The Best of Greater Good
20+ most popular Greater Good articles, as voted by our community.
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What Is Emotional Labor, and Why Does It Matter?
A new book explains how devaluing emotional labor—disproportionately done by women and other disadvantaged groups—perpetuates inequality.
A Way to Make Work More Meaningful (The Science of Happiness podcast)
We all overestimate how much we know. Our guest tries a practice in slowing down to ask more questions, and finds it leads to higher quality connections.
«Think about the scenario from the perspective of a person who disagrees with you. Try to imagine how they came to believe what they believe:»
Greater Good on Anxiety
What to Do With Dread and Anxiety About Climate Change
You're not alone if you're feeling dread and anxiety about climate change. A new book explains how to channel these feelings to fight for a better world.
Greater Good on Gratitude
How Cultural Differences Shape Your Gratitude
Americans say thanks a lot, but other cultures may have a deeper understanding of gratitude.
Greater Good on Happiness
Happiness Break: Restore Through Silence
When was the last time you spent a moment savoring silence? Tricia Hersey, aka The Nap Bishop, guides us through an appreciation of silence and its restorative powers.
Wanting to Help Others Could Make You Happier at Work
A research review finds that employees who are motivated to be kind and helpful tend to have higher well-being at work.
Greater Good on Mental Health
A Five-Minute Breathing Exercise for Anxiety and Mood
Researchers have found that practicing "cyclic sighing" for five minutes a day can help you feel less anxiety and more positive emotions.
«Controlled breathing exercises may have a more rapid, more direct effect on physiology than mindfulness,»
Greater Good on Mindfulness
The Top 10 Insights from the “Science of a Meaningful Life” in 2022
Our team names the most provocative and influential findings published during this past year.
«in deciding whether to do something generous or helpful for someone, we chronically underestimate how much beneficial impact we can make»
Can Mindfulness Reduce Anxiety as Well as a Drug?
A new study finds that teaching mindfulness practices to patients with anxiety works as well as using a standard drug treatment, with fewer side effects.
Greater Good on Passion
Why Being Passionate About Your Job Isn’t Always a Good Thing
Research suggests that there are two types of passion we can have about work—and one may be harmful for you.
«For example, a person who agrees with statements such as “I get upset easily” or “I worry about different things at the same time” is much more vulnerable to burnout if they work as a lawyer, a fundraiser, or a broker. But that same person is less likely to become obsessed with their job if they work as a dentist, engineer, nurse, surgeon, or social worker.»
Greater Good on Procrastination
What Makes You Procrastinate (Which Isn’t Always a Bad Thing)
Our brain's cognitive biases enable us to put off important tasks, even though it hurts us later. But are there benefits to procrastination?
«If procrastination is seriously interfering with your life, you may want to start chopping tasks into smaller pieces and set rewards after each step.»
Greater Good on Psychology
Four Ways to Turn a Bad Day Around
Some days, nothing seems to go right. Here are four steps to calm down and get things back on track.
Four Ways We Avoid Our Feelings—and What to Do Instead
Avoiding our emotions is not good for our mental health. A psychologist explains how to break the habit and embrace your vulnerability.
«Identify where you feel the sensation; locate it precisely, one place at a time—not just “My muscles are tense,” but which ones and where»
Greater Good on Purpose
What’s the Difference Between Meaning and Happiness?
A new study asks people what makes them happy and what gives life meaning—and finds that benefitting others can do both.
Greater Good on Relationships
How to Communicate With Love (Even When You’re Mad)
A marriage therapist offers a step-by-step guide for a conversation with your partner when emotions are running high.
«I feel _________ when you _________ and I need _________f.”»
Why Friendships Among Men Are So Important
Men have fewer friends these days, which can hurt their well-being. Here are expert tips for fostering those relationships.
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How to Get Comfortable With Uncertainty and Change
When life is uncertain, our usual responses and coping strategies might not always work. The practice of mental agility can help us be resilient.
«It comes down to the choice of stick or switch: Should I keep pursuing the same thoughts, feelings, and actions, or do I need to switch to something new?»
When You Feel Jealous, Think About Cultivating “Compersion”
New research on empathic joy points the way to closer intimate relationships.
«At its core, the principle of compersion relies on the dissolution of the perception of separation between self and other.»
How Much Control Do You Have Over Your Own Happiness?
Social conditions and inequality affect well-being. So, why do we keep insisting "happiness is a choice"?
«When I write that “structural forces” affect happiness, what do I mean? What does a structural force look like in society?»
Instead of Pulling Out Your Phone, Let Your Mind Wander
When we're waiting, we often have the urge to distract ourselves—but a new study finds we’d enjoy doing nothing but think.
«there were no significant differences between those who waited with or without a computer; both groups liked the experience equally.»
Why Sensitivity Is a Strength in Boys
It’s time to shift the paradigm about sensitivity in boys and recognize how it improves their relationships and supports their well-being.
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