Small Things Count

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:

1. Mindfulness can reduce racial prejudice—and possibly its effects on victims.
2. Gratitude makes us smarter in how we spend money.
3. It’s possible to teach gratitude to young children, with lasting effects.
4. Having more variety in our emotions—positive or negative—can make us happier and healthier.
5. Natural selection favors happy people, which is why there are so many of them.
6. Activities from positive psychology don’t just make happy people happier—they can also help alleviate suffering.
7. People with a “growth mindset” are more likely to overcome barriers to empathy.
8. To get people to take action against climate change, talk to them about birds.
9. Feelings of well-being might spur extraordinary acts of altruism.
10. 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.