Do you know how to feel positive emotions? How does connecting with other people make you feel good?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ali Abdaal says there are three sources of positive emotions that he calls energizers. While there are any number of things that can help you feel good\u2014and therefore make you more productive\u2014they all tie back to one or more of these fundamental sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let’s discuss each of Abdaal’s three sources of well-being: having fun, empowering yourself<\/a>, and connecting with other people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Abdaal’s first piece of advice on how to feel positive emotions is to have more fun<\/a>. He says people are hardwired to have fun. <\/strong>You most likely know this from experience: As a child you probably spent countless hours running around, making up games, and playing with whatever had your attention at the moment. There wasn\u2019t a career goal or life plan behind any of this; you were simply having fun because that\u2019s what came naturally to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, Abdaal adds, many people lose that sense of fun as they grow up. This happens because our culture teaches that adults are supposed to stop playing games and take life seriously. However, you can recapture that youthful feeling of joy and excitement by finding the little games in everything you do. <\/strong>Abdaal provides three game-based strategies to help you reintegrate playfulness into your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s first strategy is to figure out what kind of player you are. <\/strong>If your life were a video game, how would you approach it? For instance, some people want to plan out the most efficient way to complete each quest, while others enjoy simply wandering around and seeing what they find. Some like to entertain their fellow players with jokes and stories, and some prefer to seek out opponents for the thrill of competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you know what kind of player you are, Abdaal suggests approaching each day with that player\u2019s mindset. For instance, if you\u2019ve decided that you\u2019re a competitive player, you might try challenging a friend at work to see who can get more done during a single shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Second, make your work engaging. <\/strong>People can spend hours playing video games because they\u2019re designed to hold your attention: They have bright colors, exciting music, engaging characters, and regular rewards to keep you playing. Abdaal says that you can add any or all of these features to your own tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you\u2019re preparing a presentation about a boring topic, you could add some bright colors or an amusing picture. Perhaps you could chat with a friend while you work on it, or treat yourself to a small piece of candy after finishing each section of the presentation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In short, find the joy in what you\u2019re doing, not just in what you\u2019ve gotten done<\/strong>\u2014after all, you play games because they\u2019re fun, not just so you can get to the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, recognize the difference between fun and frivolity. <\/strong>Abdaal says there\u2019s a common misconception that people who are enjoying themselves aren\u2019t taking things seriously, as if it\u2019s impossible to give your all and have fun at the same time. However, according to the principles of feel-good productivity, the opposite is true: People can only <\/em>do their best work when they\u2019re having fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal’s second source of emotional well-being<\/a> is empowerment<\/em>, by which he means having a sense of control<\/a> over your actions, work, and life. He gives three suggestions about how to empower yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s first suggestion is to be bold.<\/strong> Even if you don\u2019t feel like you\u2019re in control, you can still act <\/em>like you are. Imagine yourself as somebody with great confidence and self-esteem<\/a>, and pretend to be that person. With time and practice, it will feel less and less like pretending. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words: Fake it until you make it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s second tip for self-empowerment is to constantly assess and improve your abilities. <\/strong>This helps because knowing that you\u2019re good at what you do will give you a sense of power and control. <\/strong>So, if you\u2019re ever feeling self-conscious about your skills at work or elsewhere, take some time to remember how far you\u2019ve come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, if you like to draw, there will be times when you\u2019re not satisfied with something you\u2019ve created\u2014but if you compare that drawing to something you made when you were just starting out, you\u2019ll realize just how skilled an artist you\u2019ve become since then.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, further improving your skills<\/a> will give you a sense of hope. <\/strong>This is because, even if a situation isn\u2019t what you want it to be, you\u2019ll know that you can improve yourself and eventually change that situation. For instance, if you\u2019re passed over for a promotion at work, you\u2019ll know that you can redouble your efforts and get promoted next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s third suggestion is to take responsibility<\/a> for everything you do. <\/strong>Though it seems counterintuitive, accepting the consequences of your decisions and your actions is a major part of feeling like you\u2019re in control of your life. That\u2019s because, when you take accountability, you understand that what you do really matters. On the other hand, if you avoid <\/em>accountability, then it will feel like your actions have no effect on you\u2014in other words, it will seem like you have no control over your own life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The author adds that even when you can\u2019t choose your tasks or goals<\/strong> (a common situation in the workplace, for instance) you still have control over your mindset and actions.<\/strong> That means it\u2019s up to you whether you want to complain and do a halfhearted job, or to give each task your all even if it\u2019s not what you want to be doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s third and final source of emotional well-being is connecting <\/em>with other people. Look for people who naturally boost your well-being and your energy, and spend as much time with them as possible. Simply put, you\u2019ll be happier if you have good people around you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One way to build connections, or strengthen existing ones, is to help people when they need it. This is effective because working together naturally brings people closer, and helping others creates bonds of gratitude and goodwill that often lead to new friendships. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, you don\u2019t have to wait until someone asks you for help\u2014small acts of kindness can brighten someone\u2019s day and often make them want to do the same for you. On that note, remember that connections work both ways; accepting kindness from others will strengthen your connections just as surely as helping them will. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: Abdaal is essentially saying that you feel better when you spend time with good friends. Unfortunately, that\u2019s easier said than done for many people. In fact, it\u2019s notoriously hard for adults to make friends<\/a>; for example, one study found that the average American in 2004 had zero close friends<\/a>. In addition to Abdaal\u2019s suggestions above, one reliable method for making new friends is to join a local group dedicated to a subject or hobby that interests you. This works because, by regularly attending that group, you\u2019ll naturally meet and spend time with other people who share your interest.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Abdaal\u2019s other suggestion for strengthening connections is to communicate more, and more effectively. He adds that, while it\u2019s important to share your positive thoughts\u2014good news, compliments, and so on\u2014if you only <\/em>share positive thoughts<\/a> you might come across as shallow or inauthentic. Therefore, it\u2019s equally important to share some of your negative thoughts: your problems, concerns, and (if appropriate) criticisms. Remember, connection isn\u2019t just about getting people to like you, it\u2019s about getting people to understand and accept you.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n (Shortform note: One common obstacle to effective communication is a lack of vocabulary, especially when it comes to talking about ourselves. In Atlas of the Heart<\/em><\/a>, Bren\u00e9 Brown says that many people can only identify three feelings: happiness, sadness, and anger. Those three terms aren\u2019t nearly enough to cover the entire scope of human experiences, so people often have trouble expressing themselves and understanding each other. As a result, they\u2019re unable to form meaningful connections with one another<\/a>, and they miss out on the emotional fulfillment that comes with those connections. Therefore, it\u2019s helpful to learn more (and more specific) labels for emotions in order to discuss them more effectively.) <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Do you know how to feel positive emotions? How does connecting with other people make you feel good? Ali Abdaal says there are three sources of positive emotions that he calls energizers. While there are any number of things that can help you feel good\u2014and therefore make you more productive\u2014they all tie back to one or more of these fundamental sources. Let’s discuss each of Abdaal’s three sources of well-being: having fun, empowering yourself, and connecting with other people. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":124173,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,43],"tags":[1422],"class_list":["post-124118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-psychology","category-self-improvement","tag-feel-good-productivity","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nSource #1: Fun<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Find Your Gaming Style<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make Work Engaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Recognize That You Do Your Best Work When You\u2019re Having Fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Source #2: Empowerment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pretend You\u2019re Already Empowered<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
See How You\u2019ve Already Improved, Then Keep Improving<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Take Responsibility for Everything<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Source #3: Connection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n