Positive psychology is the study of what Robert F. Kennedy calls, “the things in life that make it worthwhile.” In this regard, however, imagine that someone offered to help you understand human beings but in doing so, would teach you only about their weaknesses. As far-fetched as this sounds, a similar

Happiness is not something that happens. It is not the result of good fortune or random chance. It is not something that money can buy or power command. It does not depend on outside events, but rather, on how we interpret them. Happiness, thus, is a condition that must be prepared

If you observe the people around you, you’ll find most individuals follow a formula that has been subtly taught to them by their schools, their company, their parents, or society. That is, if you work hard, you will become successful, and once you become ‘successful’, then you’ll be happy. This pattern

With lively, entertaining chapters on everything from the kitchen junk drawer to health care to executive office workflow, Levitin reveals how new research into the cognitive neuroscience of attention and memory can be applied to the challenges of our daily lives. The Organized Mind shows how to navigate the churning flood

Essentialism isn't about how to get more things done; it's about how to get the right things done. It doesn't mean just doing less for the sake of less either. It's about making the wisest possible investment of your time and energy in order to operate at your highest point of

Think of your attitude as the mental filter through which you experience the world. Some people see the world through the filter of optimism—the glass being half full—while others see life through a filter of pessimism—the glass being half empty. Typically, a person with a negative attitude thinks “I CAN’T,” dwells

We treat our future selves as though they were our children, spending most of the hours of most of our days constructing tomorrows that we hope will make them happy. Rather than indulging in whatever strikes our momentary fancy, we take responsibility for the welfare of our future selves. In fact,

The most important reason of finding your Element is personal. Finding your Element is vital to understanding who you are and what you’re capable of being and doing with your life. The second reason is social. Many people lack purpose in their lives. The evidence of this is everywhere: in the

Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant-in the blink of an eye-that actually aren’t as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts

How Full Is Your Bucket? reveals how even the briefest interactions affect your relationships, productivity, health, and longevity. Organized around a simple metaphor of a dipper and a bucket, and grounded in 50 years of research, this book will show you how to greatly increase the positive moments in your work and

What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do? Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece? The War of Art identifies the enemy that every one

The Marshmallow Test is an experiment where some children were observed to see when and how they become able to exert sufficient self-resistance to choose waiting for two marshmallows rather than having one right away. Resistance was very easy for some of them while it was very difficult for the others.

Approached by someone who wants to achieve a specific dream, many of us offer simple advice: think positive! Don’t dwell on the obstacles, since that will only bring you down; be optimistic, focus on what you want to achieve; imagine a happy future in which you’re active and engaged; visualize how

It's the stage where we engage with the real world, where we figure out how to use our strengths to make a tangible contribution, where we deal with people who don't agree on what our strengths are, or who don't care, or who do care, but want us to focus them

Guided by the belief that good is the opposite of bad, mankind has for centuries pursued its fixation with fault and failing. Doctors have studied disease in order to learn about health. Psychologists have investigated sadness in order to learn about joy. Therapists have looked into the causes of divorce in

You may consider yourself to be an organized person, or a procrastinator, or sometimes forgetful. May be you see yourself as someone who gets things done, highly flexible, cool under pressure, or good at managing time. Although you might be accurate in some of your self-assessment, there has been no way

The assumption has always been made that the choices we make in life are based on the circumstances provided at the time of the choice. As much as it may feel that we are weighing out the facts in front of us, our actions are actually dictated by the motivations of

The brain is an amazing thing, easily the most sophisticated information-transfer system on earth, this is because it sends jolts of electricity crackling through hundreds of miles of wires composed of brain cells so small that thousands of them could fit into the period at the end of this sentence. You

Attaining lasting happiness requires that we enjoy the journey on our way toward a destination we deem valuable. Happiness is not about making it to the peak of the mountain nor is it about climbing aimless around the mountain; happiness is the experience of climbing toward the peak.

Let us talk about human “irrationality”, about our distance from perfection. I believe that recognizing where we depart from the ideal is an important part of the quest to truly understanding ourselves, and one that promises many practical benefits. Understanding irrationality is important for our everyday actions and decisions and for

The Levity Effect is no laughing matter. It is a serious work of notification about the powerful influence of laughter and lightness on organizational performance and personal health. It proves the theory that you can work hard, reach impressive goals, and still have fun doing it. It is really a humorous,

Children are not that different from adults. They want clear and realistic goals, expectations for their futures, and systems that will allow them to arrive at those goals feeling fulfilled and stronger. They also want a voice in setting those goals and expectations for their futures. When children go to a

The Element is the point at which natural talent meets personal passion. When people arrive at the Element, they feel most themselves, most inspired and achieve their highest levels. With a wry sense of humor, and drawing on the stories of a wide range of artists, scientists, athletes, business leaders, academics,

Most people believe that the best way to motivate is with rewards like money—the carrot-and-stick approach. That's a mistake. In this provocative and persuasive book, Daniel H. Pink asserts that the secret to high performance and satisfaction-at work, at school, and at home—is the deeply human need to direct our own