Explorations in Positive Psychology

Resilience

Outlasting Your Life

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on September 28, 2023

Positive, harmonious passions improve our behavior and lead to optimal functioning.

Positive, harmonious passions improve our behavior and lead to optimal functioning.

Relationships

Creating Human Symbiotic Relationships

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on September 17, 2023

Your ability to decondition preconceived ideas and thoughts about how a relationship should look will allow new conditions to permeate and delineate your connection.

Your ability to decondition preconceived ideas and thoughts about how a relationship should look will allow new conditions to permeate and delineate your connection.

Motivation

Stubborn Perseverance: The Upside of Letting It Go

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on September 3, 2023

We need to weigh the consequences of continuing to pursue unrealistic goals and the benefits of discovering new possibilities.

We need to weigh the consequences of continuing to pursue unrealistic goals and the benefits of discovering new possibilities.

Attention

Is Paying Attention Becoming More Difficult?

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on August 29, 2023

Ultimately, when interest displaces our attention more often, our attention span shrinks.

Ultimately, when interest displaces our attention more often, our attention span shrinks.

What an advantage that could be, to really believe you are ageless. What a wonder that would be.

Motivation

Presence With Purpose: An Inner Voyage

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on August 13, 2023

The core foundation of achieving one’s goals is to know your purpose and stay connected to that purpose by being focused and in the moment.

The core foundation of achieving one’s goals is to know your purpose and stay connected to that purpose by being focused and in the moment.

Motivation

Motivational Intelligence: Behaviour’s Engine

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on August 7, 2023

The research findings of Daniel Kahneman and Carol Dweck suggest that motivational intelligence is the DNA of a growth mindset.

The research findings of Daniel Kahneman and Carol Dweck suggest that motivational intelligence is the DNA of a growth mindset.

Motivation

EMotivation: Your Motivations Can Change Your Circumstances

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on August 2, 2023

When frustrated by where you are, change it! You have the power to change your circumstances by shifting your motivation.

When frustrated by where you are, change it! You have the power to change your circumstances by shifting your motivation.

Motivated Reasoning

“Aha” Moments: Buds of Beauty and Brilliance

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on July 30, 2023

Epiphanies are rare but powerful events.

Epiphanies are rare but powerful events.

Humor

Humor: We're Surprised by Situations That Don’t Seem to Fit

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on July 22, 2023

After all, a sense of humor is a perceptual skill and not everyone has the same perception of what makes them laugh.

After all, a sense of humor is a perceptual skill and not everyone has the same perception of what makes them laugh.

Motivation

Discomfort: A Pathway to Growth

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on July 15, 2023

Just as economic freedom leads to economic growth, personal freedom leads to personal growth.

Just as economic freedom leads to economic growth, personal freedom leads to personal growth.

Stress

Self-Limiting Your Stress

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on July 9, 2023

The goal is to gain more control over something that may have controlled you for years.

The goal is to gain more control over something that may have controlled you for years.

Magical Thinking

Superstition: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on June 24, 2023

Superstition has been speculated to exist along the same continuum as OCD.

Superstition has been speculated to exist along the same continuum as OCD.

Stress

AI Data Sets and Human Behaviour

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on May 29, 2023

Data sets that look only at traits will only ever provide a partial picture of one’s mental health.

Data sets that look only at traits will only ever provide a partial picture of one’s mental health.

Self-Sabotage

AI and Our Future Roundabout

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on May 22, 2023

Using the term “black box” to refer to AI is notable in that the black box is usually what we look for after an accident, not before.

Using the term “black box” to refer to AI is notable in that the black box is usually what we look for after an accident, not before.

Memory

Is the Digital Age Creating Memory Hoarders?

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on May 14, 2023

Digital photos seem to be a very unreliable basket to put all your life’s most memorable moments into.

Digital photos seem to be a very unreliable basket to put all your life’s most memorable moments into.

Cognition

Turning What-Ifs Into Why-Nots

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on May 7, 2023

We cannot be passive about change, we will have to navigate adversity through our psychological well-being.

We cannot be passive about change, we will have to navigate adversity through our psychological well-being.

Anger

Ambivalence and Self-Anger: Is There Any Relationship?

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on April 28, 2023

Much of what we do as psychologists is about assisting clients in resolving ongoing ambivalence. Here's why.

Much of what we do as psychologists is about assisting clients in resolving ongoing ambivalence. Here's why.

Mindfulness

Develop a Chasing-the-Good Template

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on April 24, 2023

Without an effective positive thought strategy, negative thoughts and all the negative consequences will prevail.

Without an effective positive thought strategy, negative thoughts and all the negative consequences will prevail.

Anxiety

The Skill of Self-Forgetting

Bruce Wilson Ph.D. on April 16, 2023

Another method used to self-forget is the Japanese Zen ink paintings of sumi-e, which are part of the Nishida Philosophy.

Another method used to self-forget is the Japanese Zen ink paintings of sumi-e, which are part of the Nishida Philosophy.