#Positive Emotions

[ivemanifest]

Damn you look good with all that positive blissful energy

[andy-wm]

Park Jimin really stimulates my vagus nerve.

That's not what you think it is.

Well yes, I'm only human too...

but that's not what I'm talking about here...

I'm talking about AWE.

Different from joy or admiration, awe is an emotional response to something - or someone - vastly impressive or beautiful or inspiring (or all of the above in the case of Park Jimin).

Awe is that "oh, wow" feeling.

Sometimes it's inspired by a feat of courage or a grand performance. Other times it's something so beautiful it makes you breathless (or both in the case of Park Jimin).

The key is that it is triggered by something that is outside of the everyday experience, maybe beyond understanding. It has to be mesmerising, remarkable, wonderful (or all of the above ...yeah you know where I'm going with this).

So what does this have to do with my vagus nerve?

I'm glad you asked!

The vagus nerve (no, thats not it. It means wandering) is the nerve that links your brain basically to the rest of your body. It reaches from your brain stem all the way through your abdomen.

The vagus nerve controls your automatic responses. This is the nervous system that's responsible for that swooping feeling in your belly (when you when you look at pictures of Park Jimin) as well as the racing of your heart (when you watch Park Jimin dance).

Your vagus nerve is active in both directions. Your brain will send messages to your body via the vagus nerve (fight or flight as an example) but you can also use it to reduce stress and anxiety. You can engave your vagus nerve to down-regulate your stress response.

How can you do that? One way is by experiencing awe.

I'm not making this up.

Scientific studies have proven this. Besides the rush of endorphins when you have that "oh wow' response, awe reduces the focus on yourself and shifts your perspective. That's good for your physical and emotional health for a bunch of reasons.**

So, looking at pictures of Park Jimin and watching him dance can improve your health?

Yes, that's right!

Ask your GP to prescribe a daily dose of Park Jimin for continued good health. Or take matters into your own hands and make him part of your daily self-care routine.

You can thank me later.

** https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-athletes-way/201705/awe-engages-your-vagus-nerve-and-can-combat-narcissism

https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2023/08/23/awe-sciences-answer-to-your-search-for-happiness

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9301262/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10018061/#:~:text=Awe%2C%20then%2C%20is%20associated%20with,benefit%20mental%20and%20physical%20health

[retrosexualrage]

Mindfulness 🦋

🌾🐺🌘There are several healthier ways to cope with difficult emotions and express yourself creatively. Here are a few suggestions: 1. Writing: Keeping a journal or writing poetry can be a therapeutic way to process emotions and express yourself. You can explore your thoughts, fears, and fantasies in a safe and private space. 2. Artistic Expression: Engaging in various forms of art, such as painting, drawing, or sculpting, can provide a creative outlet for your emotions. You can use art to explore your inner world and express yourself visually. 3. Music: Playing an instrument, writing songs, or simply listening to music can be a powerful way to channel your emotions. Music has the ability to evoke and convey a wide range of feelings. 4. Physical Activity: Engaging in physical activities like dancing, running, or practicing yoga can help release pent-up emotions. Physical exercise can also boost endorphins and improve your overall mood. 5. Mindfulness and Meditation: Practicing mindfulness and meditation can help you become more aware of your emotions and thoughts. It can provide a sense of calm and help you process your feelings in a healthier way. Remember🦋💀🦋🌘 it's important to find activities that resonate with you personally. Exploring different creative outlets can be a positive and fulfilling way to express yourself and cope with difficult emotions.

[megabonniex]

Here. I made this art of xml's emotions!

Left is about positive emotions: Joy, and Bravest

Right is about negative emotions: Traumatized, and ██████

Brightness Image:

[manifestsoul]

"What I think and what I feel, I draw into my life,"

[the-healing-mindset]

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A post shared by Mengro (@grwthmental)

[symphony-calamity]

Note: "emotion" is used in a loose sense here. You get it. Or maybe you don't.

[enderpearlgirl1005]

The New Rainbow Squads Book 1

Chapter 1 The First Squad part 1

It was an average day in a very nice city known as Springfield. However, there was something up. A new family had just moved in as the father got a new job in Springfield. While the father was happy to have a new job, the kids weren't happy as they didn't want to move. The mother looked over to her middle daughter as she was bridging a box into the house. Her daughter Hannah was sitting on the stairs with a sad, dejected look on her face. Her mother pushed her daughter's purple hair out of her face getting Hannah's attention.

"Hey Hannah are you OK sweetie?" The mother asked gently.

"No mom, I'm not! I didn't want to move nor did Lilly, let alone Danie!," Hannah said clearly very upset.

"I know you didn't want to move but we had no other choice. After all, your father got a good job here and you know how badly he needed one." The mother explained.

Hannah sighed before saying "yeah I know we were struggling with money after he lost his old one but did it have to be so far away. I want to be with my old friends and my old school."

"I know sweetie, but hey, look on the bright side. Your new school doesn't have uniforms so that means that we can go out and get you a new wardrobe." The mother tried reassuring Hannah.

"Yeah, that does sound good, but still I miss my old friends back home." Hannah said less than reassured.

"I know, but you'll adjust here. Now why don't you go and unpack your stuff?" the mother asked.

"Ok mom I will." Hannah groaned.

After a week had passed, Hannah woke up to the sound of her alarm going off next to her bed. She whined a little as she pressed the dismiss button and grudgingly got out of bed. She looked around in her new room, which was on the second floor. There was a window right next to her bed and a door on the other side of her room. She also had a wardrobe on the left side of her room and a computer on a desk on the right side. Even if she has her own room there isn't much privacy as her room is in between her brothers and sisters rooms.

Hannah went up to her wardrobe and picked out an outfit to wear to school. She settled for a white V-neck T-shirt, a purple skirt with a red trim at the bottom, her favorite pair of red boots, and a jacket that had the red and purple color scheme as well. After changing she left her room and went down the L shaped staircase to the comfy kitchen that smells of eggs and bacon, for breakfast.

When she arrived she saw her father was dressed for work and was quickly finishing up his breakfast so he could get to work on time. Her mother was cooking some more bacon and scrambled eggs. Her big brother was already eating some waffles and her little sister was eating some of the bacon and eggs that their mother had already made. Hannah sat down right in between her older brother and little sister and waited for her breakfast to be ready.

"Oh, Hannah, you're up. That's good. Your breakfast will be ready in just a moment," Mother said, while finishing up what she was cooking.

"Ok, Mom," Hannah said quite dismissively, still sad about the move.

After breakfast Hannah and her siblings left for the new school. The school was called Springfield Consolidated and was designed in a way that the elementary, middle, and High School were all connected together. The High school had the largest student population as it offered a variety of tentacle classes. This brought in many kids from all around Springfield to attend the school.

Lilly would be going to middle school, while Hannah would be starting her freshman year in high school and her brother would be a junior. After the three siblings went inside the school building they split to find their first classes of the day. Hannah had managed to find her class with the help of some teachers.

"OK class, we have a new student today. This is Hannah and she moved here about a week ago. Hannah, is there something you'd like to say to the class?" the teacher asked politely.

"Yes, there is. I'm Hannah. I'm originally from the countryside which was rather quiet. I like watching anime, playing video games, and I'm quite nervous about making new friends in a new environment," Hannah explained a bit timidly as she was nervous about how everyone would think of her.

"That's rather nice. I know it can be scary moving to a new place but don't worry you'll adjust here in the city," the teacher explained, trying to help Hannah feel better.

Hannah just nodded her head not wanting to say any more as she was rather nervous by all the other kids in the room looking at her.

"Ok now is there a free desk for Hannah here to sit at?" the teacher asked while looking around for a free desk.

"Hey, Miss Smith, the desk in front of me is free,'' a boy with green hair, a puffy green vest, black gamer shirt, gray shorts, and green sneakers said.

"Oh, thank you Jake. Go on Hannah and take a seat," Miss Smith said.

"Oh, ok thanks," Hannah said then took her seat.

When she sat down Jake started whispering something to her, "Hey, you like video games? I like them."

"Oh, you do?" Hannah asked.

"Yeah, I have games from Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam, I spend a lot of my free time playing them. I do have board games as well and I play them with my family. I also do gardening as a game free hobby," Jake explained to her in a hurried whisper.

"Wow, it must be a lot of fun," Hannah said before turning her attention to Miss Smith as she started the lesson.

Later on Hannah was heading up to the cafeteria when suddenly someone grabbed her by the sleeve of her jacket and slammed her right into a locker.

When she looked she saw a group of boys with tattoos, piercings, and the same leather jackets facing her.

"Just as I thought, she still has that new kid smell and that countryside stink, but hey she might have some cash on her," the one who was holding her arm said.

"Um pardon me but who arr- Ouch!" Hannah was saying but was interrupted when the boy slammed her harder against the locker.

"Don't talk to me, country girl. Just give me your money and I'll leave," the boy spat at her.

"I-I need it for my lunch though," Hannah stammered out, scared by the boy, and hurting from the pressure on her arm.

She was running late so all the other students were already in the cafeteria so none of them knew what was going on.

"Like I care at all,!" He hissed.

"Just give me the cash and me and my boys will consider not beating you up," the boy said threateningly, while spit landed on her face.

"Well Mark, look at what you're doing picking on the new girl, how original," a girl's voice said sarcastically.

Mark and his boys looked at the girl. Hannah saw a girl with curly black hair, with a black dress with a Gothic skull on the front of it, a white jacket, and black shoes.

"Hey Jane, back out of this unless you have some money on you," Mark said.

"Oh well I just came to tell you boys that the study club is taking over the gym today so you guys will have to practice wrestling outside," Jane said calmly.

"WHAT NO! NO NERDS ARE KICKING US OUT OF THE GYM! COME ON, BOYS LET'S GO TELL COACH,!" Mark exclaimed before throwing Hannah against the locker and running off in the direction of the gym. His friends all followed him and once they were gone Jane came up to Hannah and helped her up.

"Thanks for the help," Hannah thanked a bit out of breath from being thrown around.

"Hey, I could stand by and let those jerks hurt you. It's typical of them to pick on the new kids. A few had even transferred because of them," Jane explained as she dusted off Hannah's jacket.

"Well, thanks again for the help Jane. I'll just go get my lunch and find a table to sit at," Hannah said a bit sad as she felt like she didn't have any friends in this new world of hers.

"Hey, why don't you sit at the table where I sit with my friends." Jane suggested.

"Oh really?" Hannah asked, surprised at the offer.

"Yeah, come on. We welcome anyone and you're new so we'd love it if you'd join us," Jane said while leading Hannah into the cafeteria.

After they got their lunches the two girls went up to a table that had six others sitting there. Hannah saw that Jake was there playing a video game rapidly. She also saw a girl with pink hair up in a bun, a pink t-shirt with the words "I ❤ ponies" on it, a magenta hoodie wrapped around her waist looking over Jake's shoulder watching what he was playing.

Hannah also saw a boy with bottle orange hair with a ponytail up, working on something. He was wearing an orange T-shirt with a graph galaxy picture on it, he was also wearing a classic white lab coat and had protective rubber gloves on as well, along with thick framed glasses that were black with a green line. He also had an average build that would let him blend in a crowd of other teens.

There was another boy with yellow hair in a bold cut who was watching something on his phone. He was wearing a yellow hoodie that had a picture of a 4k digital cinema camera on it, baggy gray cargo pants, and yellow shoes. Sitting next to that boy was a girl who was drawing. She had light blue hair that was in a ponytail. She was wearing a long sleeve shirt that was white in the middle while the sleeves were light blue. She coordinated her hair with a white and light blue striped beanie.

The sixth student at the table was leaning back in his chair with headphones on. He had black skin, sunglasses on, a leather jacket that looked like the sleeves were ripped off, and brown boots. His hair was crowned from his forehead to the nap of his neck with a purple mohawk. He had a more muscular build than the other boys at the table.

"Hey guys, I found a new member of our club,'' Jane said.

"Oh, you guys are a club?" Hannah asked, surprised.

"Oh no, we're not, well not on school terms. Outside of school we do what you could call bonding time. We're all so different that we can't think of a name for a club, so we didn't form one, but students think we're one as they see us hanging out all the time after school. Oh, and I'm Ed," the orange haired boy apparently named Ed said.

"Well it's nice to meet you Ed. Who are the rest of you by the way?" Hannah asked.

"Oh, well you've already met Jake, the pink haired girl is Jenny, the yellow guy is Josh, the light blue girl is Lila, and I'm Erick, Jane's boyfriend." The guy with the mohawk explained.

"Oh well nice to meet you all and I'm glad to be a part of your group now. After dealing with some jerks in the hallway earlier I'm glad to meet some nice students in the school," Hannah said gratefully then sat down and began eating her lunch along with her new friends.

After school Hannah was walking home alone as her older brother and little sister were staying at school for a little while because they wanted to join some clubs. As she was walking she saw an old woman who seemed to be begging for money. Seeing this Hanna realized that there were indeed some homeless people in such a nice city she'd read about before moving.

As Hannah went up to her, the old woman begged, "Please dear, do you have any spare change to give?"

"Oh yes I do... here, hope it helps,'' Hannah said while handing the old lady some spare change she had.

"Thank you, young lady. Here, take this necklace. It's a good luck charm. I hope it'll help you out in the future," the old lady said while handing Hannah a necklace with a red gem.

"Oh, thank you miss, that's really kind of you. I hope you'll be ok," Hannah said before she continued on her way back home.

The old woman smiled as she watched Hannah leave. "I have a feeling that she is indeed the one who will save us all," The old woman inaudibly said to herself.

[thinkingaboutminds]

2023, my healing year

[hygge-pluviophile]

The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters.

Mt Shasta from the backseat.

[megabonniex]

Ohh?? It could be one of xml's emotion... Which is positive emotion...

It's Joy!

This positive emotion is pretty harmless because its supporter!

However, joy will have three minions, but it supports its own minions!

Its minions are Happiest! Happiest's appearance is yellow bee!

[soul-from-another-era]

Unconditional love isn't a free pass to hurt me.

[minimalist-quotes]

Don't make the mistake of being so understanding and forgiving that you overlook the fact that you're being disrespected.

[dynamichealthinsights]

The Surprising Link Between Happiness and Healthy Muscles: How Positive Emotions Support Muscle Health

Imagine this: you’re at the gym, pushing through your last set of squats. Your muscles are burning, your breath is ragged, but a wave of determination washes over you, fueled by the satisfaction of knowing you’re getting stronger. This feeling, this sense of accomplishment and joy, isn’t just a fleeting emotion – it’s a potent force that directly influences your muscle health. While we often…

[fiercemillennial]

Beyond Tears of Joy: Finding Moments of True Bliss

What brings a tear of joy to your eye? Share your heartwarming moments with us!" #FierceMillennial #FierceEmpowerment

What brings a tear of joy to your eye? Discovering the simple, unexpected, and profound moments that bring us genuine happiness. We often associate tears with sadness, loss, or pain. But there’s another side to tears: tears of joy. These are the tears that well up in our eyes when we experience overwhelming happiness, gratitude, or fulfillment. They are a physical manifestation of our emotions,…

[xtruss]

Hoi Chan

How To Strengthen Your Happiness Muscle

Psychologists Call It Reward Sensitivity. And Simple Steps Can Help You Boost Your Drive To Seek Out Positive Emotions and Enjoy Life.

— By Jenny Taitz | August 19, 2024 | The New York Times

We’ve all experienced it: the urge to withdraw and duck experiences we know we’ll enjoy — even when a mood boost is what we need most. We skip the birthday party. We cancel lunch. They just don’t seem worth the effort. And then, more likely than not, we feel worse than we did before.

So how do you find the motivation to get out there, especially when you’re feeling low, stressed, tired or lonely? One proven strategy is to strengthen what psychologists call your reward sensitivity.

Our drive to seek out happiness is a muscle that we can develop. So is our ability to relish experiences. And almost anyone can learn to amp up their reward sensitivity by training themselves to notice and savor their positive emotions. That’s even true for people with depression and anxiety who struggle to experience pleasure, a condition called anhedonia.

Of course, all of us have trouble pursuing pleasure sometimes. I recently took my young sons to the beach for the weekend. Hours before our getaway, I learned a friend had died. Numbed by the news, I was in no mood to have a good time, even though I wanted to make things special for my family.

It’s part of my job as a therapist to teach people how to manage their emotions. And as I tell my patients, it’s possible to honor legitimate sources of pain and still recognize that moments of brightness improve our well-being.

The research-backed strategies below, which I use in my practice, helped me to make the most of our trip.

Reward Sensitivity and Mental Health.

When it comes to mental health treatment, doctors and therapists tend to focus on easing their patients’ negative symptoms — they want “to take away the bad,” explained Alicia Meuret, a professor of psychology at Southern Methodist University.

Yet most of us don’t just need to reduce pain, we also need to boost joy.

In fact, improving positive emotions can be a higher priority for patients than containing their depressive symptoms. And research shows that treatments based on this idea can be effective.

A 2023 study co-led by Dr. Meuret found that when adults experiencing depression or anxiety participated in 15 weeks of psychotherapy focused on enhancing positive emotions, they reported more improvement than a group whose therapy focused on reducing negative emotions.

Shorter interventions have shown benefits as well. A 2024 study of 85 students, led by Lucas LaFreniere, an assistant professor of psychology at Skidmore College, gave subjects with anxiety regular smartphone prompts to plan pleasurable activities, savor positive moments and look forward to future positive events. After a week, they showed significantly improved feelings of optimism.

An Exercise To Boost Your Reward Sensitivity.

To raise your reward sensitivity, you can try an exercise based on the treatment plans in these studies. Make it a daily practice for as long as it’s helpful, but commit to at least a week.

Begin by planning one activity per day that will make you happy or give you a sense of accomplishment. This will make you less likely to postpone positive experiences. Be realistic — it can be as small as treating yourself to a favorite snack, reading a few pages of a novel or FaceTiming a friend.

After you’ve enjoyed that daily moment, close your eyes and recount out loud, in the present tense, where and when you experienced the greatest joy. Home in on details and physical sensations, like the breeze cooling your face as the sun shines. This all might feel hokey, but don’t gloss over the specifics, Dr. Meuret cautioned. The idea isn’t just to remember how you felt, but to amplify and reexperience it.

Psychologists call the process of identifying and immersing in positive emotions savoring.

“Growing the glow of positive emotions,” as Dr. LaFreniere put it, strengthens your memory of them, and increases your motivation to seek them out going forward. Savoring also helps counteract the very human tendency to focus on and remember negative aspects of an event: the friend who was 15 minutes late, the thing you wish you hadn’t said.

More Ways To Stretch Positive Feelings.

Here are some more subtle but powerful tweaks you can make to nurture a positive mind-set.

Expand Your Joy Vocabulary: Many of us struggle to label our positive emotions much beyond fine, good or great. But research suggests that finding more words to describe those feelings can validate and intensify them, Dr. Meuret said. When reflecting on how something made you feel, try to be precise, using words like serene, elated, exhilarated, delighted, inspired.

Share Your Highlight Reel: Think about the details you typically volunteer when asked about your day or a recent trip. It can be tempting to vent. But broadcasting what made you happiest can make you feel better, spread that happiness to another person — and also strengthen a bond, said Charlie Taylor, an associate professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, who researches social reward sensitivity.

Find Silver Linings: With practice, it’s possible to notice the positives hidden in things that we might first see as negative, Dr. Taylor said. For example, if you invited co-workers to get together and only one person showed up, you could easily view that as a failure. But the silver lining, he said, would be that you got to know that one person better.

Forecast Future Wins: If looking at your calendar sparks dread, Dr. Meuret said, pick an event that’s approaching and think of the best possible outcome. If you’re tired and want to back out of meeting a friend for a workout, picture an especially energizing class. Imagine smiling at each other across the room, feeling proud. Using imagery can encourage motivation and prime you for more uplifting experiences, Dr. Meuret explained.

Give Yourself Permission To Feel Happy.

Keep in mind, too, that it’s normal to sometimes feel uncomfortable with pleasurable feelings, particularly if you experience depression and anxiety.

“Some people can feel vulnerable when they let themselves feel good,” Dr. LaFreniere said. Worrying can make you feel like you’re ready to respond to threats — but by constantly prepping for disaster, he said, we miss the happiness in front of us right now.

On my recent weekend trip with my kids, it was a challenge to let myself have fun. But sharing s’mores by the glistening ocean still filled me with lingering delight. I made sure to pause and savor the best parts, like when some florists gave us fistfuls of hydrangeas and roses from a wedding arch they were taking apart alongside the beach. I felt waves of sadness crashing through the trip, thinking of the friend I had lost, but letting myself bask in love and levity helped me find my balance again.

“The truth is,” Dr. LaFreniere said, “sometimes we need to behave like happy people if we actually want to be happy.”

— Jenny Taitz is a Practicing Psychologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry.