How to Fight the Recession Blues

It is easy to feel powerless against the recession. Headlines are rife with doom, and we have control of almost … More How to Fight the Recession Blues

Report from IPPA Conference, Day 3

Wow! What an absolutely amazing day! In case you’re just “tuning in”, today is day 3 of the 2nd Congress of the International Positive Psychology Association.
Here are the highlights:

  • Barbara Fredrickson (author of my #2 pick on Happiness, Positivity) talked about Love
  • Meeting Todd Kashdan and (what may be his last) talk at IPPA
  • Possible collaboration with positive psychologist and local, Lynn Johnson
  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with a Positive Spin
  • Positive Computing
  • Meeting Jane McGonigal and using her on-line game to enhance Happiness 101
  • How much you think you can do something effects whether (and how hard) you try *
  • The use of strengths in therapy – the intermediate lesson *
  • Gala and the National Constitution Center *

* I will report on these tomorrow.

It was much cooler today. A blessing for my walk to my third download of information in the realm of positive psychology, a.k.a. Happiness! As I walked through City Hall in (literally) the heart of Philadelphia, I hummed a little tune. I was distracted by the richness and variety of the people as I walked. Per haps distracted enough by the suits, the homeless, the street venders, the skaters and the provocative dress, the song’s lyrics did not bubble to the surface until in the shadow of the Downtown Marriott. I murmured, “All you need is love. Bump-ba bump-ba bump. All you need is love. Bump-ba bump-ba bump. All you need is love, love – love is all you need.” As I realized I was humming a Beatles standard, I also realized that the topic of Barbara Fredrickson’s talk was “Love: A new lens on the science of thriving” Continue reading Report from IPPA Conference, Day 3

Positive #6 The Cart.

The University of Utah offered to let me use a handcart to lug around the amp, speaker and prizes I … More Positive #6 The Cart.

Antidepressants don’t appear to work for most Utahns

Published on KSL
Let me start by saying a person should never, never, never go off their medications without talking to their prescriber. It is dangerous and potentially lethal.

According to the Behavioral Risk-Factor Surveillance System, Utah is currently the happiest state in the union. It is also one of the saddest. Utah sits right in the middle of the “suicide belt,” which stretches along the Rocky Mountains from Wyoming and Idaho, through Utah and Nevada and down to Arizona and New Mexico. As of 2008, the mortality rates gathered from the U.S. census indicated that Utah ranked ninth in the nation for suicides. In September 2010, the Utah Department of Health declared that Utah was the fourth greatest consumer of antidepressants in the nation with 12.71 percent of residents being prescribed antidepressants.

The problem is that these medications do not work on most of the consumers to whom they are prescribed. Continue reading Antidepressants don’t appear to work for most Utahns

Positive #3 I am writing my positives again.

I want to say thanks to Jonathan Glick for challenging me to get back on the positive band wagon. It … More Positive #3 I am writing my positives again.

Happiness – No Near Miss

Do we only see the good when it is threatened to be taken away?

The Happiness Diet

How would you like to enjoy your food much more while consuming far fewer calories?

Be Right or Be Happy?

Would you rather be right or be happy? Or something in between?

Forgiveness Group starts Wed. March 10th, 7pm

Can you forgive yourself? Do you forgive others? There is a cultural expectation to “forgive and forget” but most of us have not been taught how to forgive. The Forgiveness Group will help you understand forgiveness but more importantly help you to finally let go and forgive.