Develop Emotional Agility
29 November 2016
Allison read Neda Semnani’s interview of Susan David, A Harvard psychologist explains why forcing positive thinking won’t make you happy, and got excited for David’s new book.
What We're Reading Now
Entries tagged with: Happiness
Spend Time with Your Emotions this Valentine’s Day
14 February 2017
Barbara read Pathways to Possibility and learned a new way to neutralize negative emotions on Valentine’s Day (and every day).
A Happiness Matters Booster Shot
9 May 2017
Barbara watched Brené Brown interview Shawn Achor about his happiness research, then watched his TEDx Talk, and was reminded happiness is a choice.
Training My Mind to Be 10% Happier
15 August 2017
Janie read 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story, by Dan Harris, and was excited to read a book about meditation that was written for meditation skeptics.
Meditate Even if it Bores You
26 December 2017
Barbara read 10% Happier and learned that meditation can help you feel better and be more productive even if it bores you nearly to tears.
Cultivating Self-Compassion
6 February 2018
Eden read How to Be Happy by Tara Parker-Pope and learned a new exercise for being kind to herself.
Start and End Your Day with a Pep Talk
18 December 2018
Eden read Gmorning, Gnight! and paused to appreciate a collection of pep talks from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Accepting Compliments as a Way to Practice Happiness
22 January 2019
Eden read How to Accept A Compliment—Even if It’s From Yourself by Micaela Marini Higgs and thought about the value of “acknowledging the small wins.”
Designing for Joy
19 February 2019
Eden read Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness by Ingrid Fetell Lee and thought about the design elements of joy.
Finding Home
1 March 2019
Rachel read Home by Carson Ellis and was reminded that people plant their roots in all sorts of different places.
Embracing Simplicity
25 June 2019
Janie read Want happier, calmer kids? Simplify their world by Sandy Kreps and thought about the similarities between children and adults and the ways this advice could be useful at home and at work.
Life Lessons from a Badger
1 September 2019
Rachel read Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban with pictures by Lillian Hoban and remembered bedtime stories, back-to-school traditions, and the life lessons of a favorite badger.
Emotions Are Contagious
12 November 2019
Barbara read Make Yourself Immune to Secondhand Stress by Shawn Achor and Michelle Geilan that confirmed via scientific research something she had always suspected: stress is contagious.
Choosing Gratitude
26 November 2019
Janie listened to Episode 7: How Gratitude Can Change Your Life, of the Big Life Kids podcast with her sons, Charlie and William, and enjoyed learning together about how gratitude can help you feel happier and more appreciative of what you have.
Can’t Keep No Satisfaction
26 April 2022
Barbara read How to Want Less: by Arthur C. Brooks and learned why the high of getting what we want doesn’t last very long.
The Joy of Accepted Gifts
21 June 2022
Barbara read Five Ways to Exercise Your Thankfulness Muscles by Tish Harrison Warren and was grateful to have an expert help her understand why accepting help can make you so happy.
An Antidote to Burnout
13 September 2022
Rachel read Laura Vanderkam's opinion piece, "There's a Better Way to Reclaim Your Time than 'Quiet Quitting'," and was buoyed by a counter-intuitive observation about restoring energy.
Wish You Were Here
8 November 2022
Geof has been exploring the rich databases of the Library of Virginia. Inspired by postcards he collects, he’s been researching the stories of old motels, restaurants, and tourist attractions and browsing old newspapers to learn about the past histories of these artifacts, as well as searching Google Earth and maps to see what now stands in their place.
Joy and Delight
20 December 2022
Rachel read the Pipsticks Sticker Manifesto and reveled in her collection as she appreciated the big and small things that brought her joy and delight in 2022.
Choosing a Well-Lived Life
3 January 2023
Rachel read the obituary for George Edward Linney Jr., MD, and reflected on a lesson learned from this well-lived life.
