Traditional wisdom says the closer two people are in a relationship, the better. But recent research shows that this isn’t necessarily the case. A 2013 study published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that the key to healthy relationships wasn’t whether individuals were closer to each other, but if there “closeness” was at [...]

Finding pleasure in life plays a very important role in our happiness. For some this may seem obvious. Of course happiness is about “feeling good” and experiencing positive and pleasurable experiences. The more pleasure, the better. How can that not be the case? For others this may seem despicable. Seeking pleasure is indulgent and selfish. [...]

This article covers the “broaden and build theory of positive emotions,” which is an important tenet of positive psychology advanced by Barbara Fredrickson. Learning this concept can give you a better idea on how to use your own emotions to build a more satisfying and flourishing life. The broaden and build theory of positive emotions [...]

Learning to be content with what you have and not focus on what you don’t have can make all the difference in how satisfied you are with your life. So often we chase after excess stuff we don’t need – exuberant cars, clothes, TVs, phones, laptops, or whatever – and this constant striving can be [...]

Everyone is influenced by society. We can’t help it. We like to believe that we are free and autonomous individuals, but the truth is parents, teachers, bosses, politicians, and religious figures play a huge role in the decisions we make and how we choose to live our lives. At an early age, we need guidance [...]