Blog Archives
…think happy thoughts
The power of perception is nothing to be scoffed, and now there’s a study to back it up.
We determine the way the world sees us. Okay, that on its own is not particularly surprising, but the psychology behind it is.
Essentially if you go around assuming that no one likes you, eventually that will become true. Shockingly most people aren’t huge fans of self-pity.
Of course, if you’re a jerk who believes that everyone likes you, that won’t necessarily make it true. However, all of you paranoid mopers who skulk around assuming that everyone hates you, congratulations, you’re probably right!
It’s a reality that was in fact created by your own delusions (isn’t that interesting), but point is, in the end you were correct. Enjoy the validation.
You create your own reality (within reason sci-fi fans), why not make it a happy one.
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“If You Think Everyone Hates You, Everyone Will Hate You”: MSNBC
…bi-daily smile…
…be in the red
If you’re looking for recent, curiously specific studies then have I got some good news for you. One such research effort found that eBay pages with the color red on them made consumers more likely to bid higher.
Because the color red is so notorious for creating calm, logical, strategic thought processes.
No offense red. I love you, I do, but you are not a calming, reassuring color. Bulls (who are color blind to be fair) chase you. You represent debt, anger, and the greatest team in baseball (so you have one thing going for you).
But good for you, you’ve found your niche–inciting panicked purchases. Clearly a large part of the population responds to stress by clicking “buy.” Wait, now it makes sense.
Based on these findings it’s a miracle anyone ever buys anything on Amazon. They have their color scheme all wrong. What were they thinking with that golden-yellow and crisp white?
Still, as a notorious over-thinking shopper, the only time red encourages me to make a purchase is when it’s accompanied by a Cardinal’s logo.
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“Using Red on eBay Pages Results in Higher Bids”: The Atlantic
…feel better about yourself
...half full? ...half empty? ...flowers!?
It’s the holiday season. A time for giving, merriment, and schadenfreude.
scha·den·freu·de [shahd-n-froi-duh] noun- satisfaction or pleasure felt at someone else's misfortune. (Courtesy of Dictionary.com)
Example: You’re out spreading holiday cheer with your family at the local mall. You pass the Santa line (the lesser ones, without the fast pass), which has moved to form its own union and overthrow the elf tyrants who stand between them and Father Christmas. As you stroll past them, and the four city blocks they inhabit, you think to yourself, “I’m glad that’s not me.” You smile to yourself, and stroll on free of elfin entrapment.
So maybe it’s not something you want to add to your list of traditions, but it’s human nature. Is it maniacal, ill-willed, and just a little bit petty? Yes, but hey, we’re human.
And I bring good news for the victims of schadenfreude. According to a new study, the degree to which we “enjoy” the failures of others, is a reflection of our own self-esteem. Shocking. Right?
So after making someone else feel better about themselves by face-planting in the light display because you were staring at your phone, take comfort (and perhaps a little bit of delight) in the fact that those hecklers have no self-regard.
Sure, that won’t stop them from laughing, pointing, mocking, and/or making up songs about your lack of coordination.
So next time you find yourself the butt of a joke, just remember, you’re boosting the self-esteem of all those jerks laughing at you. Feel better?
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“What Schadenfreude Says About Your Self-Esteem”: MSNBC
…bi-daily smile…
Proof that there’s a song for everything…
…play nice
...liquid manners
“I’m having a bad day.”
“I haven’t had my coffee.”
“I’m just a generally unpleasant person.”
Excuses, excuses, excuses…
We’ve all heard them and we’ve all doled out a few ourselves.
Nobody is perfect, but there is no excuse for bad manners.
According to researchers at the American Psychological Association %75 to %80 of people have experienced incivility (personally I prefer petty illogical rudeness, but to each his own regency-era terminology).
Of course rudeness knows no bounds, but this survey focused primarily on the workplace. Also known as where passive aggressiveness comes to play.
We could assume that this figure means that %20 to %25 percent of us are mean, but that would seem unfair.
So this is a blanket reprimand: BE NICE!!!
I understand that snidely responding to what you see as a stupid question at the moment may make you feel better for the time being, but it does not last.
Eventually that negative energy you sent out there is going to get back to you and karma is a…
…well you know what karma is.
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“Incivility a Growing Problem at Work, Psychologists Say”: USA Today
…bi-daily smile…
Zer
Stephanie
The2Women
