Weekly: It will be different
I remember one day in grad school very clearly. The founder of the field of positive psychology, Marty Seligman, was giving a lecture about his research on depression.
He said, "One thing we've learned about depression is that people experiencing it often think that the future is bleak, that there's nothing good in store for them. In short, they imagine that the future will be the same as the present moment. This is extraordinarily painful. It's depressing to feel like there's no hope, that nothing will change, that there's no brighter future."
I have thought about this insight many times since that day in 2015, and today, we're sharing a way you can consider and apply it in your own life. Hope is a practice.
To expansion,
Stephanie Harrison, founder of The New Happy
This Week
Think back to a time in your life where you were positively surprised by the future. For example:
The time you thought you'd hate a job and ended up loving it
The time you ran out to run an errand and crossed paths with a stranger who turned into a friend or partner
The time you made a mistake at work and felt so worried that it would be a disaster, but your manager responded with kindness and encouragement
Remind yourself that you do not know what the future holds. It is full of possibilities that you simply can't predict or anticipate.
Instead of imagining that the future will be just like today, imagine that it's an empty box just waiting to be filled up.
If your brain jumps towards imagining worst-case scenarios, that's okay. You can gently nudge it in a different direction, training it a little bit at a time to imagine the good that might happen. Use this phrase: "Today, I'll be open to positive surprises."
More Tips and Tools
1. You didn't waste your day — This week's animation is a reminder to value your days differently.
2. How to give good advice (and spot the bad stuff) — A two-part framework.
3. Loneliness isn't what you think — It's not about being alone; it's about feeling like no one is in it with you.
4. If you're grieving — How can you maintain your relationship?
5. The patterns in our relationships — At any moment, a transformation is possible.
Or listen to the podcast episodes (Apple, Spotify) from this week!
Inspiration
1. How old do you think you are? (The Atlantic) — Fascinating: we all feel about 20% younger than our current age.
2. The world's eight-billionth baby! (The Guardian) — Little baby Vinice was born in the Philippines on November 15th.
3. The making of a Go board (Aeon) — So cool: watch a log transform!
Before You Go
No spam, just joy.
