Psychology

My Mind’s Eye is Blind, is Yours?

Unlocking Happiness: How Positive Psychology Can Change Your Life

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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Why is keeping a journal so beneficial?</b></p>

<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling improves a person's general quality of life and mental and physical health. Not only that, you’ll eternally have a record of your life that you can always look back on and never feel judged for expressing yourself. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">If you’re new to journaling, you’ve come to the right place.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In this post, we'll look at five science-backed advantages of journaling. Let’s dive in!</b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Eases Anxiety </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Many people struggle with anxiety. If you’re one of them, take up journaling! Keeping a journal is a good stress management strategy. After all, emotion-focused writing is connected <a href="https://mental.jmir.org/2018/4/e11290/" title="journaling ">with lower mental discomfort and greater well-being</a>.  </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In a study with 70 people with high anxiety levels, writing online for 12 weeks <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6305886/" title="journaling ">dramatically lessened</a> their mental anguish. In addition, patients, families, and medical staff from a children’s hospital reported feeling<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6907914/" title="journaling "> less stressed</a> after performing the following journaling exercise:</b></p>
<ul>
<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing three things they are grateful for</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing the story of their life in six words</b></p>
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<li aria-level="1" dir="ltr">
<p dir="ltr" role="presentation"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Writing three wishes they had</b></p>
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<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Go ahead - try that exercise for yourself!</b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Helps with Past Trauma </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">When a loved one has passed away, keeping a <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/8-creative-ways-keep-memory-loved-one-alive" title="journaling ">journal may help you grieve healthily</a>. You have the privacy to work through your feelings and maintain some form of communication with your loved one. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling can aid in reducing the psychological anguish we experience in response to trauma. For example, people who journaled for 15 minutes each day reported <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197455605000699?via%3Dihub" title="journaling ">feeling less depressed, anxious, or hostile</a>. </b></p>
<p><b>Even those who struggle with severe illnesses benefit from journaling! Those with post-traumatic stress disorder engaging in expressive writing exercises experienced their moods </b><b id="docs-internal-guid-65c9fffe-7fff-d740-0ab0-cfac7d8e6d05"><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18230238/" title="journaling ">significantly improving and their stress hormone reactions to painful memories decreasing.</a> </b> </p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Decreases Depression </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Depression is nothing to be ashamed of; globally, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/depression" title="journaling ">5% of adults suffer from depression</a>. However, the natural remedy of journaling helps ease depression. Journaling can be as helpful as cognitive-behavioral therapy in <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17007812/" title="journaling ">lowering the risk of depression</a> in young people. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Did you know that when people with severe depressive illnesses wrote for 20 minutes each day for three days about their most intense thoughts and feelings related to an emotional experience, their depression ratings <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23790815/" title="journaling ">significantly decreased</a>?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In addition, students who journaled about their most intense emotions the month before a major exam experienced <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9364758/" title="journaling ">fewer depressive symptoms</a> since they didn't focus as much on intrusive thoughts. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Increases Gratitude </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Listing your blessings has become more popular over the past several years. But there’s truth to it! Journaling <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10447-017-9289-8" title="journaling ">encourages thankfulness</a> - of all things! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In one study, journaling weekly was <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/pdfs/GratitudePDFs/6Emmons-BlessingsBurdens.pdf" title="journaling ">linked to more pronounced increases in general optimism</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Try a Gratitude Journal! Every night, set aside five minutes to jot down the three things you are most thankful for. They don't need anything big or significant; they can be as simple as the rain on your windowsill or your favorite cup of coffee. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journaling Sharpens Your Memory </b></h2>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Is there a particular event you don’t want to forget? Such as hiking through the Himalayas, that Sunday picnic, or a family reunion? Your first kiss? </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/sharing-memories-5-unique-ways-you-havent-thought" title="journaling ">Keeping a journal helps enhance your working memory. </a></b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">In one study, first-year college students who wrote down their thoughts and feelings had <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-18060-012" title="journaling ">less intrusive and avoidant thoughts during the day</a>, which allowed more space for remembering. Similarly, college-bound teenagers who wrote in-depth about their feelings and ideas regarding college showed <a href="https://www.apa.org/monitor/sep01/keepdiary" title="journaling ">improved short-term memory and academic performance</a>. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">When you journal, those precious memories never have to fade; you can <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/blog/how-relive-memory" title="journaling ">relive them over and over</a>. </b></p>
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<h2 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Journal on My Stories Matter </b></h2>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Start the journal you've always wanted! </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">You can create a virtual backup of your essential work so that you may view, modify, and download it whenever you choose and group your journal entries into Collections.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e">Unlike other social media apps, your private journal entries are only visible to you. However, you can also choose to share specific entries with friends.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-36e8c09b-7fff-ddd2-c02e-12e724e3431e"><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="journaling ">Sign up for free</a> and begin journaling today! </b></p>


The Many Cognitive Benefits of Journaling

<h1>Learning Styles: Real or Not Real? </h1>
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<p>	Many teachers and counselors have taught the idea that there are distinct learning styles. You probably have heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_learning" title="Learning style ">visual</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditory_learning" title="Learning style ">auditory</a>, and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinesthetic_learning" title="Learning style">kinesthetic</a> learning styles. <a href="https://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research" title="Learning style ">Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences</a> also proposes that people can learn in eight different ways.</p>
<p>However, do learning styles actually exist? </p>
<p>While labeling how you learn would be nice and convenient, our brains are more complicated than that. </p>
<p>Read on to find out the truth about learning styles and what this means for you. </p>
<p> </p>
<h1>Science Debunks Learning Styles</h1>
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<p>One popular learning style theory is Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences which states that there are multiple intelligences—Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, and Naturalist. Gardner claims that these eight types of bits of intelligence can be naturally applied to learning styles. </p>
<p>However, there is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160289621000507" title="Learning style ">not enough evidence to support Gardner’s view</a>. </p>
<p>While a one-size-fits-all type of intelligence is inaccurate, further research is still needed before applying learning styles in class.</p>
<p>Since the 1970s, research has concluded that learning styles have <a href="https://www.educationnext.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ednext_XX_3_furey.pdf" title="Learning style ">no empirical evidence of being real</a>. They merely stemmed from an incorrect interpretation of scientific facts. Different types of information are processed in various brain parts the same way people have differences in abilities and preferences. </p>
<p>For several decades, myths about the brain — neuromyths — have <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn3817" title="Learning style ">persisted in academic institutions</a>. </p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/edu-a0037478.pdf" title="Learning style ">one survey</a>, teachers were given statements and were asked if the statements were “correct,” “incorrect,” or “do not know.” Results showed that 93% of teachers from the United Kingdom and 96% from the Netherlands answered “correct” to the statement: “Individuals learn better when they receive information in their preferred learning style.” </p>
<p>But how one prefers to study is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360131516302482?via%3Dihub" title="Learning style ">not an indication of a learning style</a>. While many people <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/20697325" title="Learning style ">prefer different types of studying or learning</a>, research <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">denies that people learn better through a particular learning style</a>. </p>
<p>For example, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1041608006000331" title="Learning style ">one study</a> had a wide variety of adults and college students take a learning test using visuals or written text. The verbalizers' and visualizers’ grades showed no strong support for verbal and visual learners to be given different instruction. </p>
<p>So scholars stress how learning styles <a href="https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ase.1777" title="Learning style ">should be rejected</a> by educators and students alike. Instead, they should replace these ‘neuromyths’ with resources and strategies rooted in evidence and invite students to reflect on their learning rather than narrowing their style down. </p>
<p>This will, in turn, <a href="https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/LearningStylesMyth" title="Learning style ">improve learning outcomes</a>. Instructors shouldn’t categorize students in their learning and instead through their personalities and experiences. For example, they can incorporate active learning, group work, and various teaching strategies. <br />
	 </p>
<h1>Learn and Remember with My Stories Matter</h1>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-15931" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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<p>Now that we’ve established that there is not enough evidence to suggest learning styles exist, what next? </p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter</a> uses a variety of “cues” to help you recall the past or anything important that you want to remember. </p>
<p>If you’re not a fan of typing or have achy fingers, <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">My Stories Matter </a>allows you to record your notes on the go because hearing yourself speak aloud actually <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/12/171201090940.htm" title="Learning style ">improves your memory</a>!</p>
<p><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="My Stories Matter">Sign up</a> today for free!</p>


Learning Styles: Real or Not Real?

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<p> </p>

<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">We all have a nostalgic song that transports us to our adolescent days. Maybe Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” reminds you of hapless teenage attempts at an 80s mullet. Perhaps the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen” elicits memories of uncoordinated hip gyrations and tight leather pants. Or maybe, Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” induces flashbacks to middle school imitations of the music video’s signature hand-flip. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-3dbef574-7fff-506d-ad98-4ed5667b30f3">Your early musical memories could be more influential than you think. The songs you listened to during middle and high school may form your music taste for the rest of your life. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Music and Data Science </b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34">Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, who elaborated upon his insights in a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/favorite-songs.html" title="nostalgia songs">New York Times op-ed</a>, proposed this theory. Having obtained a collection of Spotify data about the listening habits of men and women by age group, Davidowitz analyzed the frequency at which each group listened to a particular song. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Surprisingly, the information from Spotify showed clear musical taste delineation by birth year. Specifically, the data showed that people were far more likely to continuously listen to popular nostalgic songs during adolescence. For example, 38-year-old men proved far more likely to enjoy “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFkzRNyygfk" title="nostalgia songs">Creep</a>” by Radiohead than any other age group (the song came out in 1993 when these men were 14). Such patterns persisted for countless artists and songs—if you listened to a lot of Linda Ronstadt in your youth, chances are you still think “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haZPPBJC8Ic" title="nostalgia songs">You’re No Good</a>” is...pretty good. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-41bd6757-7fff-10ef-86cf-c54a3a889d34"> Furthermore, the analysis narrowed down the specific 3-year window that profoundly affected music taste. Boys, Davidowitz claims, form the majority of their music taste between the ages of 13 and 16. For girls, this period is earlier, with music taste formation falling between 11 and 14. The difference, Davidowitz proposes, could result from the difference in biological development by gender—girls <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3613238/" title="nostalgia songs">go through puberty earlier</a> and mature faster than boys do. This hypothesis would make logical sense through research that shows <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-athletes-way/201312/scientists-identify-why-girls-often-mature-faster-boys" title="nostaglia songs">puberty’s effect on re-shaping neural connections</a>—our music tastes are wired into our brains. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Music and Me</b></h1>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">Though COVID-19 has temporarily paused live concerts, I fondly remember my 2019 trip to see Paul McCartney perform in San Jose. In addition to the concert ticket, I attended an hour’s exclusive pre-concert rehearsal. I was thrilled by the opportunity to see McCartney “unfiltered,” his jangling notes resonating among an intimate audience of about 75 super-fans. </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">McCartney has a vast catalog of Beatles, Wings, and solo songs that even a typical 3-hour concert still leaves him with a surfeit of unplayed hits. However, in support of Davidowitz’s point, McCartney proved he isn’t immune to the effects of nostalgia. For the soundcheck, he chose to play several cover songs. His choice of borrowed material—including Carl Perkins’ “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5HKlQ6nGM" title="nostalgia songs">Blue Suede Shoes</a>” and “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">Honey Don’t</a>,” Buddy Holly’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-M-mr-0wSw" title="nostalgia songs">It’s So Easy</a>,” and Jesse Fuller’s “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBME_J0pf3o" title="nostalgia songs">San Francisco Bay Blues</a>”—featured nostalgic songs that were released during his formative teenage years. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">The release dates of those four cover songs couldn’t more perfectly coordinate with the New York Times’s findings. The four songs formed a chronological progression of the development of McCartney’s musical taste, from the animated, sensual notes of Carl Perkins to the playful, blues-influenced sounds of Buddy Holly. Though McCartney’s song choice could attribute to his sentimentality for the past, the precise relationship between the age range proposed by Davidowitz and the songs’ release date is unlikely to be coincidental. “Blue Suede Shoes” and “San Francisco Bay Blues” were released when McCartney was 13, “Honey Don’t” when he was 14, and “It’s So Easy” when he was 16.</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2">I mused about my sentimental connection with Paul McCartney’s music at the night's end. I was 15 when the Beatles broke up. Perhaps, I am nostalgic for the years in which I had few responsibilities and unlimited time. Or maybe, my adolescent brain was subconsciously shaped by the ubiquitous music of the Beatles. In either case, my love for the Beatles has stayed with me throughout my life. Of course, depending on your age, your taste in music, and which songs you find nostalgic may be different!</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-700447ba-7fff-f3bc-89b0-645b63fb4ee2"><a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">My Stories Matter</a> has Spotify playlists that help you remember nostalgic songs from each decade. <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostalgia songs">Sign up</a> today for free and bask in the nostalgia!</b></p>


Your adolescence may be more influential to your music taste than you think

Why You Prefer Nostalgic Songs From Your Teenage Years

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<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a931fb60-7fff-ba70-9e0e-05119050a44c">10/10 is World Mental Health day. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused us to feel more <a href="https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/" title="mental health day ">isolated from socializing than before</a>, especially as the lifting of social distancing restrictions has been slower than expected after the vaccine rollout. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-a931fb60-7fff-ba70-9e0e-05119050a44c">During periods of isolation, many people increased their time on social media to stay connected. This week’s outage showed how reliant we are on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We also learned from a whistleblower<a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/10/05/1043377310/facebook-whistleblower-frances-haugen-congress" title="mental health day "> how Facebook places profits over its users’ mental well-being</a>. </b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">What Happened to Facebook This Week</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">Last Monday’s 6-hour outage highlighted how many individuals and businesses have become dependent on social media. The disruption affected billions of users across all of Facebook’s apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Oculus. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1182878c-7fff-37ca-985f-7f5978b29ce6">However, Tuesday’s Senate subcommittee testimony by former Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower Frances Haugen may have more significant and longer-term ramifications for Facebook. She confirmed what many psychologists and researchers have stated for years. Facebook’s business model is harmful to its users’ mental health and the well-being of society as a whole. She also claimed that the ends justify the means as far as Mark Zuckerberg is concerned. And, in this case, the ‘ends’ are ‘more time on Facebook, more ads, and more profits.’</b></p>
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">How Instagram Damages Mental Health, Especially for Teenage Girls</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">Social media platforms tend to focus on specific natural human behaviors and tendencies. Instagram, for example, encourages vanity and preys on the feeling of <a href="https://now.northropgrumman.com/this-is-your-brain-on-instagram-effects-of-social-media-on-the-brain/" title="mental health day ">FOMO</a> (Fear Of Missing Out).</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">When we scroll through our Instagram feed, we see a highly edited view of someone else’s life. We see posts of people smiling at events, showing off their toned bodies, or posing next to an expensive sports car. Our own lives seem prosaic by comparison. Social media is designed to get you to click on the next piece of content, not reflect on the content's story. But serving up a fantasy of people’s perfectly curated lives diminishes the self-esteem of users who are not as beautiful, wealthy, or successful as the poster. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">Our self-image develops during adolescence, which is also a time of hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately for adolescents, especially teenage girls, these filtered and Photoshopped images can drive many to depression and even suicide. The acne that develops on many of our faces doesn’t help. Unfortunately, this feeling of inadequacy is a perfect place for many advertisers to sell their products. “Just buy this product, and you’ll look like a fit actress!” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0d151c91-7fff-4efa-2e3f-037fae78f359">While Facebook, which purchased Instagram in 2012, has often downplayed mental health concerns in public, its researchers have been conducting studies for the past three years into how the app affects its millions of young users. The <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/6/22712927/facebook-instagram-teen-mental-health-research" title="mental health day ">research shows that the platform can damage mental health and body image, especially teen girls</a>. "We make body image issues worse for one in three teen girls," said one internal presentation slide. </b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18687" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-11-03t223228757jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-11-03T223228.757.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T223228.757.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=dHGrcPqJOQuymsb%2FT2PR49WZwje1Un6DgNpymrDt2GQYFKmF91cIzKEYpKcw1DKkGIMuffY0YT3jKEzfLnCMsdTo%2BeVp3sgq1wbro9G9K8C6fEjtz6PBxMsdLzR4%2Fga7siyarsPMxeZj29WQ1Ly%2F4ZhoacM%2FwSJdfIAQDLymDpRMRwXftt%2FM%2Fxr7NWpsBrqx55sD%2BOoVCIKNwEU%2BwJBao%2FdxAL0Xo14IlaKJyi2GrOF2jNmMn0szqVlEC%2BcxGPtUV7cwyr8%2BxNnASY6lxFzJtmN%2B13xZBu9dEO3O8t%2B%2BGC52jyMiB8qxZWkmoyJ2dqiIYtFMmL%2B7alF4L%2FrPg2KGPg%3D%3D" alt="Accountant counting money" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Outrage Generates Clicks - Clicks Generate Money</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Although objectively, we live in the <a href="https://mashable.com/article/best-time-in-history" title="mental health day ">safest time in history</a>, many people think otherwise. Why is there such a disconnect between factual data and people’s perceptions? Facebook employs a tactic that Twitter, many other media, and social media platforms use to generate clicks - <a href="https://socialmediahq.com/how-social-media-sells-your-fear-and-outrage-for-profit/" title="mental health day ">outrage</a>. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">With the rise of the internet, we can see everything happening worldwide and share our thoughts in real-time. However, the internet is a mixture of fact, fiction, and misinformation. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">It doesn’t matter whether a post is accurate or not. What matters to the poster and Facebook is that it generates engagement in clicks, shares, and comments. Engagement provides a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/04/has-dopamine-got-us-hooked-on-tech-facebook-apps-addiction" title="mental health day ">dopamine</a> hit to the sign and lures advertisers and investors to the platform. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-6e01618b-7fff-619e-4e91-8d722ae1e78e">Truth is not the currency of social media. A study shows that misinformation from the 2020 election <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/09/03/facebook-misinformation-nyu-study/" title="mental health day ">got six times more clicks</a> on Facebook than factual news. And this holds for recent information - a post on Facebook about one vaccinated person dying from Covid-19 has more impact than posts about the many lives saved by vaccines. Facebook doesn’t ban this type of misinformation outright. A significant portion of the wealth of Facebook’s senior management team is tied to Facebook’s stock price. Remember, more engagement = more ad dollars = more profits = higher stock price. ‘Truth’ is not a part of that equation.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18688" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-11-03t223529625jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-11-03T223529.625.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T223529.625.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=cJ7%2BbUHh0zD92iDAQyeyoOHTkTJ2ZXHKkL9ijM0bVKVy5lqMMyN9xN9RUjMMDifohxTHg9oB5rADjlXZ2iXcWO4w8dR6RUgQok6E%2BLaXIagSeMYlTq5kmum3Ptmjh4DypPrNftr2mtTqtr5XMunT1bguoo8w9G7VGu7b83sGqc9XeSzG43jiMnv1gXv%2BuCU75Z6jSo4x6PLQejffVz3YBYOLqxZ37VIMBJNjb6u%2Bq49rQ41LCp9Ld1qNyQyOGvCh14jNe5fwC8t0DJmhw5YiDBI9BtpZaYgwJPIR4fHEFY99nmTkp2XApla2KWBxnW3h3sM0Y7yh1JVdueFWhVrzJA%3D%3D" alt="Self care isn't selfish sign" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">How You Can Take Control of Your Mental Health</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Facebook is not the same as face-to-face interaction; it cannot replace other forms of communication or meaningful social relationships.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">While it may be too much to ask people to delete their Facebook accounts, moderating usage is achievable. <a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm" title="mental health day ">A 2018 University of Pennsylvania study</a> found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day significantly reduced anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Use that saved time to focus on the people and things that truly matter. Do the opinions of strangers mean more to you than those of the people who know you intimately and care about you deeply?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-438cd09e-7fff-cc49-7f61-e54494aa48b8">Unlike Facebook, our free application, <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="mental health day ">My Stories Matter</a>, is built on a foundation of positive psychology. We don’t have ads and don’t sell or share your data. We are also age-friendly! My Stories Matter is purpose-built to provide a safe place to connect with the people you care about. Use it to reminisce and collaborate with friends and family, write a memoir, share your hard-earned life lessons with others, or preserve your life lessons.</b></p>


Why it's important to find a balance between social media and mental health

How You Can Take Care of Yourself on World Mental Health Day

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13992" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/lemon-scent-candle">Lemon Scent Candle</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/lemon-candle-6668364_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=dRmDybzJgEuQsEcNxC5jZc%2Fya8X7nmRwbqE7rqzIKUaqDpSH9dmHmlmXTyYWx3m561fhzTJXG%2BDRIYXEBbxtSdh5G7u4clZX5P3TEUgISdAX2ek07qq5yasHABsavJ%2F3KxylT1Ao%2FsYl0ppadYu9Kz0pvi9R2NxzkECw70esWwcDYmtIbbhVm1K7eH9PFTGIejfLfdDZLBJ8ZYxvaqHkrI5bM3%2B0x9CMHUmFTszFJoAghS%2BWI7BqPdDtdcsZYRE6otxOh5dd2z9LaCqNFT4v1UIY7bkfC2D9FgeOenJ42GVEEVUlnUSpWZyZ85Lcu%2FKUxB4Xm54LS18RaPNDFcVKqw%3D%3D" width="427" height="640" alt="Scent triggers memorable memories, like this lemon candle" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">Some smells trigger memories from a particular time in your life. For instance, does the aroma of freshly baked brownies always bring back memories of your best friend’s mom’s cooking? Or when you walk by the local pool and smell the chlorinated water, do childhood summer memories flash through your mind? </b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">How can we remember vivid memories when we smell something we consider nostalgic? This phenomenon is called the  “<a href="https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/view/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199685875.001.0001/acprof-9780199685875" title="proust effect">Proust Effect</a>” — after the novelist Marcel Proust wrote about childhood memories triggered by the aroma of freshly baked madeleine cakes — this process was once thought of as purely involuntary.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">But this memory process doesn’t have to be involuntary. We can hack the process of memory formation to our advantage. By proactively using scent daily in our lives, we can intensify experiences and fortify memory formation, helping to make life a richer and more enjoyable experience.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7f27c50f-7fff-aca9-80f5-e5e248f0b0bd">Memorable moments make us who we are. Our mind’s interpretation of events shapes our world experience, and present-day stimuli act as doorways to our past. They connect us to all we cherish and the people we hold dear. Unfortunately, time and age can rob us of our ability to recall those memories.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13999" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/post-it-note-0">post it note</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="5" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/post-it-notes-2836842_640_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=XtugVqX4XxyRgodQSdpzXcb3aqCtZV4R7WP2bv1pNIqGxNw%2FdjtWDtJwwkPrXD%2FGymB%2BrdtpR6suzIaSSgjMh8wbFOdiQvLWvHjapMKeDS%2Btp47mId4srLw8feXMIG4pXtdowGvoAaoWW%2Fx6W5Ay8ZX440Rb7AQNBjAv%2BQyH9Hn0jL0QRrbgvMNPDXtv2r1jbrZAJQB9YZWpPQEUhmqBGOhG0bSNTOBW04Me5yF2pKYIqe1CXOmUzYXuOWdaXwgKgPN6OXdPEPDGynw5ENmdBsyHc4OsKkfBY%2BAbTFSwAnA2KObhcJlhodpeEtgWXptQQhAdQBZfhZhafsXuGyMu5Q%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Writing it down can help with memorable memories" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">The Science of Memory Cues</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">Whenever we experience something, our brain (specifically, the hippocampus) encodes sensory details (such as sounds) as part of memory formation. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14670575/" title="Proust effect">These sensory details are wired into our brains as memory cues</a>. When you re-encounter a cue, it triggers the associated memory — along with the thoughts, feelings, and emotions you initially experienced.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-7873ce5e-7fff-5f92-76ec-c1732ad9ec3b">We can use our understanding of this process to purposefully manage memory formation to benefit ourselves in the future and easily recall our memorable memories when we want to look back.</b></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18682" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-100jpeg">resized-image-Promo (100).jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="7" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%28100%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=NOZEQVOrDT6OYt%2Fy2LBPjIB5839osphyK524nySZKN9rkHU1%2Fmymf2oKwkjjwfKGRe8cEs7H%2Bzeq%2B3BYi5wzZDIW1H3zMbtqnYX3JhD79k3plYQSzy3oyqO9qXny%2BR%2BmzDjLnL8w%2Bj5wIuD7IbgEQOGaVsoShgGICqWMQ2%2F7eyBx4mkUem4YZpGzOam9eCIV1sUzlmyAtvNcee8v%2B7v7%2BZwWYMzt1A%2B3PJIqinVjDsFxnnMfbrfz%2BcYohkffcXt%2BoFR0Qs6zGEzrJqUskWb%2Fkd1K9B4O3Vv6KPt2v4ozjDR3C9dPHgwF26gBIN1eYdUECFqIZgUQm%2Fln7kFHmodr7A%3D%3D" alt="woman holding bottles of flowers" />  </div>

  
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</div></h1>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">How Scent is Different from Other Sensory Cues</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">We all know what it’s like to hear a song that triggers feelings and memories. However, scent is unique in its ability to trigger <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393212004617" title="proust effect">particularly vivid memories</a>. Why?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">For most of our senses, information processing starts at the sensing organ (such as our eyes), then moves to the brain’s ‘relay station,’ the thalamus, which in turn sends each signal to the relevant sense-processing area (for example, the visual cortex in the case of sight).</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-56c8cbce-7fff-d563-bd70-4d0b0994b5b9">Scent signals bypass the relay station and go directly to the olfactory bulb's processor site. This means that, unlike our other senses, there is no intermediate activity between sensing and processing. Scent-based experiences are enhanced and more enriched.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-14000" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/christmas-scented-candle-1">Christmas scented candle</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="6" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/candle-5960786_640_2.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=PY1z0KqeidCESWIiVGH87CG%2BKyTeOeC7ijkJ7sHU5n2%2F2S23CGH%2F9DZ31IyvE%2FQFtoMZwms7kn2R7T2XFseswHJscysBxJiaWy4DBd6KImvK12gs0yETzlUFqFDiLZxUu0Sbi2SoGRuRzQVLizJ81LA5lBwOJIPqhRTDgqr50YMgph8GE%2FHcQCy5YMh0XCNlIZZRzpFgYDzPiRkXGk2%2FBXyQCh9eu8xl9hhQXiy6dk3RZZ7skOWu12YvKbriElJCbFvW8M4LcOQYP9BiMqzSteaP%2B%2FCgKIUPN9czCuyfiKzOdaw4IKvghnPrsjB%2B3aKgskwkYgFftjBLksNCZZdFoA%3D%3D" width="480" height="640" alt="Maybe Christmas scented candles give you memorable memories from christmas" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">The Special Connection Between Scent and Memories</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">Scent’s ability to trigger vivid and emotional memories is partly due to the close connection between the scent processing center (the olfactory bulb) and the parts of the brain responsible for emotion and memory — the amygdala and hippocampus, respectively.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b"><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-05131-6" title="proust effect">According to Afif J. Aqrabawi and Jun Chul Kim</a>, “The olfactory cortex in particular shares exclusive anatomical connections with the hippocampus due to their common evolutionary history.” </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-c7b8bc91-7fff-15df-8550-b080d269533b">There may be more to aromatherapy than many of us think! Evolution has made the scent a high priority. Only 3% of our genes are involved in forming the 1,000 olfactory receptors we possess. In 2004, <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/2004/press-release/" title="proust effect">Doctors Buck and Axel won a Nobel Prize for explaining how these receptors enable us to recognize 10,000 different scents</a>.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-18683" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/resized-image-promo-2022-11-03t221652518jpeg">resized-image-Promo - 2022-11-03T221652.518.jpeg</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="8" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20-%202022-11-03T221652.518.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=eHckxDLBcv1RaSYcgLNbj2dfAeW8baKfcYCt8cHHycN4vD99zfI2HQ06KNs5AC3qU4yuCzdTZ0tRgQnC16xPEH0PeUKiLAtkgTt6hWjBFJrq8BIHyWTzhvYM%2B6qd7ahTbv6ew6l%2BOskMyWwkv1f35L74HFO6f3U1jkKDrkeKgo8FV5SNVbG1ZbH3AX%2Bn5jXI4mIli9rfVi%2FRooFG9t2CEaa4mvaa%2BkUuOmOTXzQr0Kc7Zyzudcr4E50WJznDwSRupiQJeLPEARlMDJ30DExxxqnf4Mgw9xETEo%2BJBbM4B70q9hwxlOnSYtbFrVRZ33bUc29guSVIKLHvNaAgEakodw%3D%3D" alt="Two Clear Glass Bottles With Liquids" />  </div>

  
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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Richer Memory Formation</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">You can use scent to build more memorable memories. The next time you do something you enjoy, think about using scent to ingrain the memory deep in your mind.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Say you’re going on a vacation. Pick a scent — an essential oil, an herb, or a perfume — and designate it as the ‘special scent’ for your adventure. Regularly avail yourself of the scent throughout your travels. Later, sometime after returning home, break out your ‘special scent’ and see what happens. Memories — and the thoughts, feelings, and emotions that went with them — will wash over you, taking you back and helping you to relive the experience. Try this technique with special events, people, and anything else you want to remember. </b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-0e61ca52-7fff-4491-1eb3-0026b216a834">Want to eternalize your memorable memories? Preserve them forever at <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="proust effect">My Stories Matter</a> for free.</b></p>


Trigger your memorable memories using scent

Scent of a Memory and the Proust Effect

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13983" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/camera-photos">Camera with photos</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/camera-1130731_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=FF8cYoRMJJhXRiWfx%2Fm4ZwdhenA4jPfW2OPaF3BYSaevOy31rKBbPGQBCkvDvuDqYsfSs5lo97ar1ZvqF0qPLJHUXenz74ZF00Ymo47Ht2YO2bfQVzRag9KK7IrbwyI9yExs4tzctsIr9Sm63upGi10%2BkBJ%2B%2Fj9F%2B6Md762hQXs2SLLikuVzDJVNQ93fcbeLTOPCfkvAtdLPa1ZiEwuovNkrh60r%2FZ1oppr5mLCxJSD0nTWhhK8wuYL4fr2XswS96%2FYT88FrE7cAEsG%2FA9CtnQ5w4d4XoLIzzeWJKzknm%2Bh9kn5le9JcK89FZ6U%2B2tg0DxNR0WV4A1tX8IHIfoUXwg%3D%3D" width="640" height="480" alt="Reminiscing about life photos" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">There’s no better feeling than reminiscing about life in the good ole days. You know, before mobile phones, the internet, and microwaves. When there were no text messages to interrupt your day, no instant “likes” to make you feel good, and no 2-day shipping with a 100% return and refund policy.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">We are told we live in the safest and healthiest time in human history — so Harvard Psychology Professor Steven Pinker tells us. The “good old days” were less secure and beneficial than we may assume while fondly reminiscing about life in the past.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">Yet researchers know that when we reminisce about life, our memories — and the feelings and emotions they evoke — tend to skew positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-fc82c0b8-7fff-8d37-d087-732e47ad9bfe">If life was objectively more difficult in the past, why does our reminiscing tend to do this? Why do we view our history through the rose-colored lens?</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13986" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/scale-2635397_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038438&amp;Signature=jZG5lk9j%2FJhk6rvPm2xq5hURbru9I0O%2FWXdjGONIeB%2BCd2Jz2z6nJRpbe1oH3bOTXyx00HDiO83ax52rp19PJpT1xa%2F3XpBSUykzAzo194WwlUYk5BZkNPP9tGtIA69c3Vou%2FEbpUI9TW8ZeiKNutcUCSt9YDnh%2F%2FhNnv4siT7trNzd8g1U3pT%2F0hJ6Bx4z9I23qtz4VSJI3MKMh%2BDWm1Zg2gfAtXZcQCGX1SRobBYRNAAwxyLeDDL9uVVkKLF4NWt%2B%2BofwhYvCCkc3IWJ6YC8p9rc2VO3Ce5s3nNb7f7XYqlWqdTlOPp9hd4ctshalINI7z2RQVjuZUyq28eHkJEw%3D%3D" width="640" height="355" alt="When reminiscing about life, good memories outweigh the bad" />  </div>

  
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<p> </p>

<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Good Feelings Outweigh the Bad</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Negative feelings from our memories diminish faster than positive ones. This is known as the "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fading_affect_bias#:~:text=The%20fading%20affect%20bias%2C%20more,those%20associated%20with%20positive%20emotions." title="nostaglia goggles ">fading affect bias</a>."</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">In a study published in the Review of General Psychology, participants recorded memories and rated how they felt about each memory. Three weeks later, participants rated their feelings for those memories. The study shows that we leave more positive feelings overall for our aggregated memories. Negative emotions related to bad memories tended to diminish faster than positive feelings related to good memories.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">So, why does this happen? Is it because we distort our life events to be more positive when we experience them?</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">Probably not. In another study, participants recorded events in their life as they occurred and how they felt about them — a diary. At the events, negative feelings were just as strong as positive ones.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-393053c1-7fff-f862-423b-3999e34c3d4a">After some time (3.5 months, one year, and 4.5 years), the participants re-rated how they felt about the life events. As in the previous study, the intensity of negative feelings around bad events faded significantly faster than positive feelings for suitable events. This suggests that your brain prioritizes positive emotions when reminiscing about life.</b></p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13988" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">More Good Memories Than Bad Memories?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Participants recalled childhood memories in a study published in Psychological Monographs: General and Applied. They then rated their memories as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. People reported 50% pleasant memories, 30% unpleasant, and 20% neutral.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Another study re-created this research using a sensory deprivation tank to ensure nothing in the room somehow influenced people's positive emotions. The responses changed. Now participants reported 66% pleasant memories and 33% unpleasant ones. Of the 20% neutral memories, virtually all became positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Interestingly, even for memories that we recall involuntarily — those that randomly pop into our minds throughout the day (<a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/preserve-memory" title="nostaglia ">what we call “MindPops™”</a>) — positive recollections outnumber negative ones. The data showed that 49% of these involuntarily recalled memories were pleasant, while only 19% were unpleasant.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Not only do we have more positive memories than negative ones, but the bad feelings from our negative memories also dissipate faster, leaving us with happier feelings for our memories overall.</b></p>
<h1 dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">What does all this mean for you?</b></h1>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">It means that when you're reminiscing about life, you are far more likely to recollect something positive and feel positive. Over time, your perspective of past events will become more positive.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Furthermore, reminiscing about life in the past is good for your health. A sense of nostalgia can <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-53195-3_5" title="nostaglia ">increase psychological resilience</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29430666/" title="nostaglia ">improve relationships</a>, and <a href="https://health.usnews.com/wellness/mind/articles/2018-12-26/how-nostalgia-can-be-good-for-your-health-and-well-being" title="nostaglia ">boost mood and self-esteem</a>, thereby helping to enhance your overall emotional and psychological well-being.</b></p>
<p><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4">Want to harness your memories as a means to greater well-being? Visit <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/" title="nostaglia ">My Stories Matter</a> to start recording your memories for free!</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b id="docs-internal-guid-1bd36ca2-7fff-9142-100c-3a59b4f375a4"> To learn more about the positive feelings associated with reminiscing, check out this article: <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/blog/why-you-get-happier-you-age" title="nostaglia ">Why You Get Happier as You Age</a>.</b></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Studies Referenced</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Cason, H. (1932). The learning and retention of pleasant and unpleasant activities. Archives of Psychology, 134, 1–96.</li>
<li>Conway, M., &amp; Ross, M. (1984). Getting what you want by revising what you had. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 738–748.</li>
<li>Holmes, D. S. (1970). Differential changes in affective intensity and the forgetting of unpleasant personal experiences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 3, 234–239.</li>
<li>Matlin, M. W., &amp; Stang, D. J. (1978). The Pollyanna principle. Cambridge, MA: Schenkman.</li>
<li>Robinson, J. A. (1980). Affect and retrieval of personal memories. Motivation and Emotion, 4, 149–174.</li>
<li>Ross, M. (1997). Validating memories. In N. K. Stein, P. A. Ornstein, B. Tversky, &amp; C. Brainerd (Eds.), Memory for everyday and emotional events (pp. 49–81). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Suedfeld, P., &amp; Eich, E. (1995). Autobiographical memory and affect under conditions of reduced environmental stimulation. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15, 321–326.</li>
<li>Thompson, C. P., Skowronski, J. J., Larsen, S., &amp; Betz, A. (1996). Autobiographical memory: Remembering what and remembering when. New York: Erlbaum.</li>
<li>Waldfogel, S. (1948). The frequency and affective character of childhood memories. Psychological Monographs, 62 (Whole №291).</li>
<li>Walker, W.R., Skowronski, J. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (2003). Life Is Pleasant — and Memory Helps to Keep It That Way!. Review of General Psychology Vol. 7, №2, 203–210.</li>
<li>Walker, W. R., Vogl, R. J., &amp; Thompson, C. P. (1997). Autobiographical memory: Unpleasantness fades faster than pleasantness over time. Applied Cognitive Psychology, 11, 399–413.</li>
<li>D. T., &amp; Axsom, D. (2000). Focalism: A source of durability bias in affective forecasting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 821–836.</li>
</ul>


Our natural bias towards happy memories over bad ones

What Causes Nostalgia Goggles?

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    <img class="media-element file-default" data-delta="4" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/resized-image-Promo%20%2867%29.jpeg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038439&amp;Signature=JghHH2i%2FroTOOw20oM6GAD4j7%2B7xiQD9cLSkukzISZ4wzAq7vPfYcoLLZBJklwhcHPR9%2FZggswAVxaSBCjrUbJxo6tD66nYfOLwdsbgzRd9zw82qnQt5rMt9itd8VvyVw7Ldx2iZS2YRaTzemVS0s5cp7OOe1xmNKRZ4iD1ojICwN9jgCukYmLrEm1rOAxrFXphjrVxdNeaoos0pKSAgaXeVkqy12%2BTISI%2F5mnYuFLe1nDyhLjs6lPOZ72pRMXPRrO1R6H%2BsIspucR2bVbZrPX%2BDufUHxad2p84C5JyJeYO%2FojYQztfWZdxZQafT4FzlfBnA3qWiJgEvrVy%2B2AV6xw%3D%3D" alt="People sitting at a desk in a meeting" />  </div>

  
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<h1>Who Is Telling the Truth?</h1>
<p>Scientific studies have proven eyewitness testimonies <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1706891114" title="The roshomon effect">unreliable</a>, with many organizations clamoring <a href="https://innocenceproject.org/dna-exonerations-in-the-united-states/" title="The roshomon effect">against their use in court</a>. However, in many cases, each witness is still telling the truth — or the truth as they perceive it. Although not purposefully deceitful, their stories paint the same event differently. The fact of what occurred can only be found in the combination of all of these perspectives. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the “Rashomon effect.”</p>
<h1>The Rashomon Effect </h1>
<p>The “Rashomon effect” originates from the 1950 Akira Kurosawa film <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="The Roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>. In the movie, four witnesses describe a mystery, and although every witness’s testimony is convincing in its own right, each individual’s account contradicts the rest. None of them worked together to form a collective memory. Philosophically, the film never settles on a specific version of “truth,” thus implying that every person’s performance was, in its way, correct.</p>
<p>Even if you haven’t seen <a href="https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/great-movie-rashomon-1950" title="the roshomon effect">Rashomon</a>, you’ve probably heard of some of the media it inspired—from film to music to novels. For example, in the song “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW0DfsCzfq4" title="The roshomon effect">Summer Nights</a>” from the 1978 musical <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(musical)" title="the roshomon effect">Grease</a>, Sandy and Danny give their friends wildly contrasting accounts of their summer romance, from Sandy’s clear recollections to Danny’s steamy version of events.</p>
<p>Naturally, every individual will have a slightly different version of the same event, influenced by their subjective emotional state, expectations, and life experiences.</p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-17110" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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<h1>Collaboration Trumps Monologue  </h1>
<p>My Stories Matter approaches the memory-recording process from a communal perspective. Rather than quarrel over differences in memory, we can celebrate them! Inviting others to collaborate, where c input is added as color-coded text incorporated into the original memory. As others fill in the gaps, you create a richer, more detailed story. </p>
<p>To quote Akira Kurosawa, “<a href="https://quotefancy.com/quote/1282177/Akira-Kurosawa-It-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination#:~:text=Akira%20Kurosawa%20Quote%3A%20%E2%80%9CIt%20is,to%20the%20power%20of%20imagination.%E2%80%9D" title="The roshomon effect">memory gives rise to the imagination</a>.” By remembering the stories we share with others, we imagine new possibilities. Who knows where the truth lies? What matters is that we can share our experiences with those we love.</p>
<p>Ready to create a collective memory with your friends and family? <a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="my stories matter">Sign up for free</a> to My Stories Matter Today!</p>


Work together to create a collective memory

The Rashomon Effect: The Different Ways an Event is Remembered

<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13971" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="1" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/people-2583943_640_0.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038439&amp;Signature=D2EJQB2vCxg5LKF8wxt3T1l9MSUd9wm%2BUtnbhh4vR4WExoLk5J3VBujXk6pGXY4Xj3GUWzDYmMwBzgzXERkZQUwdUKuxxW%2BGMBfYpZB2sGQXKukhkW0a1BAYtBwcJCj53NwdIjh%2Fjns1%2BFub7vSQClepktwSwAmu02PnWGQx4SLLCIzzjVCeyUdw%2FB7WnuhXWL5YnhJteC7xC3XmX139KCpE%2FKj1P6qObdkDZCkhqleFEFa7ZsfPyISfbAA8CQe%2BRce8isgFo7aIzhfMoWjPewDFP9yVVPsyoiBr3jnJEqZQ1zCKnTASxQWhF7nkL0W80ifRixckwXAi2HPZQZkuMw%3D%3D" width="480" height="640" alt="Happiness in age" />  </div>

  
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<p>Which period of life was your happiest? </p>
<p>Chances are you’d say young adulthood. Your body is in great shape, and friends and family surround you. The world is your oyster.</p>
<p>However, <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">research</a> suggests that the older you get, the happier you become. Despite a decline in physical and cognitive abilities, your <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">mental state improves</a>. The “<a href="https://www.nber.org/papers/w26641" title="happiness curve">Happiness curve</a>” best illustrates this phenomenon.</p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13974" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

        <h2 class="element-invisible"><a href="/file/happy-ball-0">Happy ball</a></h2>
    
  
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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="2" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/ball-1845546_640_1.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038439&amp;Signature=NKtrl5lyisGPTcLEwkFJ6kW98rY6PE2LurXtoNd6oN8V5MZ0t2fLDwUi3JROb9DvzHxUFrY6vMzj0EFh2NDAtuWanfuK7APqd%2BeNXzyCIIplCGQdML94zBLvSyUWrVulgYAwdkfyAGPXpiQKvY9lHn4sjHI1ZKIebFwjfnUfrADKnm9%2FeCMSdfsrhz1hDDnznfpvpTgxJqP3syypNteWZZT%2FlEBwIrRAZOsEVkpj2xO92Xa%2Bo%2FC5NsTAs%2B%2B2vblkLvacao%2F6JNJ8kxWiy3yhGOsmLX%2FeSvIM1fy3OtkGzSJCHiPdT%2FXnGBXXaOeB5e8fvfowfcI3W7hZr3NvTQdVlA%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Ball being happy" />  </div>

  
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<p><strong>What is the Happiness Curve?</strong></p>
<p>Though seemingly paradoxical, the happiness curve is tied to the natural pressures of young adulthood, which contribute to an atmosphere of stress and uncertainty. Questions of how to:</p>
<p>• Find the right romantic partner </p>
<p>• Choose an enjoyable yet lucrative career </p>
<p>• Transition to financial stability </p>
<p>constantly plague the minds of young adults. </p>
<p>Since <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3792649/" title="happiness curve">the “self” is still forming in this stage of life</a>, searching for a core identity feels emotionally consuming. Conversely, older adults have typically <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3018853/" title="happiness curve">cemented their identity</a>, leading to more emotional stability and achieving the happiness curve. </p>
<p>For this reason, the happiness curve is a kind of “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-real-roots-of-midlife-crisis/382235/" title="happiness curve">U-curve</a>” (or, as some have whimsically modeled it, a <a href="http://thecontextofthings.com/2015/01/05/happiness-u-curve/" title="happiness curve">smiley face</a>) – with physical and cognitive health having a surprisingly inverse relationship with happiness.</p>
<p>Remarkably, people entering their 20s and 30s reported having the <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.psych.093008.100448?rfr_dat=cr_pub%3Dpubmed&amp;url_ver=Z39.88-2003&amp;rfr_id=ori%3Arid%3Acrossref.org&amp;journalCode=psych" title="happiness curve">highest stress, depression, and anxiety among all age groups</a>. Simultaneously, they also have the lowest levels of contentment and well-being. In contrast, people in their 50s and 60s have much <a href="https://www.psychiatrist.com/jcp/mental/improvement-in-mental-health-with-aging/" title="happiness curve">higher life satisfaction, emotional stability, and positivity than their younger counterparts</a>.</p>
<p></p><div class="media media-element-container media-default media-wysiwyg-align-center"><div id="file-13975" class="file file-image file-image-jpeg">

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    <img title="happiness curve" class="media-element file-default" data-delta="3" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://cueback-com.storage.googleapis.com/cueback/blog_editor_media/child-1440526_640.jpg?GoogleAccessId=298180869348-compute@developer.gserviceaccount.com&amp;Expires=1699038439&amp;Signature=EqLBwRa1oxje2gZRmMMz3hnlKjNirDhtmBs74EtUh%2FvPhuYzNqg7d1G9CCxRkwBiUUCxV4jblT%2F%2BQM6%2FTWz9DxvYjJHUcBiW3oph8SDsBHQnNAfci2fOY%2BnY33csGkofbTgHdNYD8jSCK8SOvQU%2FkU33%2F2qNUHkO1pBO5Urjf%2F02I3OX37fZFlBXmchLsr2gyGk%2BpNHNYhdtS%2Fqvk69Wb2ciTSyQEwyvXoo1kmfob%2B1L9AVK8eAloJgkVQDtw4rMsyxHUxAd%2BpIZBq424PLkTcy7gkWUq2gBjQyj%2BitvKgXClori7k2fa43jCEb89C59jVttBj12uOXB6y7rnN3W6g%3D%3D" width="640" height="426" alt="Children are an exception, they are almost always happy" />  </div>

  
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<p><strong>The Happiness Curve</strong></p>
<p>The happiness curve is attributed to the ability of older people to <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2001-00438-011?doi=1" title="happiness curve">focus on the positive aspects of situations</a>. As you grow older, you’re affected by adverse conditions less than younger people and are more likely to focus on your successes.  For example, an evening spent reading stories to grandchildren significantly outweighs the annoyance of achy knees or weak glasses. </p>
<p>These findings support the principles of <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1999-10334-001" title="happiness curve">socio-emotional selectivity theory (SST)</a>, which refers to the relationship between increased happiness and a limited timeline. Happiness, according to SST, is an individual’s confidence in their future. Since an <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2012.00339/full" title="happiness curve">unpredictable future</a> confronts younger people, they focus their energy on combating whatever challenges lie ahead, such as going to college, completing a summer internship, or getting into perfect shape.</p>
<p>This ambiguity makes young adults less embedded in the “now’, delaying internal emotional satisfaction. Therefore, the happiness curve is at its lowest at this point in life. </p>
<p>Conversely, when facing a shorter period, a person will focus on the present, prioritizing emotional satisfaction over preparation for the future. Happiness, in turn, becomes the biggest priority for the aging adult, as do values such as love, family connection, and self-reflection. The happiness curve is complete. </p>
<p><b>Perspective: Essential to the Happiness Curve</b></p>
<p>As you grow older, you acquire wisdom by learning lessons from your past. Knowledge increases the sense of self and contributes to the notion of “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1064748112600682" title="happiness curve">successful aging</a>.” </p>
<p>Wisdom allows you to have a meaningful relationship with your past, using memories as a lens to view your identity. This accumulation of memories gives you perspective, a key ingredient in the happiness curve. </p>
<p>As you remember countless embarrassing or negative moments (like when you spilled yogurt on a breakfast date), you also remember that none of it mattered. Though your younger self felt humiliated, those moments are now funny. </p>
<p>Age shows us that even losses that seem incredibly consequential at the moment, like breakups, are ultimately minor in the grand scheme of life. Older people focus on happiness instead of heartbreak when reflecting on a past love. Filtered by <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/blog/what-causes-nostalgia-goggles" title="happiness curve">nostalgia goggles</a> (looking at past events positively), the past becomes a harbor of positive recollections.</p>
<p><strong>Record Memories on My Stories Matter </strong></p>
<p>Thanks to the happiness curve, it only goes up from here! In the <a href="https://seniorplanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Bowie-aging-quote-1.jpg" title="happiness curve">words</a> of David Bowie, “Aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” So don’t let the fear of aging worry you. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="Happiness curve">My Stories Matter</a> is a great platform to start <a href="https://mystoriesmatter.com/journal-my-life" title="happiness curve">recording the lessons</a> you’ve learned along the way. You can: </p>
<p>• Collaborate with friends and family </p>
<p>• Organize your stories and memories with our timeline feature</p>
<p>• Answer prompts that ask you specific questions to get started </p>
<p>Your information is kept secure and private, unlike other social media apps. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.mystoriesmatter.com/" title="happiness curve">Sign up</a> today for free and allow your happiness curve to rise.</p>
