The New York Times – The Well Column – An Upbeat Emotion That’s Surprisingly Good for You – By Gretchen Reynolds – Published: March 26, 2015 5:30 am
Positive emotions lead to positive health benefits. It’s a simple concept. It’s even measureable and provable physiologically. We all know that the darker emotions, such as shame and hostility, lead to high levels of certain hormones that, when they linger for long periods or spike too frequently, lead to disease and general ill health (not to mention general misery).
The New York Times Magazine blog highlights some cool research about health benefits of the positive emotions, with Awe being at the top of the list.
Do you want to figure out how to get some more of that in you life? I hope so.
Positive emotions both signal and produce well being.
Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, in her book Positivity, explains the 10 most common positive emotions. What emotion would you like to feel more of in your life, and what internal changes can you make toward that goal?
- Joy – Think of the most positive and memorable experience you’ve had. Joy comes from delightful and cherished experiences, and raises our well-being where we feel light and vibrant.
- Gratitude – This entails an emotion or attitude of appreciation where we acknowledge some benefit we have received. Gratitude can revolve around anything you feel great appreciation for, and occurs during the times when you feel thankful for someone or something in your life.
- Serenity – This emotion comes along when things are going just right. You may experience a state of peacefulness and tranquility. Serenity comes from those moments of stillness and calm where you can just “be” in the present moment.
- Interest – Interest comes from being curious or engaged in something. It’s a state of intrigue and wonder, where you want to know more and are pulled toward an object of interest. When feeling interested, you are more open to new experiences and have a desire to explore the world around you.
- Hope – This is a belief and feeling that things will turn out for the best. It’s knowing our current problems aren’t permanent and that the future is still promising despite tough circumstances.
- Pride – This comes from feeling dignified and important in what we do or have accomplished. It’s not about having an overwhelming sense of self-satisfaction, but having accomplished something that is socially valued and feeling proud about this.
- Amusement – Whenever we experience fun, humorous, and playful situations with others we are being amused. We can get amusement from laughing with others at a funny joke, watching a puppy frolic, or playing a fun game or activity. Amusement helps us build connections with others.
- Inspiration – This comes from experiencing a very moving and emotionally uplifting experience, such as those times in life when we see true goodness or where someone goes above and beyond the ordinary. A moment of inspiration draws us in and really stands out as an instant of excellence.
- Awe – The notion of being awestruck comes from feeling wonder and reverence toward something extremely powerful and admired. It can also come from amazing creations of art or highly impressive developments. These are the moments when we realize how small and ordinary we really are compared to the vastness of the world around us.
- Love – Love is the compilation of all of the above emotions. In general, love is related to a feeling of strong affection and personal attachment, where we have a very positive feeling of connection toward another person. Love is an amalgamation of all the emotional states coming together throughout our life.