1: Human beings are really good at solving technical problems and answering specific, hard questions.
This ability has driven extraordinary progress in science and economics over the past five hundred years.
You likely believe that “while the world is incredibly complicated, with enough knowledge and hard work, every problem can be solved,” Arthur Brooks writes in The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.
“And … continue reading
1: Think back to a moment that brought you joy.
“Choose a good moment from the last week, something that made you feel happy, hopeful, proud, or close to someone,” Kelly McGonigal suggests in her book Joy is a Risk Worth Taking.
Perhaps it’s “the pride and hope you feel when you make progress on a difficult goal that encourages you to keep striving.”
Or, perhaps it’s “the love … continue reading
1: So what exactly is happening in your brain when you experience joy?
Two interconnected systems, the reward system and the meaning system, work together, Kelly McGonigal writes in her new book Joy is a Risk Worth Taking.
“During a good moment,” Kelly notes, “these two brain systems communicate with each other to produce the essence of joy—a feeling of meaningful pleasure, uplift, or relief.”
She notes that your … continue reading
1: You might think joy would be an easy emotion to embrace, Kelly McGonigal writes in her new book Joy is a Risk Worth Taking.
“But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from the last decade of studying this emotion, it’s that for many people— even those who want more meaning, pleasure, connection, and hope in life—joy can be a hard feeling to trust.”
Why does this happen?
“Some … continue reading
1: “Joy is not, as many people believe, a frivolous or selfish emotion,” Kelly McGonigal writes in her new book Joy is a Risk Worth Taking.
“Nor is joy only possible when every aspect of life is going well.”
So, what is joy?
Kelly describes it as “the uplift you experience in moments that connect you to something that makes life worth living.” She adds, “It’s the flash of … continue reading
1: “I’ve only experienced joy a few times in my life,” Kelly McGonigal‘s eighty-year-old father said when she told him she was writing a book about joy.
She asked him what those experiences were.
“The first moment he shared happened in 1977, a few weeks after my twin sister and I were born,” Kelly writes in her new book Joy is a Risk Worth Taking. “My mom was … continue reading
1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations.
At the end of each week, I’ve been sharing an idea from Tynan’s book Superhuman by Habit. about how to install specific, positive habits into your life.
So far, we’ve covered:
2: … continue reading
1: How do you react when something bad happens in your life?
“Your knee-jerk reaction to bad events can be to only see, and to dwell on, the negative, giving you a biased view that can affect your mood and paralyze you from acting,” Tynan writes in his book Superhuman by Habit.
When you think about positive, healthy habits, chances are your brain immediately focuses on work and productivity … continue reading
1: Imagine two groups of bike riders that are getting ready to ride through the countryside.
“The first group,” Rachel Barr writes in How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend, “are instructed to take notice of the delightful things they experience along the way, to savor each sensation, like a brush of warm sun, or the pastoral charm of cows eyeing them with mild suspicion.”
The second group … continue reading
1: Life is busy. Yes, it is.
“It can feel like there simply isn’t enough time while we manage all the other things we need to do,” Rachel Barr writes in How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to a Healthier, Happier Life.
“Who has the time to pause and watch a squirrel execute an elaborate heist on a bird feeder or enjoy the simple … continue reading
