Positive Socializing Is Good For Your Health

An apple a day used to be enough to keep the doctor away. Or so we thought. We now know that a healthy diet and exercise are critical. We know we have to keep our weight down, and can't smoke or abuse alcohol in our quest for good health and longevity. Now we can also add spiritual activities like meditation to the wellness list. Meditation leads to improved emotional regulation, which leads to more positive social interactions, which leads to better health. Here's how it works.

Barbara Frederickson and her colleagues found a connection between a physiological measure of your vagus nerve activity and more positive emotions and social interactions. People with higher vagal tone, which has to do with heart regulation and the release of oxytocin, are happier and have more rewarding social interactions. After all, who wants to hang out with Debbie Downer? We're attracted to people who exude positivity and engage with us in upbeat ways.

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Men Take Heed…In Speed Dating Women Have the Power

You have three to eight minutes to snare a date, or two, or more; what's a girl to do? For starters, you can relax. Women actually have more power in the speed dating area. Why? Well for one thing, research shows they're more selective about their dates than men. I know, thank you Professor Obvious. Research still has some good tips to offer for the speed dating process.

In a Stanford study, researchers found that people do develop real connections with people when speed dating and those connections are dependent on several factors. It's important for men to listen, focus on the woman's concerns in conversation and show enthusiasm. Men should be careful about asking questions that connect to what the woman is saying, avoiding random questions just to fill the space. Guys, that means you need to be engaged and understanding. That's how you get picked.

Professor Obvious speaks again on speed dating findings for women...

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North Carolina Laws Making It Harder To Get Divorced

I’ve been cited in this article, North Carolina Lawmakers Consider Making it Harder to Get Divorce.

It’s about North Carolina’s legislature attempting to increase the wait time for divorce from one to two years.

I said, “My clinical experience would fall strongly against longer waiting periods. I have many examples in my practice and among my friends, relatives and acquaintances, of people who have been hurt emotionally and financially by these waiting periods. For example…Read more here…