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Reminder: Tonight is a happierPhilly meetup focusing on practitioners

Andrew Rosenthal — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:11:53 +0000

Reminder: happierPhilly.com free meetup is tonight, focusing on practitioners. Limited space is still available but we need to know if you’re coming, so please RSVP. We’re at the Penn Bookstore.

Click here to check out
The happierPhilly – Happiness Group Philadelphia!

Panel on Staying Resilient: Why Happiness is Important in Business

happier.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:16:04 +0000

On behalf of Drexel University’s Business of Ambition: Co-Curricular Activities, Programs & Services, Kamina Richardson, Program Manager and co-sponsor happier.com invite you to attend:

“Staying Resilient: Why Happiness is Important in Business”

Wednesday, October 14th
Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Nesbitt Hall, Ruth Auditorium
33nd and Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19104
5 – 6 p.m. Panel Discussion
6-7 p.m. Reception

When the growth is stagnant and people are losing jobs, why should we care about happiness? What impact does employee happiness have on productivity and engagement, and how do we teach people to be more resilient in the face of adversity? What works for increasing employee happiness?

Leaders in the fields of management, consulting and psychology provide perspectives on staying resilient during tough times: why happiness is important for business. Learn what Merrill Lynch and the U.S. Army are already doing to increase happiness and resilience and hear about the latest findings in the science of happiness.

Panel Speakers:
Professor Diana Sandberg is an instructor for the Finance Department at LeBow College of Business. She is an expert in Risk Management.

Scott Asalone is partner and co-founder of ASGMC. He co-founded the firm to inspire and guide people in business to be their very best, through the use of his motivational speaking skills and management development expertise. Scott has a Masters Degree in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He is an affiliate of the American Psychological Association and a member of the International Positive Psychology Association. He is certified in Myers-Briggs Personality Inventory, Firo-B, and Dimensional Management techniques.

Karen Reivich, Ph.D. is co-author of The Resilience Factor and of the best-selling The Optimistic Child. Dr. Reivich is a Research Associate at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychology, and is also the co-director of the Penn Resiliency Project and an instructor in the Masters of Applied Positive Psychology program in which she teaches a course on Positive Psychology and Individuals.

Adam M. Grant, Ph.D. is an award-winning researcher and Associate Professor of Management at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Grant’s research focuses on work motivation, job design, pro-social helping and giving behaviors, initiative and proactive behaviors, and employee well-being.

To register: http://www.lebow.drexel.edu/Event/2528 or contact Kamina Richardson 215-571-3568 for additional information.

Media contacts: Christa Guidi, Cashman & Associates, 215.627.1060, cguidi@cashmanandassociates.com or Courtney Sochacki, Cashman & Associates, 215.627.1060, courtney@cashmanandassociates.com

happier.com is a personal trainer for your happiness. With more than a dozen tools and tests to help you measure, track and improve your happiness, you can trust the happier.com experts to help you reach your goals. Exclusive videos and a popular blog mean there’s something new to learn every day. Download the free iPhone application or find what you’re looking for with the Positive Psychology Practitioner Directory. happier.com is on Facebook, LinkedIn, and twitter and has meetup groups in Washington, Philadelphia, and Portland, with more planned. Click here for a social media press release from our launch.

In USA TODAY: Happiness – Staying Positive in Negative Territory

happier.com — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:18:03 +0000

This great article includes work by Robert Biswas-Diener and Todd Kashdan. Both are featured experts on happier.com.

Happiness: Staying positive in negative territory

By Sharon Jayson, USA TODAY

TORONTO — Pursuing happiness may be an inalienable right, but it’s tougher keeping those spirits up while your 401(k) is lower than it used to be.

Part of the reason, say those who study the subject, is that you may be looking for happiness in all the wrong places. People can be happy in an economic slump — they just have to change their ideas about what it takes to be happy, say a growing number of psychologists who study “positive psychology,” which emphasizes the benefits of optimism and having a positive outlook.

Although past studies have found those who live in countries with higher per capita incomes report many measures of greater well-being, it’s psychological wealth that helps people get through tough times, say researchers Ed Diener and Robert Biswas-Diener, who will present new findings at the four-day annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, which opens here today. About 10,000 psychology professionals are expected to attend.

Though money helps people lead more comfortable lives, it doesn’t necessarily contribute to the moments in life that bring happiness — which tend to come from social interactions and activities, not from accumulating material goods.

“Wealth really means having what you need, and money gives only one part of what we need,” says Diener, a psychology professor at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign.

Diener and his son Biswas-Diener, a psychologist and lecturer at Portland (Ore.) State University, co-wrote a 2008 book, Happiness: Unlocking the Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. They will present findings of a survey of 136,000 people in 132 countries on how income and wealth relate to psychological needs.

“When you look at the entire world, money does matter,” Diener says. “But it almost doesn’t matter at all for enjoying life.”

He says he and his wife had to cut back on spending when the stock market dropped. “It has mattered zero to our happiness,” he says. “We did have to make some tough decisions on what we can’t do,” such as canceling a trip with their five grandkids to Alaska.

They saved $10,000 by having the kids visit them at home in Salt Lake City instead. “It was not only OK, in some ways it was better. Without the traveling, life becomes slightly simpler and less hectic.”

Simplicity is a silver lining to the downturn, says psychologist Robert Wicks.

“In the up economy, people were successful, but in many cases, they were missing their lives,” says Wicks, a psychology professor at Loyola University Maryland in Columbia and author of Bounce: Living the Resilient Life, out next month.

“They weren’t spending time really enjoying themselves and weren’t spending time with family and friends. The simplicity that’s possible during difficult economic times would not come to the fore if a crisis had not occurred.”

Some research suggests focusing on gratitude can increase happiness.

Gender plays a role

A study by Todd Kashdan, director of the Laboratory for the Study of Social Anxiety, Character Strengths, and Related Phenomena at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., published online in the Journal of Personality earlier this year, finds that gender plays a role in achieving well-being: Men are much less likely than women to feel and express gratitude.

Carla White, a website designer in Sioux Falls, S.D., says keeping a daily journal about things she’s grateful for allowed her to feel happy again after grappling with her father’s death for 18 months — unsuccessfully, she says.

“I think what a gratitude journal does is it shows me I actually have some good stuff in my life. I feel at peace. I feel happy because of that,” she says.

White, who also faced the prospect of job loss last year, has created a gratitude journal iPhone application, which she launched at the end of the year.

Anthony Scioli, a psychology professor at Keene State College in Keene, N.H., says he has tried to distance himself somewhat from the segment of positive psychology that focuses on happiness in the here and now.

“We do not live just in the moment. Philosophically, one could even say it is impossible to live in the moment because time is fleeting, and most of the ‘time’ we live in the future and the past,” he says. “Hope is predominantly about the future, but is also fueled by past experiences of success, empowerment, connection, security, coping.”

Scioli will present research on hope at an APA session on Friday.

“Hope brings a special kind of happiness, a more permanent form,” says Scioli, co-author of Hope in the Age of Anxiety, with clinical psychologist Henry Biller of the University of Rhode Island-Kingston.

“Hopeful people are sustained by the belief that there are always options,” Scioli says. “Diversify investments, consider a different line of work, or pick up a temporary part-time job. Rent a room in your house for extra income. Hopeful people are more apt to stay calm in a crisis due to their broader life perspective and faith in the future.”

But sometimes having hope and wanting to be happy aren’t so easy, especially when so many people have been laid off or can’t find work.

That’s when happiness really suffers, says Biswas-Diener, of Milwaukie, Ore., who is also program director for the Centre of Applied Positive Psychology in the United Kingdom.

“The truth is you do take a hit where your happiness is concerned if you get laid off,” he says, but “money is only one of the reasons. It’s the stress associated with not being able to pay bills. Also, jobs provide meaning. They structure your time. They give you a sense of identity. They allow you to provide for your loved ones. When you take away these critical psychological components, people really do feel it.”

Experiences trump stuff

Psychologists also have found that being highly materialistic affects happiness, with those who are most concerned about money and possessions actually being less happy.

Keeping too close tabs on the economy, such as daily monitoring of economic indicators that have been on a roller-coaster ride since the recession began, also hinders happiness.

“We find that people whose moods are up and down a lot are less happy. People who are less reactive to every event, in general, are happier,” Diener says.

But what about what money can buy? Previous research has found that using money to pay for something novel, social or experiential brings more happiness than buying things.

Some newer studies confirm these results. San Francisco State University researchers presented findings earlier this year to the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, based on what participants said about their purchases.

They said they thought eating out or buying theater tickets was money better spent than on more things, such as a new tech toy or clothing, and the experiential purchase provided greater happiness for themselves and others, regardless of the amount they paid or their income.

Making happy memories

The researchers suggest that’s because experiences can provide happy memories, which don’t wear away as fast as the rush of buying a new possession.

But a study in this month’s Journal of Consumer Research found that negative experiences can turn the theory upside down.

Researchers at the University of Texas-Austin and Washington University in St. Louis found that a bad experience, like a vacation gone wrong, can have a more negative impact on happiness than other spending of a comparable amount.

Humans are predisposed to pay greater attention to the negative, psychologists say.

That’s partly evolutionary because humans automatically turn their attention to anything threatening before paying attention to rewards, says Diener — ignoring a lion’s threat, for example, could make you a goner, while ignoring something good isn’t a matter of survival.

Focusing on what’s good and the special moments that bring happiness to people’s lives is why Pamela Gail Johnson of Lewisville, Texas, says she created the Secret Society of Happy People.

Johnson says the group, started in 1998, has struck a nerve with at least 7,000 people she counts as official members.

The website (www.sohp.com) has had more traffic since the downturn, she says.

“When they’re in this global uncertainty, they start asking these tougher questions,” she says. ‘Do I need three cars? Does that make me happy?’ “

Johnson urges people to savor the happy moments, even in the midst of financial chaos.

“If your basic needs are met, happiness is not about money,” she says.

Philadelphia-area Happiness Meetup Tonight for Positive Psychology Enthusiasts

Andrew Rosenthal — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:39:53 +0000

Tonight is the first meetup for HappierPhilly, a meetup group for those of us in Philadelphia interested in the science of happiness.

(If you’re in Washington, check out HappierDC!)

Let’s meet up!

The goal for this initial meetup is to meet each other and learn more about what our interests are in happiness. I’ve already heard some good programming ideas including:
-meeting with a happiness expert for chatting
-attending a lecture or event to learn about the science of happiness
- “journal club” format where we are each responsible for sharing something about the research of the science of happiness
- roundtable discussion on ways to increase happiness
- purely social meetups like this first one

At this first meetup, we’ll figure out which of these ideas, or others, interest us for future meetups.

I’m looking forward to meeting everyone!

-Andrew

HappierPhilly is meeting up tonight at 6:15pm.

Bar 210 at the Rittenhouse Hotel

210 W. Rittenhouse Square, 2nd floor
Philadelphia, PA 19153
(215) 790-2533

Be sure to RSVP online if you think you can come.

Pictures Posted from happier.com Party in Philadelphia

Andrew Rosenthal — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:44:52 +0000

The pictures are up from our happier.com party in Philadelphia! Apologies for just now posting these. The facebook group has been tagging and promoting the pics for two weeks now, and I just realized that we never shared them with the blog!

Click here to view the full album.

1.5% of all Heart Attacks Triggered by Negative Emotion

Andrew Rosenthal — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:03:24 +0000

Sure, we’ve always known that anger and rage isn’t healthy. But what we’re learning more and more is just how closely connected mental health is to physical health.

In today’s New York Times, Robert Allen recounts how “a recent meta-analysis of 44 prospective studies in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology confirms a strong relationship between anger and both the onset and outcome from coronary heart disease; moreover, approximately 1.5 percent of heart attacks are “triggered” by intense anger.” And that’s the most basic type of relationship. Most of us are perfectly comfortable with the idea that anger can be bad for you.

But did you know that optimistic people are less likely to get sick from the cold? Dr. Sheldon Cohen, at Carnegie Melon, has become recognized for his work linking psychological factors like stress, social support network and optimism to susceptibility from disease. His highest-profile research involves exposing people to the cold virus — a controlled amount of virus in a controlled setting — and predicting who will become sick based on factors like their optimism and psychological resources. Dr. Cohen’s work is starting to get more and more recognition. Just last week he delivered the 2009 Contributions in Positive Health Award Lecture at the First World Congress on Positive Psychology.

The connection between physical health and psychological factors is just the beginning. This study of positive psychical health represents one of the primary focuses of positive psychology, moving forward. At the recent World Congress on Positive Psychology, Martin Seligman and other thought-leaders argue that positive psychology ought to be about more than the study of happiness: we should study positive health, positive education and the science of flourishing.

Positive Psychology: No Longer Just the Study of Happiness: Positive Education, Positive Health and Flourishing

Andrew Rosenthal — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:01:49 +0000

At the World Congress on Positive Psychology, thought-leaders in the field of positive psychology presented their visions for the future. Notably, most argued that studying happiness is a start, but not sufficient. These three areas will be the future focus for the field of positive psychology:

Positive Health

Already, leading psychologists, physicians and other influencers have begun gathering to develop the field of positive health. Last week, millions of dollars of grants were announced for the study of positive neuroscience. A lecture series at the University of Pennsylvania is focused on the area. Recently, Martin Seligman outlined his proposal (PDF) for the new field:

Positive health describes a state beyond the mere absence of disease and is deﬁnable and measurable. Positive health can be operationalised by a combination of excellent status on biological, subjective, and functional measures.

Positive Education

Yesterday’s U.S. News and World Report includes a niece piece on positive education, which Marty Seligman last year defined in an Australian op-ed :

The schooling of children has, for more than a century, been about accomplishment, the avenue into the world of adult work. I am all for accomplishment, success, literacy and discipline, but imagine if schools could, without compromising either, teach both the skills of well being and the skills of achievement. Imagine positive education. – Martin Seligman

The Science of Flourishing

At the World Congress on Positive Psychology, attendees were challenged to ensure that 51% of the world is flourishing by 2051. The focus on flourishing will become more prominentas global researchers argue that human flourishing is the ultimate goal of studying and increasing happiness. In 2002, positive psychology saw its first book focused on flourishing. In the coming months, we will see more articles, lectures and studies incorporating the idea of human flourishing. Keep watching Chris Peterson, from the University of Michigan. For years, he has been reminding his colleagues in positive psychology that “Other people matter.” This mantra becomes even more important as the field focuses on studying the science of human flourishing.

Join the Fastest-Growing Directory of Positive Psychology Practitioners

happier.com — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:53:26 +0000

We just came back from the First World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia. At the Congress, many practitioners expressed frustration at the lack of ways to market their practice and attract new clients. Existing directories are not focused enough on positive psychology, and practitioners get lost among the legions of traditional therapists and life-coaches without an underlying scientific approach. And, let’s face it, the best practitioners often don’t have time to build up their own web presences, let-alone market themselves. That’s where the happier.com practitioner directory comes in.

Are you a Positive Psychology Practitioner?

Do you want more clients?

Do you want more online visibility?

The happier.com Practitioner Directory connects therapists, coaches and other practitioners with potential clients.

Personalized directory listing
Publicize your practice to the largest and most-current group of people interested in using positive psychology in their lives
Get paying clients
Let us take care of the technical
Hosted at directory.happier.com
Link to your blog or personal web page
Benefit from fast-growing traffic to happier.com
Rank high in Google and other directories
We will publicize your listing via Twitter, Facebook, LInkedIn, and in our own email newsletters and blog posts
Unlimited leads for one cost
Google ad words, search engine optimization, email campaigns and link building
Build an identity within the happier.com community

In the last week, the directory has doubled in size! More than 40 practitioners have already joined (many listings are still awaiting editing). Think you should join too? Check out our special pricing and site features.

Tonight: happier.com party in Philadelphia, for World Congress on Positive Psychology

happier.com — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:03:16 +0000

Tonight starting at 5:30pm, join the happier.com team for a happy[r] hour during the IPPA World Congress in Positive Psychology, in Philadelphia.

Heading to the First World Congress on Positive Psychology in Philadelphia this June?
Are you a practitioner searching for new clients?
Are you a researcher studying the science of happiness?

Want to learn more about happier.com?

Join staff and friends of happier.com for an informal reception.
Drinks (beer and wine) are complimentary, along with light food.
Feel free to bring friends/colleagues.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

5:30-8:00pm

Public House, 1801 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA

More information available on our facebook page.

RSVP by leaving a comment on this blog post. Your email address won’t be displayed, but we’ll have a record of it and email you to confirm. If you already RSVPd on this page, we’ve got you on the list!

The reception is just two blocks away from the World Congress. Leave the Sheraton and walk up Race Street. Take a left on 18th Street and walk against traffic, 1/2 block past the Four Seasons hotel. Public House is on your right.
View IPPA reception information in a larger map

Updates from IPPA Positive Psychology Conference on Twitter with @happier

happier.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:54:40 +0000

Follow @happier on twitter for the latest updates on the IPPA World Congress on Positive Psychology.

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