ScienceDaily (May 16, 2009) People looking for a good job at a good salary could find their intelligence may not be the only trait that puts them at the top of the pay scale, according to researchers. A new study finds attractiveness, along with confidence, may help job-seekers stand out to employers. … http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090514130641.htm”>read full article
For Easter
Inspiration of the day
Scientists Identify Neural Circuitry Of First Impressions
ScienceDaily (2009-03-08) — Neuroscientists have identified the neural systems involved in forming first impressions of others. The findings, which show how we encode social information and then evaluate it in making these initial judgments, are reported in the journal Nature Neuroscience. … read full article.
Afraid of goals
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford (American Industrialist,, 1863-1947)
I love this quote because for me it’s a perfect spot on description of Life coaching: Helping people to realize that they are stuck because they took their eyes of the goal and then got lost. The next step in life coaching then is to assist with getting unstuck by reconnecting with life goals.
Some people find it easy to always stay focused on their goals. These are the lucky few. Most people get sidetracked at some point in their lives, others take it day by day without having a bigger goal and a third group doesn’t know, what and where to start because the only things, they see, are obstacles.
Unfortunately, my youngest son belongs to the latter group. Whenever he has to tackle a new project, he starts by telling us why he can’t do it. He lists all the hindrances, difficulties and obstacles he can think of and he can be very convincing that the particular project, whatever it is, is impossible to realize.
Behind all that is fear. He feels overwhelmed because the task at hand seems to be complex, unclear, uncontrollable and unmanageable. Some psychologists believe that a pessimistic approach to the world may be part of the inborn temperament. Regardless of the cause, we have learned that there is a way to work with him.
We must break up any complex task in sub goals and provide a specific time frame for each sub goal. As long as he stays focused on each step (and forgets the big goal) he can move onward.
But don’t say to him “A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step” (Chinese proverb). As soon as he remembers that each successfully mastered step is just that, a step toward the big goal, he feels overwhelmed again. To him, his successes suddenly seem to be so small.
I hope that by growing up he will learn to understand what Henry Ford meant when he said:
“Life is a series of experiences, each of which makes us bigger, even though it is hard to realize this. For the world was built to develop character, and we must learn that the setbacks and grieves which we endure help us in our marching onward.”
How to buy happiness
If you belong to the few lucky ones, who still have some extra cash to spend, don’t “waste” it on the newest gadgets. Instead, buy yourself happiness. You may need it in a tough time like now.
“One can’t buy happiness”, I hear you saying. Well, Ryan Howell, assistant professor of psychology at San Francisco State University, begs to differ. He believes that if you spend your money right you can increase your happiness.
The trick is not to “waste” your money on material things. Instead, buy yourself experiences, such as a meal out, going to the theater or to a baseball game.
Howell did a study with 154 people ages 19 to 50 and found that people feel more alive and inspired after they have made experiential purchases. They also appreciated the positive memories they were left with. An additional benefit was the social nature of those experiences, i.e. being together with other people and thus satisfying the need for social connectedness. Overall, buying experiences made people happier than buying stuff.
In conclusion, Howell suggests that his findings can also be applied to purchasing gifts for other people. If you give a certificate for a restaurant, for tennis lessons, or a spa visit, you will not only brighten the day for the person, but also create long lasting happy memories.
Christiane is psychologist and Life & Career coach. She teaches Psychology at a College in the Greater Boston area. Visit her website at www.coach4u.net
Women’s Happiness More Recession Proof
How often are we reading it in these financially difficult times: Money can’t buy Happiness?
Well, it turns out; this may be true for women. Men however, beg to differ.
Results of a global happiness survey from the Nielsen Company show that for men happiness and satisfaction with their financial situation are closely related.
A woman’s happiness depends more on the quality of her friendships and relationships with family and even with her boss and co-workers. Thus, it seems, women find it easier to be happy in economically tough times: In 48 of the 51 countries surveyed, women are happier than men and are also more optimistic about the future.
The global survey polled more than 28 000 people and asked about the contribution of a variety of factors to happiness. As main factors emerged the personal financial situation, mental health, job/career and being satisfied with your partner.
The study also showed that in different parts of the world some factors are more important than others: For Lithuanians and Indonesians money was far more important than for South Africans and Venezuelans. For people in Vietnam and Indonesia happiness depended on access to unbiased information (news, internet) and their sex life. People in Switzerland and Finland depend more than people in other countries on physical health to be happy and for Australians mental health is a key factor for happiness. Americans need good relationships with co-workers, even more than good relationships with their own family.
Christiane is psychologist and Life & Career coach. She teaches Psychology at a College in the Greater Boston area. Visit her website at www.coach4u.net
Quick thinking as mood booster
Who doesn’t feel occasionally down, particularly during these long and cold winter months?
Researchers at Harvard and Princeton University may now have found a simple method to get the spirits up again: Do a rapid thinking exercise, for example list quickly all kinds of uses for a paperclip, generate a variety of problem-solving-ideas or solve a soduko as quickly as you can.
The researchers found that research participants felt more elated and creative after experiments with a variety of quick thinking tasks.
I found particularly interesting the explanation that the researchs offered: For one, they believe the improved mood may be related to an increase in the neurotransmitter dopamine, which in consequence increases feelings of pleasure. But the researchers offer also a different explanation: they say, many people believe that good mood and fast thinking are related like “If I’m in a good mood, I can think fast.” Now, if I find myself in the course of the exercise thinking fast, then the reverse must be true ” If I’m thinking fast, I must be in a good mood”.
Read more on Harvard’s website
Christiane is a Life & Career coach, psychologist and college teacher. Her website is http://coach4u.net
Living on food stamps
Could you buy enough groceries for an entire month with just $ 176? A CNN reporter is now trying to do that because he wants to find out how people live, who are depending on food stamps.
According to the USDA, there are 31 million people in the U.S. that rely on food stamps every month. The reporter says that in his home state Louisiana, one out of every six people is on food stamps.
$ 176 is the most a single person can qualify for each month, and that comes to about $ 6.28 a day in a month with fewer days like February.
CNN reporter Sean Calleb is writing a blog about his experiences.
Posted by Christiane. Christiane is a Life and Career Coach in Massachusetts. Her website is www.coach4u.net
6 Tips to fight the Winter Blues
Are you one of those people who dread winter? I am. I don’t like the cold, the snow and the ice. Just today, I was trying for about one hour to get rid of the half inch of ice that was covering our driveway and stairs. If I could, I would hibernate.
Some people suffer in the winter months from seasonal affective disorder (SAD). The symptoms are among others lack of energy, and changes in sleep and eating behaviors. People with SAD should see a physician to discuss treatment options.
Those of us, who feel just a little dragged down by the long winter, may find help with the following tips against the Winter Blues:
1. Eat extremely healthy: Lots of veggies, fruit, and nuts. Reduce sugar and all starchy food.
2. Force yourself out into Mother Nature. Walk, go sledding, and ice skating or skiing. Be active and try to catch as many sunrays as possible (of course, with proper sun cream protection)
3. Exercise regularly – at least 15 to 30 minutes daily. Even a brisk walk to the bus stop might suffice.
4. Meet your friends as often as possible. If you can’t meet, then talk on the phone.
5. Surround yourself with beautiful things: flowers, listen to music, candlelight
6. Start a project; something, you always wanted to do but never had time for: organize your photos, paint your apartment, and try out new recipes…
Basically, keep active and you will see: time flies by and suddenly, it’s spring again.
Christiane is psychologist and a professional Life Coach. Her website is www.coach4u.net