The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley has published its 2014 “Top 10 Insights from The Science of a Meaningful Life.” For an explanation of each, click on their article cited above. Meanwhile, here’s the list:
- Mindfulness can reduce racial prejudice—and possibly its effects on victims.
- Gratitude makes us smarter in how we spend money.
- It’s possible to teach gratitude to young children, with lasting effects.
- Having more variety in our emotions—positive or negative—can make us happier and healthier.
- Natural selection favors happy people, which is why there are so many of them.
- Activities from positive psychology don’t just make happy people happier—they can also help alleviate suffering.
- People with a “growth mindset” are more likely to overcome barriers to empathy.
- To get people to take action against climate change, talk to them about birds.
- Feelings of well-being might spur extraordinary acts of altruism.
- Extreme altruism is motivated by intuition—our compassionate instincts.
I think there’s a lot to chew on as we finish one year and embark on a brand new one.