A positive state of mind enlarges your perception of the world and makes you more creative. These are real conclusions, both observed and scientifically researched.
Barbara Fredrickson, Psychology Professor at the North Carolina University, elaborated the “Broaden-and-Build Theory of positive emotions”.(1)
She showed videos to her subjects in order to induce positive, negative or neutral states of mind. Those who felt positive emotions developed better global vision whereas those who felt negativity were more preoccupied with detail. The positive thinkers also had the capacity to imagine more varied scenarios.
Alice Isen, Psychology Professor at Cornell University, did work “showing that positive emotional states promote greater receptiveness to new information, cognitive creativity, flexibility, and a better ability to think out of the box when confronted with difficult problem-solving ”.(2)
Other researches have established that a positive attitude carries with it more confidence, peace and altruism. The positive spirit weakens the impression of difference between human beings and we can more easily see our common bonds.(3) We become more attentive to ways for helping our friends(4) and are more inclined to create new relationships.(5)
Dear Future Shapers, our challenge today is the following:
How can we develop our positive attitude?
How can we get to know ourselves better and be able to reinvent ourselves every day?
How can we make our life a piece of art?
Let’s pool our solutions, click on the Comments button at the bottom of the page and there you go! Keep an eye out for new comments during the next two weeks. We’ll report back on them in our next Rendezvous !!!
Interested in reading the studies yourself? Go to:
(1) Fredrickson B.L., “What good are positive emotions?”,Review of General Psychology, 1998,2, p.300-319;
Fredrickson B.L., “The role of positive emotions in positive psychology: the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions”, American Psychologist, 2001, 56, p.218-226.
(2) Isen A.M., Daubman K.A., “The influence of affect on categorization”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1984, 47, p.1206-1217;
Isen A.M.,Daubman K.A., Nowicki G.P., “Positive affect facilitates creative problem”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1987, 52, p.1122-1131.
(3) Waugh C.E., Fredrickson B.L., “Nice to know you: positive emotions, self-other overlap, and complex understanding in the formation of a new relationship”, Journal of Positive Psychology, 2006, 1, p. 93-106.
(4) Otake K., Waugh C.E., Fredrickson B.L., “Positive emotions unlock other-focused thinking”, cité in Cohn A., Fredrickson B.L., “Positive emotions”, op.cit., p.16.
(5) Gable S.L., Reis H.T., Impett E.A., Asher E.R., “What do you do when things go right? The intrapersonal and interpersonal benefits of sharing positive events”, Journal of Personality and Social psychology, 2004, 87, p. 228-245
Cohn M.A., Fredrickson B.L., “Beyond the moment, beyond the self: shared ground between selective investment theory and the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions”, Psychological Inquiry, 2006, 17, p. 39-44.
Dunn J., Schweitzer M., “Feeling and believing: the influence of emotion on trust”, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2005, 88, p.736-748
THE FUTURE SHAPERS IDEAS FOR THE CREATIVE CHALLENGE : How can we develop our positive attitude?
Sabira
Slow down and enjoy each action one after another!
Vincent
Live life fully at a quiet pace and in a harmonious atmosphere!
Isabelle
Don’t let the stress enter your office!
Adrien
I buy myself flowers!
Abdel
Everyday something new!
Doug
I surprise myself at least twice a week!
Gingka
Everything comes to an end, even difficult times! To remember that helps!
Luke
I love who I am, what I do, what I have. What else could I need?
Polly
I congratulate myself for my successes… and learn from my failures
Maud
I’m grateful for everything I receive, even very small things.
Nollan
Increasing the quality of my relationships: spend nice moments with my family, friends and colleagues!
Louisa
Enjoy pleasure and make it last as long as I can!
Bertie
Be madly in love with… everything!!!
Hakim
Take the time to do one thing at a time.
Ann
What about a nice massage from time to time?
Herbert
I take time to remember my best souvenirs! That’s great to live it again!
Jahnabee
I also enjoy looking forward a good time with family or friends
Iskra
I enjoy going on vacation very often during the year: just a few days from time to time helps to refresh body and mind.
Achir
I buy myself a little pleasure… every week 
Caroline
Give thanks for all the people I meet, even in difficult relationships: they make me be more compassionate.
Adrien
One word is essential: share, share and share. That makes me so happy.
Joa
Imagine all the wonderful events to come! WAOUH!!!
Sparkling Rendezvous : Congratulations for all your great ideas! Find more ideas in Le Clin d’Oeil Pétillant, the French version of Sparkling Rendezvous.