The Power of Kindness

Research says that witnessing simple acts of everyday kindness, such as one person giving up a seat on the bus, holding a door open for another, or helping someone pick something that dropped to the floor can promote altruism. This pychological phenomenon that makes us feel great, lifts our emotions and motivates us to do good is called elevation. Witnessing an uplifiting act inspires us to do the same for others. In essence, kindness is contagious.

One Million Acts of Kindness Week is February 8th to the 14th. So, go start a ripple effect and be kind. For inspiration go here and to the Pay It Forward Foundation



Landis, S., Sherman, M., Piedmont, R., Kirkhart, M., Rapp, E., & Bike, D. (2009). The relation between elevation and self-reported prosocial behavior: Incremental validity over the Five-Factor Model of Personality The Journal of Positive Psychology, 4 (1), 71-84 DOI: 10.1080/17439760802399208

5 Tips For Relieving Burnout

It starts with fatigue. You feel tired and overwhelmed, and you struggle to get things done. Soon negative thoughts come into play - and your cynicism leads you to feel helpless. Before you know it, you're in a state of Burnout.

Whether it is work, school or family, sometimes Burnout gets the better of us. Here are 5 tips to help bring balance back in your life.


1. Re-adjust your priorities. Cast aside things that don't need your immediate attention.

2. Delegate more. Call in the cavalry to help get things done. Consider saying "NO" more and "Yes" less.

3. Invite sensory and calming experiences like music, touch and rest into your day.

4. Bring color and beauty into your world. Buy flowers, look at art, experience nature.

5. Exercise. Get your body moving and breathe, breathe, breathe.

Acceptance, Appraisal or Suppression: Anxiety Solutions

A recent study looked at which kind of emotional response worked best at controlling anxiety. Participants in the study, over 200 subjects, were asked to give an impromptu speech in front of a video camera. They were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Reappraisal, Acceptance or Suppression.

The Reappraisal Group was instructed to regulate anxiety by reappraising the negative aspects of the experience to more positive ones as they performed the task.

The Suppression Group was asked to suppress their anxiety as they performed the task.

The Acceptance Group was instructed to just accept their anxiety and perform the task.

The results of the study revealed that the Suppression Group showed greater levels of anxiety than the Reappraisal and Acceptance Groups. Interestingly, both the Acceptance and Suppression groups did not differ in their subjective anxiety response. These results suggest that reappraising and/or accepting anxiety is more effective than suppressing anxiety.

This makes sense. Bottling up emotions doesn't do your mind, body or soul any good. Looking at your emotional experiences, accepting them, or trying to make better sense of them are healthier options.

Bottom line: Don't put a cork in it.

Hofmann, S., Heering, S., Sawyer, A., & Asnaani, A. (2009). How to handle anxiety: The effects of reappraisal, acceptance, and suppression strategies on anxious arousal Behaviour Research and Therapy, 47 (5), 389-394 DOI: 10.1016/j.brat.2009.02.010

The Benefits of "Exergaming"

In the few last years, the gaming industry has introduced games that require physical movement. No more sitting with a controller in your hand couch-potatoting it up all day long. Now, when it comes to gaming, you gotta move it or lose it.

For example, Nintendo Wii requires each player to swing golf clubs, tennis racquet's and throw bowling balls. Playmotion has volleyball, shufflepuck and soccer. Gamercize has wrestling and racing. There's yoga, snowboarding and a host of other activities that keep the fun going and keep your body moving.

Research says that "Exergaming" has more than entertainment value. It offers great physical and mental benefits. I totally agree.

Technology rocks.

Klein, M., & Simmers, C. (2009). Exergaming: Virtual inspiration, real perspiration Young Consumers: Insight and Ideas for Responsible Marketers, 10 (1), 35-45 DOI: 10.1108/17473610910940774

iB: The Virtual Medical ID Bracelet

Emergency Health Registry is an innovative web service that allows you to register personal health information and vital details should a medical emergency arise. The iB Card, Invisible Bracelet Card, works like a Medical ID Bracelet - alerting EMS medics of your specific needs, allergies, medications, illnesses, etc. The service also automatically notifies friends and family via text or email messages of your transport and condition.

The service costs $5 dollars per year.

A good investment, don't you think?

For additional information visit InvisibleBracelet.org

A patent is also in the works for a Universal Personal Emergency Medical Information Retrieval System that will be accessible on the back of a driver's license, passport or school identification card.

"One Letter Off" Movies: A Lateral Thinking Exercise

Critical Thinking is the process by which we look for errors and find answers. Whereas Lateral Thinking is the finding of solutions through a creative process. Research tells us that creative thinking can help us be more effective problem solvers.

So, give this fun exercise a try. Change one letter to spin a classic movie into a parody of itself. The possibilities - and chuckles - are infinite. But, please, keep 'em G rated.

Here are some of mine:

The Incredible Sulk

Jurassic Pork

The Lizard of Oz

The Trouble With Hairy

The Dork Knight

Iron Pan

The Beer Hunter

All About Ewe

Ben-Fur

Planet of the Ales

Public Enema

Boys Don't Fry

Lust in Translation

Silence of the Lamps

Drury, S. (2009). Thinking Inside The Box. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 48 (1), 1-2 DOI: 10.1097/CHI.0b013e3181908c2c