Hannah Aster

SEO Team Lead

Hannah is a seasoned writer and editor who started her journey with Shortform nearly five years ago. She grew up reading mostly fiction books but transitioned to non-fiction writing when she started her travel website in 2018. When she's not writing or traveling, you can find Hannah working on home reno projects, crafting, or taking care of plants.

Expertise

Graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English and minors in professional and creative writing

Being Happy Is a Choice, According to Ichiro Kishimi

Is being happy really a choice? If so, then why do so many people choose to be unhappy? Is it possible to change your mindset? In the book The Courage to Be Disliked, Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga write that being happy is a choice—despite your circumstances in life. They base many of their beliefs on psychologist Alfred Adler’s “individual psychology” school of thought. They propose that even a difficult past cannot make you unhappy if you don’t let it. Read more about Kishimi and Koga’s views on happiness below.

Personality and Communication: The 4 Different Styles

Do you work with a wide variety of personalities? Do you ever struggle to interpret their emails or tone? Thomas Erikson, the author of Surrounded by Idiots, categorizes people into four personality colors: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue. Each personality has unique characteristics and behaviors that can sometimes make working together difficult. Here’s how to better understand the connection between personality and communication style.

Problems With the Federal Reserve (According to MMT)

How does the federal reserve set monetary policy? Why does economist Stephanie Kelton believe that the Fed is causing needless suffering in the United States? In her book The Deficit Myth, Kelton (a believer in modern monetary theory) thinks that the federal reserve is too conservative and overreacts when it comes to the fear of inflation. Kelton and other MMT proponents believe in using a combination of deficit spending and low interest rates to boost demand and create full employment instead. Below, we will discuss the problems with the Federal Reserve, according to Stephanie Kelton.

The Best Self-Help Authors, According to Dan Harris

Who does self-help author Dan Harris list as the best self-help authors? What made these authors stand apart from the rest? Despite finding a few pieces of helpful advice from Tolle, Chopra, and Brach, Harris still had many questions about mindfulness. He eventually found mentors who introduced him to meditation and Buddhism and who helped shape his appreciation of mindfulness. Three of these gurus were Mark Epstein, Joseph Goldstein, and Spring Washam.

Matching Personalities—The Best and Worst Pairings

Have you taken a personality test (whether it be the color model, DISC, or Myers-Briggs)? Which personalities do you match up best with? Which personality types should you avoid? Probably the three most common personality tests are Myers-Briggs, DISC, and Thomas Erikson’s color model. While matching personalities isn’t an exact science, there are certain pairs that tend to match up well—and others that tend to end in disaster. Here, we’ll go over the personality pairings from the top three personality models.

Exceed Customer Expectations to Gain Loyalty

Does your business exceed customer expectations? Why isn’t it good enough to simply meet customer expectations? In their business fable Raving Fans, management experts Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles say that, if you want to create “raving fans” of your business, you need to go beyond meeting expectations. It’s only when you exceed a customer’s expectations that they become loyal to your company. Here’s why you should aim to exceed rather than satisfy.

The Courage to Be Disliked: Book Overview

What is the book The Courage to Be Disliked about? How does the book relate to the “individual psychology” school of thought? The book The Courage to Be Disliked argues one major point: happiness is a choice. The book is essentially a retelling of famous psychologist Alfred Adler’s ideas in a self-help format. Continue below to learn more about The Courage to Be Disliked book.

The Federal Job Guarantee: Pros, Cons, and History

Do you think having a job is a fundamental right for all people? What would the pros and cons of a federal job guarantee be? Has congress ever looked into making a program like this? Stephanie Kelton, economist and the author of The Deficit Myth, says that a federal job guarantee is crucial for establishing economic order. However, critics say that a program like this would cost too much and could lead to corruption. Continue reading to learn more about what a federal job guarantee could mean for the United States.

What Is the Point of Meditation? The Key to Mindfulness

What is the point of meditation? How can meditation be used as a tool? In his book 10% Happier, Dan Harris believes that the main goal of meditation is mindfulness. In addition, meditation can have added benefits such as recognizing your ego, Here is what self-help author Dan Harris had to say about meditation.

The Benefits of Personality Tests in the Workplace

Are there any benefits to taking a personality test? How can understanding different personality types help you become a better communicator? While not all psychologists agree with the benefits of personality tests, Thomas Erikson (the author of Surrounded by Idiots) believes that personality type knowledge is power. Erikson says that understanding the personality types of others is like understanding another language. Continue reading for the benefits and uses of personality tests, particularly in the workplace.