"Do one thing every day that scares you." -- Eleanor Roosevelt
Why Risk-Taking May Increase Teen Happiness
"One of the first things you might associate with teenagers is their risk-taking behavior. And most of the time, those associations are negative. Right? That’s because we are deluged with stories of troubled youth whose risk-taking actions got out of hand —sometimes with tragic results. But what if there was a flip-side to youth risk-taking? A side that would make us encourage teenagers to stretch their comfort zones?
In a recent article, What Happy People Do Differently, positive psychologists, Robert Biswas-Diener and Todd Kashdan, claim that truly happy people understand 'happiness is not just about doing things that you like. It also requires growth and adventuring beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone.'
'Curiosity,' they say, 'is largely about exploration…the most direct route to becoming stronger and wiser.' A study led by Kashdan and psychologist Michael Steger found that 'curious people invest in activities that cause them discomfort as a springboard to higher psychological peaks.' [read more]
In a recent article, What Happy People Do Differently, positive psychologists, Robert Biswas-Diener and Todd Kashdan, claim that truly happy people understand 'happiness is not just about doing things that you like. It also requires growth and adventuring beyond the boundaries of your comfort zone.'
'Curiosity,' they say, 'is largely about exploration…the most direct route to becoming stronger and wiser.' A study led by Kashdan and psychologist Michael Steger found that 'curious people invest in activities that cause them discomfort as a springboard to higher psychological peaks.' [read more]
Reading Corner
Title: Brainstorm
By: Daniel Siegel
For: Adults & Teens
"The notoriously tumultuous and mysterious lives of teenagers are illuminated in this study of the teenage brain. [...] A physician and father himself, Siegel balances his brain discussions with anecdotes from his family and practice. Humorous illustrations throughout the book lighten the mood. For more practical guidance, Siegel intersperses his discussion with “Mindsight” tools and other strategy-oriented sections, which can be used to guide teenagers toward healthier, more involved relationships. And since as adults we are merely grown-up teens, Siegel’s insights often apply to us, too. By the end of this book, the teenager has been transformed from a monstrous force into a thinking, feeling, and entirely approachable human being." -- Publishers Weekly Review
By: Daniel Siegel
For: Adults & Teens
"The notoriously tumultuous and mysterious lives of teenagers are illuminated in this study of the teenage brain. [...] A physician and father himself, Siegel balances his brain discussions with anecdotes from his family and practice. Humorous illustrations throughout the book lighten the mood. For more practical guidance, Siegel intersperses his discussion with “Mindsight” tools and other strategy-oriented sections, which can be used to guide teenagers toward healthier, more involved relationships. And since as adults we are merely grown-up teens, Siegel’s insights often apply to us, too. By the end of this book, the teenager has been transformed from a monstrous force into a thinking, feeling, and entirely approachable human being." -- Publishers Weekly Review
Recommended by Cubs Editors
Be the Change
Read or listen to this NPR story, "Q&A: Teaching Kids To Take Healthy Risks." The article makes the point that parents model risk-taking for their children, who are always watching them. In what way do you as a parent model risk-taking? What kinds of risks do you take?
