Link Between Happiness and Stress Relief

Link Between Happiness and Stress Relief Happiness Print Link Between Happiness and Stress Relief By Elizabeth Scott, MS twitter Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of 8 Keys to Stress Management. Learn about our editorial policy Elizabeth Scott, MS Updated on May 02, 2019 FrancescoCorticchia / Getty Images More in Self-Improvement Happiness Meditation Stress Management Spirituality Holistic Health Inspiration Brain Health Technology Relationships View All One challenging aspect of stress is that it can pile up: activities that are mildly stressful can feel overwhelming when you are experiencing too much stress in other areas. Fortunately, it’s also true that small spurts of stress relief can accumulate, and can add up to increased resilience. One potential challenge that many people face when stressed and busy, however, is that they feel they lack the time or energy to practice some of the most stress-relieving and resilience-promoting activities when they need them the most. For example, exercise is an extremely effective stress reliever, and can even build energy in the long run, but many people find it too difficult to face a workout when they’re already exhausted. Meditation can be an extremely calming activity that can also build resilience, but sometimes sitting quietly can seem to amplify stressful thoughts. (There are ways around both of these issues, but many people find it easier to simply give up.) This is why it is such great news that bursts of happiness can lead to greater resilience toward stress.  Many of the things that can lift our moodsâ€"playing with a pet, watching a funny video, or even eating chocolate, for exampleâ€"are quick and easy to fit into one’s day. Savoring these experiences can expand on the benefits you’ll already experience. Read on to find out how this actually works, and then I’ll share with you some more strategies for lifting your mood. Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, through what is known as the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions  has pioneered a branch of study that has found that positive emotions such as joy, contentment, or appreciation carry independent and lasting benefits. Instances of elevated mood (or increased happiness) broaden one’s perspective and behavioral repertoire and build lasting personal resources including mindfulness, resilience, closer relationships, and even improved physical health  as well as lower levels of depression and higher levels of life satisfaction. Enjoying the Benefits of Happiness What does all of this have to do with stress management? This branch of research shows how happiness and stress relief are connected: doing little things to lift your mood really can have a lasting effect on your resilience toward stress. Each time you do something nice for yourself, you’re taking a step toward feeling less stressed now and in the future, and enjoying other benefits as well!  Here is some more of what the research in this area has to say. Good Moods Lead to Increased Resources:  Several studies have found that positive emotions create a greater likelihood of creating resources to support social connection, and increase your  ability to manage stress. While negative emotional states can lead to a “tunnel vision” experience where people focus so much on the negative that they miss opportunities in their lives,  people experiencing happiness are more likely to build personal resources that are linked with resilience toward stress, including personal resilience, interpersonal resources like supportive friends, and practical resources like a secure financial situation. This increase in resources leads to more frequent good moods, and an upward spiral is created, which leads to benefits in health, happiness, and life satisfaction.These Resources Are Numerous:  A study of 99 college students measured mood over the past week and gave subjects a battery of personality tests and questionnaires found that positive mood predi cted greater resources in coping and resilience (as demonstrated by higher GPAs and other achievements), higher-quality relationships, better health, and greater resilience. Those with more negative moods scored lower in these areas.Positive Mood  Can Help Improve Emotional Health:  One study even found that increases in a good mood (also known as “positive affect”) may counteract unhappy or fearful states characteristic of mood disorders such as those involving anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia. (Note: if you are experiencing these disorders, it is also important to work with your therapist or talk to your doctor; this is not meant to replace the advice of a professional, but to supplement.)Bottom Line:  Ultimately, a review of the literatureâ€"a study of many studiesâ€"found that positive mood and positive thinking increase one’s ability to manage stress in healthy ways, which leads to improved health outcomes such as increased immunity and longevity, as well as improved lifestyle factors such as greater job satisfaction. So how can a stressed and busy person work these good moods into a packed schedule, you may be wondering? There are several strategies that work, and activities that you know make you happy (with few negative consequences, of course) are a great place to start.

Fall 2017 New Students Series Poorvi Goel COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

Fall 2017 New Students Series Poorvi Goel COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog In todays installment of our New Students Series,  were welcoming Poorvi Goel from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,  India. Poorvi  studied economics at St. Stephens College in Delhi. She also earned a degree from the London School of Economics and shes been working as an economist at the Planning Commission of India and the UNDP.  Shes nervous about readjusting to life as a student, but looks forward to getting her hands dirty in the development process instead of just being an onlooker. Welcome Poorvi! Full Name: Poorvi Goel Age: 27 Degree Program: MPA in Development Practice Hometown: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh,  India Undergraduate University: St. Stephens College, Delhi Undergraduate Major: Economics Undergraduate Graduation Year: 2011 What’s your professional background? After my undergrad, I did my post graduation in economics at London School of Economics. Since then, I have worked as an economist for about four years with the Planning Commission of India, United Nations Development Programme and the Commonwealth Secretariat. My most recent role involves policy research and advocacy for least developed countries and small states in the Commonwealth; specifically, building their trade capacity and working towards achieving their development goals through trade. Did you apply to SIPA to change careers or to gain experience in a career path you already have experience in? I applied to SIPA to branch out as an economist. I love the rigour and technicalities of my work but now Im looking to gain a more multidisciplinary skill set. Im actually hoping to get my hands dirty in the development process rather than being an observer to it. What was your reaction when you found out you were accepted to SIPA? Tears! The six months or so between preparing to apply and getting accepted are an emotional roller coaster, so it was probably an outpouring of relief, joy and excitement. Why did you say yes to SIPA? I had a wonderful conversation with Glenn (Director of MDP) at Admitted Students Day in New York Im quite glad I made the trip from London to across the pond! After speaking with him and current students of the programme, I was confident that MDP offered exactly what I wanted from graduate school. What do you most look forward to as a graduate student at SIPA? Living in New York! That, and meeting some of the brightest and most motivated people from all over the world. Do you have any apprehensions about starting graduate school? I suppose the thought of readjusting to student life is scariest for me. Though I do think once school starts, wed jump straight into the deep end and there will be no time for apprehensions. What are your goals after SIPA? I want to transition to policy implementation and management roles in international organisations from the more research-based roles that I have gained experience in so far. However, Im open to being challenged during the course of the programme and exploring new career options that I hadnt considered before. Thats what being at university is about! If you could change one small thing about your community, country or the world, what would it be? If I could (and I realise this is no small thing), I would eliminate all forms of inequality everywhere. This applies to inequalities of gender, race, access to opportunities etc. The world would be so much more fun if everyone had a chance to be the best version of themselves, rather than having to expend their energy fighting battles for basic rights that most of us take for granted. Tell us something interesting about yourself: Im always up for picking my bags up and travelling at the drop of a hat. I especially like to be in the outdoors (hiking/cycling), so if there are fellow Seeples that have itchy feet like mine, I would love to talk more about potential new adventures! [Photos courtesy of Dian Dong | In Switzerland for Geneva Week (2015) at World Trade Organization; With a native tribe in Vanuatu] *Note: This series is published in its original form with no editing.