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How to Prime Your Mind for Optimism

By Catherine A. Sanderson — 2019

We can shift our mindset toward more optimism and happiness.

Read on greatergood.berkeley.edu

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Resilience: The Science of Mastering Life’s Greatest Challenges

Most of us at some point in our lives will be struck by major traumas such as the sudden death of a loved one, a debilitating disease, assault, or a natural disaster. Resilience refers to the ability to ‘bounce back’ after encountering difficulty.

Book
Steven M. Southwick, Dennis S. Charney
2025
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03:56

This Middle-Aged Woman Going Back to School Is the Inspiration We All Need l GMA Digital

Margarita Lopez, 58, is one of the oldest students at University of Southern California.

Video
2019
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Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

In 2015 Sheryl Sandberg’s husband, Dave Goldberg, died suddenly at the age of forty-eight. Sandberg and her two young children were devastated, and she was certain that their lives would never have real joy or meaning again.

Book
Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant
2019
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16:21

The Three Secrets of Resilient People | Lucy Hone | TEDxChristchurch

Dr Lucy Hone is a resilience expert who thought she found her calling supporting people to recover following the Christchurch earthquake. She had no idea that her personal journey was about to take her to a far darker place.

Video
2019
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How ironic that the difficult times we fear might ruin us are the very ones that can break us open and help us blossom into who we were meant to be.

Quote
Elizabeth Lesser
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The Gratitude Project: How the Science of Thankfulness Can Rewire Our Brains for Resilience, Optimism, and the Greater Good

In our fractured, “me-first” world, the science and practice of thankfulness could be just the antidote we need. Gratitude is powerful: not only does it feel good, it’s also been proven to increase our well-being in myriad ways.

Book
Jeremy Adam Smith (editor), Kira M. Newman (editor), Jason Marsh (editor), Dacher Keltner (editor)
2020
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A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough

Muller mixes the writings of great spiritual and political leaders with inspirational anecdotes from his own life, inviting us to derive more satisfaction from less and pull gratitude out of the ashes of grief.

Book
Wayne Muller
2011
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Four Funerals and a Wedding: Resilience in a Time of Grief

In Four Funerals and a Wedding, Smolowe jostles preconceptions about caregiving, defies cliches about losing loved ones, and reveals a stunning bottom line: far from being uncommon, resilience like hers is the norm among the recently bereaved.

Book
Jill Smolowe
2014
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Emotional Intimacy: A Comprehensive Guide for Connecting with the Power of Your Emotions

Emotions link our feelings, thoughts, and conditioning at multiple levels, but they may remain a largely untapped source of strength, freedom, and connection.

Book
Robert Augustus Masters
2013
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Feel Better Fast and Make It Last: Unlock Your Brain’s Healing Potential to Overcome Negativity, Anxiety, Anger, Stress, and Trauma

If you want to feel happier, more optimistic, more joyful, and resilient, Dr. Amen’s groundbreaking new book is for you. We’ve all felt anxious, sad, traumatized, grief-stricken, stressed, angry, or hopeless at some point in life.

Book
Daniel G. Amen
2018
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EXPLORE TOPIC

Optimism