Tim Tamashiro

“Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”

other words, when you work on your strengths, you kick ass. When you focus on your weaknesses, you kick rocks.

When you were a child, a hundred percent of your day was dedicated to doing what you love. When you became an adult, your priority of experiencing a joyful day vanished. Being an adult means a focus on finances becomes more important. But does being an adult mean you have to become an asshole?

What does make us happier? Dr. Santos demonstrates that studies show you can improve your well-being through regular efforts at eight things:

1.Acts of kindness

2.Exercise

3.Social connection

4.Meditation

5.Time affluence

6.Good sleep

7.Gratitude

8.Goalsetting

There’s good news: If you’re interested in growing your mind, consider taking Dr. Laurie Santos’ class, “The Science of Well-Being.” You can audit the course for free at www.cousera.com.

To live your life’s purpose, you must remember to notice what you love to do and what you’re good at

Here’s one exercise that will help you see mindfulness firsthand. Try doing this for the next week: Imagine you’re driving on a busy street during rush hour. It’s 5:15 p.m. and the traffic is thick and heavy.

Try this:

1.Remember to relax. Don’t make a judgement. No one is doing this traffic to you.

2.Leave two generous car lengths between you and the car ahead. Let other drivers fill the space as they need it. Then leave two more spaces even at red lights

Psychology developed a reputation as the science that “fixes” people’s mental abnormalities. Psychology was only for sick people. It wasn’t a type of medicine that could help the average person. What would it feel like if your spouse or friend noticed that you were struggling with stress and anxiety and they asked you to go see a psychologist? You might get offended by the suggestion and think, “I don’t need to fix anything about myself.”

While it’s true that psychology provides paths to help people deal with mental illness, a new idea has begun to emerge only recently: mental wellness. This new area of psychology opens up opportunities for all people to use research and science to increase mental health

You have to figure out your own path to fulfillment, and dozens of people will plant ideas in your head that they expect you to follow regarding what is right and wrong