The Optimist Living
How to develop your emotional intelligence
The idea that you can’t control your feelings is true—to an extent. Since most of the emotions you experience occur almost instinctively, you can’t control how you feel at any given moment. But you can control how you react to those feelings—by focusing on your thoughts. This is where Read More...
Science says this is the best way to get over a broken heart
Researchers don’t want you to suffer when your romantic relationship comes to an end. That’s why they tested a variety of cognitive strategies for helping people get over a breakup, and they found one strategy to be particularly effective. If your heart is feeling broken, here’s what Read More...
Trusting your gut feeling is wiser than you might think
At a time where decisions are made based on analytics and data, is it still wise to trust your gut feeling? While it may be more difficult to rationalize and explain your gut feeling to others, neuroscientists say your emotional responses are not as fallible as some would have you believe. In Read More...
A guide to help you live a life without plastic
Even though we know plastic is destroying our planet, it can be challenging to avoid buying products that use plastics. Just look at the aisles of any grocery store where tons of perishable items are wrapped in indestructible plastics. Greener alternatives to plastic packaging are needed, but in Read More...
Offsetting your emissions can be as simple as adding a penny to your purchases
The emissions from a scoop of ice cream—including everything from the cows to transportation and freezing the product—add up to roughly a quarter of a pound of carbon dioxide. Now if you buy ice cream from a Ben & Jerry’s store in London’s Soho neighborhood, the company will spend a Read More...
Would you turn your on-street parking spot into a green space?
If you owned a townhouse, how would you feel if you could turn your on-street parking spot into whatever space you like? Residents in a particular neighborhood in The Hague are being offered just that by the city council. Citizens willing to forego on-street parking may turn their space into Read More...
How to be kind to yourself, according to science
For some reasons, we’re often nicer to others than we are to ourselves. It’s time you give yourself the much-needed love and respect that you need, which will boost your overall well-being by aligning your thoughts, action, and presence. Here are 8 scientifically-backed ways to be kind to Read More...
Why it’s so important to practice forgiveness
No matter how difficult it is to forgive, the truth is forgiving will leave you better off. In fact, a study recently found that the ability to forgive is associated to greater life satisfaction and emotional security. To get started on forgiving yourself, give this mindfulness exercise a Read More...
To keep your mind calm and clear, start keeping a journal and then throw it out
Filling journals is a healthy exercise that puts you in touch with your emotions and can serve as a form of therapy. Some therapists say keeping a personal record helps people to alleviate their anxiety, face fears, set goals, and feel more free. And when you’re done, another practice you can do Read More...
8 simple ways to stay calm, even in the face of chaos
You may have heard that outer order contributes to inner calm, and while true, what if you could remain calm despite chaos rather than avoiding chaos? Here are eight tips for positive simplifying that can help you remain Read More...