1. Happiness
1.1. positive psychology
1.1.1. using scientific methods to study human flourishing
1.1.1.1. subjective well-being
1.1.1.1.1. feelings of happiness or sense of satisfaction with life.
1.2. what affects our well-being
1.2.1. the short life of emotional ups and downs
1.2.1.1. we overestimate the duration of our emotions and under-estimate our resiliency
1.2.2. wealth and well-being
1.2.2.1. economic growth in affluent countries has provided no apparent boost to morale or social well-being
1.2.3. happiness is relative: adaptation and comparison
1.2.3.1. own experience
1.2.3.1.1. adaptation-level phenomenon
1.2.3.2. others' success
1.2.3.2.1. relative deprivation
1.2.3.2.2. places with greater inequality have higher
1.2.4. what predicts our happiness levels?
1.2.5. evidence based suggestions for a happier life
1.2.5.1. realize that enduring happinesss may not come from financial success
1.2.5.2. take control of your time
1.2.5.3. act happy
1.2.5.4. seek work and leisure that engage your skills
1.2.5.5. buy shared experiences rather than things
1.2.5.6. join the "movement" movement
1.2.5.7. give your body the sleep it wants
1.2.5.8. give priority to close relationships
1.2.5.9. focus beyond self
1.2.5.10. count your blessings and record your gratitude
1.2.5.11. nurture your spiritual self
2. feel-good, do-good phenomenon
2.1. a mood-boosting experience such as recalling a happy event has made people more likely to:
2.1.1. give money
2.1.2. pick up someone's dropped papers
2.1.3. volunteer time
2.1.4. other good deeds
3. positive psychology pillars
3.1. Positive well-being
3.1.1. satisfaction of past
3.1.2. happiness with the present
3.1.3. optimism about the future
3.2. positive character
3.2.1. skills and meaningful life that points beyond oneself
3.3. positive groups, communities and cultures
3.3.1. families
3.3.2. neighboorhoods
3.3.3. etc.
4. Coping with stress
4.1. personal control
4.1.1. internal versus external locus of control
4.1.1.1. external: chance or outside forces control fate
4.1.1.2. they control their own destiny
4.1.1.2.1. achieve more
4.1.1.2.2. better health
4.1.1.2.3. more independent
4.1.1.2.4. less depressed
4.1.2. depleting and strengthening self-control
4.1.2.1. self-control
4.1.2.1.1. the ability to control impulses and delay short-term gratification for longer rewards
4.1.3. learned helplessness
4.1.3.1. after series of uncontrollable events
4.1.3.2. feelings of passive resignation
4.2. explanatory style: optimism versus pessimism
4.3. social support
5. reducing stress
5.1. aerobic exercise
5.1.1. sustained oxygen-consuming exercise
5.1.2. boosts health and longevity of life
5.1.3. consistent prediction of life satisfaction
5.1.4. diminishes depression
5.2. relaxation and meditation
5.2.1. mindfulness meditation
5.2.1.1. a reflective practice in which people attend to current experiences in a nonjudgmental and accepting manner
5.2.1.2. strengthens connections among regions in our brain
5.2.1.3. activates brain regions associated with more reflective awareness
5.2.1.4. calms brain activation in emotional situations
5.3. faith communities and health
5.3.1. healthy behaviors, social support, positive emotions
6. coping with stress
6.1. cope
6.1.1. alleviate by: 1. emotional 2. cognitive 3. behavioral methods
6.1.2. problem-focused coping
6.1.2.1. go directly at problem to work things out
6.1.2.1.1. done when feel a sense of control or when one thinks they can change the circumstances
6.1.3. emotion-focused coping
6.1.3.1. believe cannot change situation
6.1.3.2. reach out to family or friends for support