Tag: psychology
When I think of awe-inspiring moments in my life — I’m talking about jaw-dropping occasions — my trip last August to Rwanda for an article I wrote for Elle Canada about a the SmartGirls initiative between Because I’m a Girl and SmartWater Canada comes to mind. From the excited, happy children so thrilled to see us in their little village to the safari we went on, where we saw hippos, giraffes and more, roaming freely, and so many more moments (too many to mention — but definitely the great group of women I was traveling with played a big part), I still feel overwhelmed with emotion and am grateful I had the chance to experience it.
Awesomeness has a profound effect on us, it seems. In a new study conducted by researchers in Stanford University and University of Minnesota, it seems that these awe-inspiring moments make us feel as though we have more time and make us more patient, less materialistic and more willing to volunteer to help others. It does this by bringing us into the present and thus influencing our decisions, affecting our perception of time and it makes us feel that life is more satisfying.
Here’s to more awesomeness all around.
And more picnic lunches with giraffes. That was totally awesome.
July 23, 2012
Having a day from hell? Getting a good night’s sleep (so that you get some REM dream sleep) may help the day not seem so awful says a new study from the University of California, Berkeley. Dreaming, it seems, helps take the edge off of those painful memories — the study found that during REM, we have lower levels of stress hormones in the brain, which helps act like a soothing balm for your bad-day emotional state upon waking up the next day.
(And for your sleepytime? Some cute and comfy boxers — these ones above are from Aerie.)
November 30, 2011
So I’m pretty darn certain that what this study is telling me is that if I don’t do as well as I’m hoping in my upcoming half-marathon, that I have a good reason to buy myself a designer handbag:
When your ego is threatened, you’re more likely to spend more on a luxury purchase and to charge it on a credit card. Two studies were conducted involving a computer test, and participants who were told their test results revealed them to be not too bright, those people were more willing to splurge and use plastic. (you can get the full deets in the link above).
But the finding that caught my interest most, and this is a direct quote:
“Luxury items are especially effective at reassuring us of our value.”
See? What’d I tell ya? Maybe I won’t try so hard in my race after all… 
May 6, 2011
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