Below you can find educational and inspirational videos to help improve your moods and your emotional well-being.
Inspired by the principals of positive psychology, Ms. Smith describes the four pillars of a meaningful life.
“It’s not just in your brain!” To understand the causes of depression and anxiety, Johann shifts the focus from chemical imbalances to imbalances in how we live.
Dr. Hone discusses the results of her research on resiliency and shares 3 coping strategies she used to deal with her personal tragedy.
The stories we tell ourselves and others shape our lives and emotional well-being. By recognizing that we are unreliable narrators, we can change our perspectives and our feelings.
“We’ll go to the doctor when we feel fluish or a nagging pain. So why don’t we see a health professional when we feel emotional pain: guilt, loss, loneliness?” Guy Winch
Matt Walker shares the good things that happen when you get sleep and the alarmingly bad things that happen when you don’t, for both your brain and body. Learn more about sleep’s impact on your learning, memory, immune system and even your genetic code.
“What’s the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today? Exercise!” says neuroscientist Wendy Suzuki. Get inspired to go to the gym as Suzuki discusses the science of how working out boosts your mood and memory — and protects your brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s
Barry Schwartz talks about the disadvantages of having too many choices. He describes how people become paralyzed when they are overwhelmed with choices. He explains how choice decreases our satisfaction because choice increases our expectations for perfection. We then blame ourselves when we are disappointed because we believe we could have made a better choice.
Dr. Brown talks about social connection. “Connection is why we are here. It’s what gives purpose and meaning to our lives… In order for connection to happen, we have to allow ourselves to be seen… We have to have the courage to be imperfect…authentic and vulnerable.”
Brené Brown defines shame as a painful feeling of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging. She differentiates between shame and guilt. Shame is “I am bad”. Guilt is “I did something bad.” Shame is a focus on the self. Guilt is a focus on the behavior. It’s the difference between “I made a mistake” versus “I am a mistake”. People who can’t apologize feel shame. Dr. Brown explains three tenants about shame: 1. We all feel it. 2. Nobody wants to talk about it. 3. The less you talk about it, the more you have it. When shame is surrounded with silence, secrecy and judgement, shame grows exponentially. Alternatively, shame can’t survive when it is spoken to someone who listens with empathy.
Dr. Seligman explains why psychology should not be exclusively about alleviating suffering. It should also focus on improving normal lives and helping untroubled individual become more fulfilled and more productive. He breaks down happiness into three components: 1- pleasure and positive emotions, 2- engagement and flow (when you experience that time stops), 3- having meaning in your life. Studies show that life satisfaction is mostly influenced by making meaningful contributions and engagement. Money, expansive cars, luxurious vacations and extravagant homes cannot create happiness. They are “the cherry on top”. They can only be enjoyed if you have meaning and engagement in your life.
Who is happier: someone who won the lottery a year ago or someone who became paraplegic a year ago? Dr. Gilbert talks about the mind’s ability to create happiness. He describes synthetic happiness as the ability to feel happy even when you don’t get what you want.
