happiness. I believe every person can relate to this issue because sometimes we seek happiness or try to fulfill happiness. Ask yourself this... What really makes you happy? How can we achieve to be happier? As my blog will mostly focus on this topic, I hope I can bring my research and thoughts to this blog to help you answer those question using statistics and researcher's published works. As I finish up my first post, I hope you guys enjoy the rest of my posts and learn something new.

- Amanda Nguyen