Dear Friends of Balancing Act,
Earlier this month, I finished the coursework for a Master of Applied Positive Psychology degree at the University of Pennsylvania.
The process involved reading thousands of pages and writing what seemed like thousands of papers on what gives us life satisfaction.
Now, thanks to one of my classmates, you can take the short course - a six-question pop quiz featured in this month's newsletter. When you're done, you'll have learned the basics on the run. And still have time for a balanced life!
On other subjects, do you know how creativity works? Would you like some positive advice on staving off Alzheimer's disease? And some university students have found an uplifting way to use their cell phones!
Read on for some quick insights on using positive emotions to change your life.
Pat
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The Positivity Pop Quiz
 What's stronger - negative or positive thoughts? What percentage of your happiness can you actually change? And can you accurately predict how happy you'll be in the future?
Psychotherapist Daniel Tomasuolo has put together a six-question pop quiz that will clue you in on some key positive psychology facts in less time than it takes to sip a cup of coffee.
Check it out, and discover your happiness aptitude. |
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How Creativity Works...
 Have you ever wondered how a symphony is born? Or an amazing painting?
Turns out it's more than an aha! moment. According to the new book Imagine: How Creativity Works, the creative moment has its roots not in amazing insight but in problems and frustration.
Why is this important? Knowing it can keep you from throwing in the towel before the aha! comes. For a quick preview, this (very creative) video will give you an on-the-run rundown of how creativity works and hopefully inspire you to keep trying.
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A New Purpose for Purpose
It's no surprise that life satisfaction is enhanced when we have  meaning and purpose in our lives. But researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago have discovered that having purpose in life may also protect us from Alzheimer's.
The study, funded by the National Institute on Aging, showed that participants, who did not have dementia, had greater cognition when they reported greater life purpose. Even as plaques and tangles accumulated in their brains with aging, their thinking abilities were less impaired than those who reported less purpose in their lives.
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Gratitude: A Call, Not An App
 It's easy to criticize students on a college campus, who seem to be spending more time talking on cell phones than directly to each other.
"Whatever happened to personal contact?" we moan.
But a recent project on an NYU campus puts a new spin on electronic connection. Take five to watch "The Gratitude Project," in which students in a Science of Happiness class were assigned to take their cell phones and reconnect with someone for a gratitude call.
Copyright 2012 Pat Snyder |
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Grilling Tips!
Just In Time
For Summer
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Summertime, and the grillin' is easy. Or is it?
Pat joined radio host Ann Fisher today as guest on the call-in show "All Sides with Ann Fisher," to take listener tips on (possibly) simplifying your summer by grilling out.
Just click this link to listen in.
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LEASH LAW
NO. 41:
The Magic of Non-Stick Foil
Non-stick aluminum foil is my nominee for "most likely to cause a clear conscience about grill cleaning." Poke some holes in it so the smoke still comes through, and you're all set. Even food that normally burns onto the grill will lift off this stuff. It will still taste way too dry if you overcook it, but that's what barbecue sauce is for.
This is one of 74 leash laws offered in Pat's book, The Dog Ate My Planner: Tales and Tips from an Overbooked Life.
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