My relatives have often referred to my family as wanderers. We live here for a few years, get bored, then move somewhere else, excited for a new point of view and new opportunities. So, when my husband was promoted to a position located three hours from our current residence, we jumped at the chance. Sure,…
Tiktok Teachings: A Lesson in Civility
I would like to admit something to everyone: I love watching Tiktoks. Now, I have no idea what prompted me to download an application of 10 second videos (most of which are about nothing), but I find myself scrolling through this app on my couch, after work, to unwind. Some videos make me laugh, some…
Tapping: A stress management technique
With Oregon state government planning to reopen its buildings to the public this September, the positivity project is focusing its July and August messages on physiological and cognitive stress management techniques. Over the past year we’ve established a new normal for ourselves because of the pandemic. As we emerge from it, feeling some stress and…
Silver Linings
Guest Blogger: Sherry Lauer, Human Resources Business Partner, Chief Human Resources Office At the beginning of 2021, I found myself struggling to stay upbeat and positive and hit an emotional wall. I reached my maximum threshold and knew something needed to change. My personal toolkit of resources simply didn’t have the same impact as they…
The “Shadow” of Positivity
Many of you have taken the Gallup Strengthsfinder© Assessment, an assessment that identifies your top 5 strengths. When we leverage our strengths, we are happier, less stressed, more creative, more productive, more likely to achieve our goals and more able to grow and develop. Yet a strength that is overused can become a weakness. I…
You Deserve a Hug Today
You deserve a hug today! If you’re been around as long as me you might have that jingle from the 80’s in your head (You deserve a break today). Can you believe we’ve almost made it to the end of 2020? This year we have witnessed political and social unrest, devastating forest fires, economic…
Savoring Life’s Joys
What does it mean to savor something? Savoring is defined as any thoughts or behaviors capable of generating, intensifying and prolonging enjoyment. One of the most important ingredients of happiness is to live in and savor the present moment or reminisce about the past. Empirical research has shown that savoring is related to intense and…
Wonder Walk
One of the most important ingredients of happiness is to live in and savor the present moment or reminisce about the past. Empirical research has shown that savoring is related to intense and frequent happiness. People who tend to savor are more self-confident, extroverted and gratified, and less hopeless and neurotic. They are also less…
The Importance of Connection
Our focus this month is on the importance of creating connection both in the workplace and in life. Strong social connections make people happier and physically healthier, which can translate into work performance. How we feel profoundly effects how we perform. If you’ve been practicing any positivity exercises, you know what I mean! Work relationships…
Ripples of Kindness
A single act of kindness has a ripple effect. When you do something kind for someone, the receiver is more apt to look for ways to pass that kindness to someone else. Energy flows where attention goes. The areas where you focus attention are going to grow. If your attention is focused on being kind…