Category: Daily Dose

Sometimes we need a little humor to get by. In today’s Daily Dose, we present this quote by English comic author Douglas Adams, author the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. While this quote may very well describe the series’ hapless protagonist, Arthur Dent, who inadvertently found himself traveling the galaxy while all that he set out to do was head down to the town hall in the small village of Cottington in England’s West Country, may not have gone where he intended to go but, by the end of the books and through many trials and tribulations, ended up where he needed to be in order to save all of human existence. Enjoy the quote, and consider picking up something humorous when you get home.

Psychologist, professor at UCSF, and pioneer in the study of emotions and their relation to facial expressions Paul Ekman originally identified six discrete, measurable, and physiologically distinct emotions that exist throughout almost every culture. These include anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise. Since his early work, we have come to recognize the existence of many more emotions, which are often some combination of these more basic emotions. Today we challenge you to recognize the subtly in your emotions. Rather than just labeling yourself “happy”, “fearful”, or “angry” push yourself to dig deeper into what is going on for you and why. Let this emotional color wheel be your guide!

The Learning Zone Model, which was developed by the German adventure pedagogue Tom Senninger, is a helpful model that illustrates how we can create learning situations. While we did not choose or create this situation, we can nevertheless move ourselves out of our comfort zone, use our skills to tolerate the distress of fear, which will push us into learning and growth. Learning more about this model at https://bit.ly/3eQwqbS

At a time when we are all experiencing an extraordinary level of stress, science offers a simple and effective way to bolster our own emotional health. To help yourself, start by helping others. Today we are offer this image to remind you of this idea, and a link to an article that describes this phenomenon in greater detail. https://nyti.ms/357j8Dj

The practice of mindfulness to promote wellness in modern medicine can be traced back to 1979 with Jon Kabat-Zinn’s earliest work on the subject while at University of Massachusetts to treat their chronically ill population. The benefits of mindfulness as a preventative practice, however, are just as well documented. One area where mindfulness can be especially beneficial is in helping is understand and manage our emotions – not to control them, but to let us experience them without their interfering with our engagement in what is most important to us. In today’s Daily Dose, Dr. Christina Goodwin, one of Cooper’s psychologists in the department of Psychiatry, leads us through a exercise in mindful emotional awareness. Enjoy!

Susan David, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and faculty at Harvard Medical School. She writes in her book “Emotional Agility” that the way we navigate our inner world – our everyday thoughts, emotions, and self-stories – is of great importance and drives our actions, careers, relationships, happiness, and health. That does not mean that we must be immune to stress, rather we should know how to cultivate insight into challenging situations and their interaction with our emotions and responses. In today’s Daily Dose, we provide an overview of this stance.

One thing psychologists often caution against is perpetual cheerleading through hard times, e.g. consistently telling those who are suffering “look on the bright side, keep a positive attitude or you will make things worse!” While words like this are often well intentioned, they can invalidate the difficult emotions others are experiencing. In today’s Daily Dose, we remind everyone that you can remain positive and optimistic, while still feeling sadness and anxiety.

One effective means by which you can combat the distress of the current situation is through artistic expression. Emma Paxton, a Graphic Recorder and Digital Illustrator, created this image “to bring a smile and a ray of hope, created with love from ideas contributed by friends.” If words fail you today, try expressing yourself another way.

Every day that we find ourselves in the hospital caring for the sick and dying, or at home trying to care for ourselves, may seem like an eternity. As difficult as it seems this, too, shall pass. Challenging as it will be, carrying this attitude throughout the day may help reframe even the most difficult encounters.

Some people see a problem and feel that they do not have what it takes to address it. Others see problems as an opportunity. Know that every day that you come in to do your part you are seizing the opportunity do your best and in doing so, save lives.