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While preparing for your final exams, there are a host of other tasks that vie for your immediate attention. With three graduate school applications pending, two internship interviews to prepare for and an upcoming entrance exam, you are literally dr…
Ishould not have attempted the exam.” “I never get things right.” “Why do others have it easy compared to me?” “I won’t amount to anything. Why bother trying?” When our spirits ebb, negative thoughts clutter our minds. From chastising ourselves…
A miniscule virus has literally halted human activity world-over, something unimaginable even a few weeks ago. Anxious thoughts cloud your mind every now and then. “What if I get the virus?” You hope your grandmother, who is living alone in…
This year is likely to be remembered as a watershed year by practically all students. Besides a long hiatus in the regular academic calendar, students have had to contend with myriad uncertainties. From a lack of closure for graduating classes to…
Truly humble people make others feel “affirmed, appreciated, encouraged, validated, and psychically nourished Like many psychological constructs, humility is often misconstrued. On the one hand, people who claim to be humble, often don’t realise the irony behind
Few moments of peace are needed but are scarce in this age of technology Being alone versus lonely are two distinct phenomena. While loneliness is associated with a multitude of health risks, both physical and psychological,
Look for the extraordinary in everyday routines This piece culminates the tetrad of articles on happiness based on Sonja Lyubomirsky’s research. So far, I have covered eight happiness-inducing
When confronted by challenges, develop coping strategies that are positive Previously, I had outlined four strategies recommended by psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky for promoting happiness. Expressing gratitude, being optimistic,
Beneficent behaviour can prompt a chain of positivity In last month’s column, I described Sonja Lyubomirsky’s research that examines happiness levels of people, which can vary due to innate temperament and life’s
Emotions have the tendency to fluctuate through the highs and lows, but we have the ability to enhance our own sense of well-being Waiting. That’s what most of us do on a practically habitual basis. Waiting for admission into a…
Aruna Sankaranarayanan is the author of Zero Limits: Things Every 20 Something Should Know. She was the Founder & Director of PRAYATNA, a centre for children with learning difficulties in Bengaluru & Chennai for 22 years.