Positive Psychology

Anger can be good. It is an emotion that we as humans have and it is useful only if we can channel it to effect positive actions in our lives or in the lives of others. Anger over injustices can lead us to advocate for changes in laws and policies. Anger over some of our shortfalls can lead us to setting goals and taking steps to change behavior and better ourselves. Anger over a mistake on our job can help us re-evaluate the root causes to ensure that that mistake is not repeated. The list goes on and on where anger can be a ... Read Full Story

The morning started off as if any other: the tapping toes while pulsing my coffee beans (the extra 30 seconds feel like agony but the taste outweighs my impatience) the scrambling of ensuring I am in physical possession of my ID badge, the mental checklist during the commute of "remember to pick up…., you should call…., don't forget…." The half-listening to DJ editorialize a political candidate. I was my usual 10 minutes behind. Deciding (uncharacteristically! Don't judge me!) to park in an "off-limits" lot, I accessed a hospital door infrequently accessed by me…and ran into one of my first patients from this position. I ... Read Full Story

A study first printed in the December 2008 issue of SIR (Social Indicators Research) shows that unhappy people spend more time watching television than happy people. This information comes via John Robinson and Steven Martin from the University of Maryland, who examined the data of 30,000 adults in the United States. The data itself was collected over a 30 year period (1975-2006). Of key interest: (1) Unhappy people watched television 20% more on average than happy people, despite controlling factors like education, etc. One press release stated the difference in hours of consumption as 25 hours per week for unhappy people versus 19 hours ... Read Full Story

I know that there has been a reasonably long break between this and the last article. I did not realize how time had flown (time always flies when you love life). Well, just when I was thinking about what I should write about today, I received a call from a close friend saying that her sister had just had a baby. One of the most precious moments in any parent’s life. I still remember the first time I stared into my son’s big eyes. Anyway, there are so many wonderful things happening on this planet no matter how ignorant you are about it. Let’s ... Read Full Story

It is always easier to look for the flaws in others. We have grown so fond of flaws that sources like the media make billions of dollars each year just by displaying the weaknesses of famous people throughout the world. Some people thrive with a daily dose of gossips and hardly find it amusing to discuss about the positive attributes in others. If they only knew that focusing on someone else’s flaws will bring in more negative energy towards themselves, perhaps they would realize that they have been playing a big role in attracting all the wrong vibrations onto themselves. How is that so? ... Read Full Story