Category Archives: Arts

Arts, Health, Psychology

Resilience: Practise Gratitude

GRATITUDE

TAKING time to acknowledge what is good in life can make all the difference when adversity strikes. Studies show that gratitude lifts our spirits and floods our body with feelgood hormones and endorphins.

How you practise gratitude is up to you. You could end each day by reflecting on all the things that went well, or you could look for things that make you smile as you go about your day (such as an unexpected hug, embrace or bumping into an old friend). Some people find it useful to have a dedicated gratitude journal in which they write down three things they are grateful for every morning or evening. Gratitude journal’s are easily available and are an excellent resource for helping and improving mental health.

By training your mind to notice what’s right in life rather than what is wrong, you’ll have more emotional strength reserves to tap into to help you bounce back from the stresses and strains of life.

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Arts, Health, Psychology

Resilience: What’s Your Explanation?

EXPLANATORY STYLE

THE way you explain life’s setbacks to yourself is important. Psychologists say that an optimistic (and therefore more resilient) “explanatory style” is composed of three main elements.

Firstly, optimistic people view the effects of bad events as being temporary rather than permanent. Secondly, resilient people do not let setbacks affect unrelated areas of their life. Finally, resilient people do not blame themselves when bad events occur. They see other people or circumstances as being the cause.

People with an optimistic explanatory style tend to be happier, healthier, and more successful. Those with a pessimistic explanatory style are more prone to depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

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