If companies want to retain a productive, motivated workforce, it’s time to show some love. Employee appreciation is only appreciated when it is authentic and altruistic. Most people have a finely honed ability to sense when someone is genuinely appreciative versus simply going through the motions. When a supervisor is generous with gratitude, praise, and … Read more
I love puns. They are simultaneously funny, corny, and clever. Two years after George Lucas launched Star Wars: A New Hope, the original film in the Star Wars franchise, a pun was born that has morphed into a global holiday. The origin story began on May 4, 1979, when a celebratory ad was placed in … Read more
Wellness science research shows that people who cultivate strong committed relationships actually live longer and experience greater physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing. In fact, a significant 2010 meta-analysis in PLOS Medicine of 148 studies including data from 308,849 participants revealed that people who had strong social connections were actually 50% more likely to have longer … Read more
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” –Rabbi Harold Kushner Dr. Robert Emmons is a psychology professor at the University of California, a leading scientific expert on gratitude, and gratitude myth buster. He … Read more
READ THE NEWSLETTER HERE As world events continue to swirl and accelerate, it’s important to consider time-tested universal actions you can engage in that will give you a modicum of joy, calm, meaning, and hope. As a Positive Psychology thought leader, I know that it’s such an important time to be alive because we are … Read more
People are stronger than they imagine. These days, throughout the world, everyone is trying to do the best they can. My mentor and colleague Dr. Angela Duckworth—considered the leading expert in the world on grit—defines resilience as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals that are difficult.” What do you do to persevere when things are … Read more
According to the latest research, feeling appreciated at work has little to do with giving out mugs with the hospital logo for nurse appreciation week, random pizza parties, or a cupcake with a candle to celebrate work anniversaries. In the recently published Mayo Clinic 2022-2023 State of Well-being Report, 51 percent of health care employees … Read more
A few years ago, a friend of mine explained the concept of humility in an entirely new way to me. She shared the following joke to illustrate the concept of minimizing our ego and sense of all-knowingness: Q: “What’s the difference between God and me?” A: “God doesn’t think he’s me!” Through 12-step recovery programs, … Read more
“It always seems impossible until it’s done” is the bold message on the felt banner hanging on the wall right in front of my desk. When I discovered the banner in the gift shop at the Whitney Museum of Art, I knew I had to have it in my office. The can-do, hopeful, action-oriented sentiment … Read more
Every two weeks, I pop into the neighborhood green grocer and buy two dozen long-stem roses for $20. It reminds me of the quotation by activist Emma Goldman who advocated for many social causes and women’s rights: “I’d rather have flowers on my table than diamonds around my neck.” This ritual of purchasing roses gives … Read more