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cover of episode 179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

2025/1/21
logo of podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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Laurie Santos
耶鲁大学心理学教授和幸福科学专家,通过科学研究和教育促进幸福感。
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Matt Abrahams
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Matt Abrahams: 我将负面情绪比作汽车仪表盘上的发动机故障灯,虽然令人讨厌,但忽视它会导致更严重的问题。我们需要关注负面情绪,并采取措施解决它们。 本期节目探讨了沟通、幸福和福祉之间的联系,以及如何通过有效的沟通、更深层次的联系和更有意义的选择来改善生活。 我们邀请了耶鲁大学心理学教授Laurie Santos,她对认知偏差对幸福的影响以及如何过上更充实的生活进行了研究。 Laurie Santos: 幸福包含两个方面:快乐的生活(积极情绪多)和对生活的满意(认为生活过得好)。快乐的生活意味着生活中充满快乐、笑声和感激等积极情绪,但这并不意味着没有负面情绪。对生活的满意则与成就感和目标感相关,即认为自己的生活过得很好。 消极情绪是重要的信号,提示我们需要做出改变。例如,悲伤或孤独感意味着我们需要改变生活方式;愤怒感意味着正义感受到侵犯;不堪重负感意味着我们需要减少负担。 提升幸福感可以通过减少负面情绪和增加正面情绪两种方式来实现。积极的沟通,包括与他人和自身的沟通,对幸福感有直接影响。快乐的人通常更善于社交,并与他人建立联系。 改善消极的自我对话的方法之一是采用“距离化的自我对话”,即以第二或第三人称与自己对话,这可以帮助我们以更友善和客观的方式看待自己。 为了进行更深入的对话,可以使用“循环理解法”,即反复提问并确认理解是否准确。这有助于避免误解,并建立更深层次的联系。 应对艰难对话的关键在于提前进行情绪调节,并对自身和他人的感受抱有同情心。提前做好情绪准备,并尝试理解对方的感受,可以使艰难对话更有效率。 为了增强人际关系和幸福感,我们需要更频繁地表达感激之情。真诚地表达感激之情,可以通过解释感激的原因来避免被误认为是技巧或策略。 技术本身是工具,其对幸福感的影响取决于使用方式。我们可以利用技术进行有效的沟通,但也要注意避免其负面影响。在进行重要沟通时,最好选择实时沟通方式,例如视频通话或电话。 我个人最依赖的策略是保护自己的时间,并注意“不堪重负”的负面情绪。 成功的沟通需要倾听、同情和情绪调节。倾听可以帮助我们更好地理解对方,并建立更深层次的联系。同情心可以帮助我们更好地处理艰难对话。情绪调节可以帮助我们更好地控制自己的情绪,并避免负面情绪对沟通的影响。

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Chapters
Laurie Santos defines happiness as having two key components: contentment and fulfillment. Contentment is about experiencing positive emotions, while fulfillment is about believing your life is going well. Both are essential for overall happiness.
  • Happiness has two components: 'happy in your life' (positive emotions) and 'happy with your life' (belief that life is going well)
  • Contentment involves a good ratio of positive to negative emotions, not the absence of negative emotions.
  • Fulfillment relates to purpose and meaning in life.

Shownotes Transcript

A double definition of happiness — and how to cultivate both parts.

The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resolutions and prepare for evolutions, this special four-part series on communication, happiness, and well-being explores practical ways to enhance our lives through better communication, deeper connections, and more meaningful choices.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to happiness, but according to Laurie Santos), everyone needs the two key components of contentment and fulfillment — or as she puts it, being happy in your life and happy *with *your life.

“Being happy in your life [means] your life is filled with joy,” explains Santos, a Yale psychology professor and host of The Happiness Lab) podcast. This felt sense of happiness — enjoying where we are, what we do, and who we’re with — is essential, but it’s not the only piece of the puzzle. Being happy with your life, she says, is the belief that “your life is going well. Being happy with your life gets closer to things like fulfillment and purpose.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart), Santos joins Matt Abrahams to explore how to cultivate both sides of her happiness equation, from building deeper connections with others to transforming the ways we communicate with ourselves.

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at BetterHelp.com/ThinkFast) and get ten percent off your first month.

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Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction

  • (02:08) - Defining Happiness

  • (03:21) - The Role of Negative Emotions

  • (04:54) - Balancing Negative and Positive Emotions

  • (05:45) - Positive Communication

  • (07:18) - Improving Self-Talk

  • (09:50) - Deepening Conversations

  • (11:04) - Navigating Difficult Conversations

  • (12:39) - The Power of Gratitude

  • (15:15) - Technology and Wellbeing

  • (18:33) - The Final Three Questions

  • (22:35) - Conclusion

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