brain – Self Improvement Blog

6 Superpowers Every Introvert Has (And How You Can Use Them Too) – Motivational, Self Improvement Article

May 30, 2020

brain, introvert, motivaiton, motivate, motivating, motivation, motivational, Motivational Articles, self development

The word introvert carries many negative connotations and often a person described as such is thought of as having something wrong with them. But what if I told you being an introvert could be a source of ultimate power and understanding. Stay tuned for the following six points if you want to learn what incredible advantages introverts have and how you can learn from them to better yourself. 6 Superpowers Every Introvert Has (And How You Can Use Them Too) 👇…

How to Keep Coronavirus Worries from Disrupting Your… – Happiness Article

April 14, 2020

Anxiety, brain, coronavirus, Habits, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, health, media, Media & Tech, Mind & Body, mind-body health, Q&A, Relationships, ROUTINES, sleep, social connections, stress, Technology, Television

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Many people I know have been complaining lately about losing sleep. It’s no surprise why. All of us are feeling increased stress and worry, and experiencing changes in our work and family life. The novel coronavirus can keep us up at night. What can we do to protect our sleep during this time? For answers, I turned to Shelby Harris, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Montefiore Medical Center, an associate professor at the Albert Einstein College of…

12 Amazing Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation – Self Improvement Article

March 30, 2020

brain, featured, Focus, health, Self Improvement Blogs

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Few activities have stood the test of 2500 years. Today we still have running, music, writing, swimming and… mindfulness meditation (among scarce others). Such ancient interests that are still practiced today have a good reason for thriving so many centuries later. But while our ancestors could feel the benefits of meditation, they didn’t have the luxury of modern science to support their claims; it seemed to improve their lives, so they kept doing it. Now, as western researchers have applied…

How to Deal with Sensory Overload as a Sensitive Person – Happiness Article

March 29, 2020

ADHD, Book Reviews, brain, diversity, Emotions, gender, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, medicine, Mind & Body, mind-body health, stress, therapy

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Have you ever been told that you are “too sensitive?” If so, you’re not alone. Sensitivity implies a certain heightened reaction to external stimuli: experiences, noise, chatter, others’ emotional expression, sound, light, or other environmental changes. Sensitivity and high empathy are common experiences for many people, but some people experience these qualities to more severe degrees—and don’t realize that they can be hallmarks of Asperger’s, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing sensitivity, and other traits. This essay is adapted from Divergent Mind:…

How to Hack Your Brain’s Prejudice with Veggies – Happiness Article

March 13, 2020

brain, bridging differences, Cognition, community, diversity, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, Politics, prejudice, society

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Research suggests a quick trick you can use to combat your unconscious biases. This is only a snippet of a Happiness article written by Greater Good Read Full Article

“New Opportunities for Solving Tough Problems Show Up in My Conversations with Myself.” – Personal Development Article

March 7, 2020

author, author interview, Blog Post, books, brain, Clearer Closer Better, Emily Balcetis, Interview, mindfulness, Personal Development, personal development blog, Psychology, research, Senses, sight, Social Psychology, success, vision

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Interview: Emily Balcetis. Emily Balcetis, Ph.D., is an associate professor of psychology at New York University. She’s the author of more than seventy-five scientific publications, and her research has been covered by Forbes, Newsweek, Time, Cosmopolitan, Scientific American, and The Atlantic. Her TED talk on “Why some people find exercise harder than others” has had more than 3.7 million views. Her new book is Clearer, Closer, Better: How Successful People See the World. When it comes to setting and meeting goals,…

Why Plain Language Is Better Than Complex Jargon – Self Improvement Article

February 26, 2020

Analogies, Analogy, Beginner's Mind, brain, Cognition, Communication, Complex, Conversation, culture, Echo Effect, Education, Jargon, Knowledge, language, learning, Linguistics, Metaphors, Mind, Mirroring, Plain Language, Psychology, public speaking, Relationships, Science, Self Improvement Blogs, Semantics, Simple Communication, Simplicity, society, teaching, understanding, Words

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“If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.” Daniel Kahneman Simple communication is often better than using complex language, especially if you are trying to reach out to the biggest audience possible. A new study published in the Journal of Language and Social Psychology discovered that the use of complex jargon can often turn people off from learning topics like science and politics, even when specialized words are defined.…

3 Tiny Mental Habits I Practice Every Morning – In Less Than 5 Minutes – Self Improvement Article

February 17, 2020

Alerts, brain, Checklist, Gamification, goals, Gratitude, Habits, Happiness, Inspiration, Mental Exercise, Mental Health, Morning Ritual, motivation, Neuroscience, Nudges, Personal Growth, Positive Thinking, positivity, Psychology, self improvement, Self Improvement Blogs, Small Habits, Small Habits Big Changes, Strengths, success, Tiny Habits, To-Do List

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When it comes to self-improvement, it’s not just about changing our physical habits but also our mental habits. In what direction does your mind naturally tend to go? Do you focus more on the “positive” or “negative” in any given situation? Do you pay more attention to your “strengths” or your “weaknesses?” Happy and successful people tend to share similar beliefs and attitudes that help fuel their happiness and success. Some may have picked up these beliefs naturally (through their…

Five Ways Hiking Is Good for You – Happiness Article

February 17, 2020

attention, Awe, brain, Creativity, empathy, environment, Exercise, Features, generosity, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, health, helping, memory, Nature, problem solving, Relationships, Social Connection, stress

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I’m a hiker—“born to hike,” as my husband likes to joke. It does my heart and soul good to strap on a pack and head out on a trail, especially when I’m alone and can let my mind wander where it will. The experience of hiking is unique, research suggests, conveying benefits beyond what you receive from typical exercise. Not only does it oxygenate your heart, it helps keep your mind sharper, your body calmer, your creativity more alive, and…

Our Best Education Articles of 2019 – Happiness Article

January 13, 2020

brain, bullying, Education, Emotional Intelligence, Emotions, Equality, Features, Gratitude, gratitude in education, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, learning, mindfulness, Parenting & Family, purpose, purpose in education, Relationships, resilience, schools, Social Connection, social-emotional learning, storytelling, Strengths, students

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Looking for inspiration to start the new decade off on the right foot? Our most popular education articles of 2019 explore how children develop purpose, how we can best support our students’ mental health and social-emotional development, why we benefit from listening to each other’s stories, and more. And…if you want to put the scientific findings from these articles into practice, check out our new website for educators, Greater Good in Education (GGIE), officially launching on February 20, 2020. In…

Calm Yourself Down Using a “Safety Signal” to Combat Stress and Anxiety – Self Improvement Article

December 18, 2019

Anxiety, art, Association, brain, CBT, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Comfort, comfort zone, Fear, Irrational, meaning, Mental Health, music, Neuroscience, Psychology, relaxation, rituals, Safety Signal, Self Improvement Blogs, sound, Stimuli, stress, Symbols

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When it comes to anxiety and fear, psychology shows us that we have many tools available to use. I’ve written extensively about many of these tools over the past decade, including reframing, acceptance, questioning, and writing exercises. One of my main philosophies behind self-improvement is that the more tools we have available to us, the more options we have when we find ourselves extremely stressed, anxious, or afraid… or just going through a very rough patch in life. In a…

What Awe Looks Like in the Brain – Happiness Article

October 20, 2019

Awe, brain, generosity, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, In Brief, Mind & Body, Nature, Neuroscience, self-transcendence

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When was the last time you experienced awe? Perhaps you were stopped in your tracks by a beautiful vista on a recent hike, or captivated by a painting at your local art museum, or moved to tears at a concert or church. Or maybe you were just sitting on your couch breathlessly watching an episode of Planet Earth. Whatever it was, you probably weren’t thinking much about yourself or your to-do list. What makes awe so transporting, overwhelming, even mystical…

What No One Tells You About Becoming a Mother – Happiness Article

October 13, 2019

brain, Communication, depression, Emotions, Happiness, Happiness and Fun, Happiness Habits, happiness tips, happy, happy morning, marriage, Mind & Body, mothers, parenting, Parenting & Family, pregnancy, Q&A, Relationships, Shame, Social Connection, stress

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You can find plenty of practical information out there about pregnancy and parenting, but what about the emotional rollercoaster and identity shift that occurs for many women and their partners when they have a child? We don’t talk much about it—and if we do, it’s usually in the context of postpartum depression. We need a new model to think about the transition to motherhood. That’s the focus of the new book What No One Tells You: A Guide to Your…

Watch Out for These Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease – Self Improvement Article

June 7, 2019

brain, health, Self Improvement Blogs

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Many people often joke about forgetting the names of their loved ones or where they put their things. That forgetfulness may not be that alarming if it’s because of a lack of focus. However, forgetfulness caused by the effects of Alzheimer’s disease should be a cause of concern. Alzheimer’s is a deadly neurodegenerative disease that results in a gradual decline in memory, thinking, reasoning, and communication skills. In Australia, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of Dementia, comprising of 50–75%…

The 5 Benefits of Puzzles Solving for Adult – Self Improvement Article

February 9, 2019

brain, Fun, health, memory, puzzle, Self Improvement Blogs

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For a long time now, philosophers have questioned and developed physiological and psychological quests that demand determination, patience, and logic to work out. Such mental activities were particularly widespread in most of the historical civilizations, making our primitive types of puzzles. The most common of these early forms of puzzles was the maze which was an actual life-size maze. The jigsaw puzzle closely followed the maze and was effectively applied in teaching world geography in the 18th-century. After which came…

CBD Oil — What are Potential Effects on the Brain?Pick the Brain- Self Improvement Article

February 4, 2019

brain, cbd oil, featured, health, Health and Fitness, pickthebrain, self improvement, Self Improvement Blogs

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CBD (short for Cannabidiol) is a chemical compound that is found in marijuana and hemp. Among other things, CBD works as an antioxidant, pain reliever, mood balancer, and according to medical research, it also generates effects that set it apart as a fantastic herb for not only stimulating neurological function but also for eliminating free radicals and preventing cell deterioration. Why are CBD and THC so different? While the chemical makeup is similar, the molecular structures are different. Also, CBD…

Meditation Makes You Less Reactive to Negative Feedback in Life

January 10, 2019

brain, Criticism, Feedback, goals, Inspiration, Meditation, Mental Health, mindfulness, motivation, Negativity Bias, Neuroscience, Psychology, Relationships, Science, self improvement, Self Improvement Blogs, Study, Wisdom, Work

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Meditation is one of the most scientifically-supported “mental tools” for improving your mental health, well-being, and overall happiness. A new study published in the Journal of Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience has now added another piece of the puzzle for why meditation can be so beneficial for you. Researchers conducted an experiment with 3 groups of people: experienced meditators, novice meditators, and non-meditators. They had all participants perform a task where they were trained to pair certain images with a…

Can You Increase Your IQ? A Neuroscientist Explains

January 9, 2019

attitude, brain, Clear, Focus, Human Brain, Human Brains, Informative, intelligence, Intelligent Quotient, Life, Personal, self improvement, Self Improvement Blogs, success, ucnews

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Intelligence, most of us would agree is an extremely abstract concept that individuals possess. Defining intelligence, in itself is a huge task that most academicians have attempted to succeed in. It can be thought of as the ability of a person to learn, adapt and solve new problems, adapt to environments and situations. Having complex sub-components such as cognitive processes; quantifying intelligence is surely not an easy task. However, psychologists have attempted at developing measures for intelligence. The first version…