I’m the first to confess that I like my conveniences. I love having both a laptop and a desktop computer so I can write or research anywhere I want. I can’t imagine living without my hearing aids being able to connect to my iPhone so I can take calls or listen to music anytime I want (not to mention hear well!). Speaking of my iPhone, knowing the temperature today and for the next 10 days anywhere in the world seems important, doesn’t it? Or what about Google Maps telling me where I am at any given point day or night? I don’t know about you, but without those comforts (and I didn’t even mention air-conditioning, televisions, a washer/dryer and a thousand other household items) my lifestyle would seem antiquated. Clearly all those things and so much more make my life comfortable. But are they necessary? And is it possible that taken all together there are unforeseen costs that are making me lazy?
Why Your Smiles Matters
Did you smile today? It matters—at least according to research by college professor, psychologist, and author Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D. Yet most of the time we tend to believe that a smile, while nice in the moment, is too tiny or inconsequential to make much of a difference. But according to Fredrickson every smile, and all the other positive emotions we have during the course of the day, add up to tremendous benefits to the quality of our mental, emotional and physical health. So yes, it matters whether you smiled today. In fact, it could be one of the most important things you do for yourself or others as your future unfolds. [Read more…]