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Fulfilling Work, Please
 This resource, released just last week, wins the "Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover Award," at least in my book.
What it lacks in glitz, How To Find Fulfilling Work makes up in really interesting exercises to lead you to this prize: an intrinsically rewarding job that makes a difference.
A product of the London-based cultural organization School of Life, it recommends, among other things, making a "Map of Choices" to help you trace the choices and values that led you to where you are now. It also has you concoct your Imaginary Life and write a "personal job advertisement" that tells the world who you are and what you care about. From that, you invite others to recommend appropriate careers.
Principles of positive psychology are at work here. For example, the importance of intrinsic motivation, the dangers of hopping on an unsatisfying hedonic treadmill, and ways to figure out whether a new job will likely create a flow experience for you.
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Long before positive psychologists began to study it, mothers everywhere taught us, "Money does not buy happiness."
And skeptics everywhere replied, "Yes, but...."
To keep things in perspective, here are five simple rules for getting the most happiness for your buck. They come courtesy of professors Michael Norton and Elizabeth Dunn.
Buy experience, not things. We tend to savor experiences - trips, dinners, you name it - much longer than stuff. So if you want more lasting happiness, go do something.
Treat yourself, but not all the time. Make that exquisite dinner a special treat, not business as usual. Otherwise, you'll just get used to it.
Time is not money. If you start equating the two, then every moment spent being instead of doing will start to feel like money lost. And learning to be can make you happy.
Pay now, then enjoy. Paying for and planning adventures ahead lets you enjoy the anticipation in the meantime.
Spend money on others. We experience more joy from giving than getting.
Norton is an associate professor at Harvard Business School. Elizabeth Dunn is a professor at the University of British Columbia. They wrote the book Happy Money: The Science of Spending" (Simon & Schuster).
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Meditating Your Way To Compassion
Whether you're seeking Buddhist enlightenment or simply trying to de-stress, we know that meditation can contribute to your personal well-being.
A new study shows that meditation may also increase your compassionate behavior toward others.
A Northeastern University scientist conducted two waiting room experiments. In one, individuals who had participated in an eight-week meditation class experienced the arrival of a patient who was in pain and on crutches. In the other, non-meditators had the same experience.
Fifty percent of those who had attended the class came to the aid of the arriving patient. Only 15 percent of the non-meditators did.
Researchers concluded that the experience of meditating may help overcome the "bystander effect" and motivate individuals to help others even when their peers do not.
Copyright 2013 Pat Snyder
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