Delaying Gratification Doubles The Reward

On December 3, 2019December 8, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Happiness, health, Personal Growth, Reflection Question, Video15 Comments

Is it worth the wait?

Reflection Questions

1. Do you consider yourself a patient person, an impatient person, or an impulsive person? Give situational examples for each.

For example: You may be more patient at work, but not at home. You may be able to control your impulses when it comes to food, but not when it comes to yelling at your spouse or children.

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2. Identify a time in your life where delayed gratification led to a superior outcome over immediate gratification.

For example: Saving money for a house versus buying impulse purchases on Cyber Monday. Working 2 jobs to pay for college tuition versus going out with friends every weekend night. Working out to strengthen your mental and physical health versus watching tv all day.

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3. Which factors determine your ability to be patient in challenging situations?

For example: faith, trust, comfort, financial security, long-term vision, full stomach, good night’s sleep.

patience

Inspiration for this Post

The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a study on delayed gratification in 1972 led by psychologist Walter Mischel, a professor at Stanford University.^[1]

In this study, a child was offered a choice between one small but immediate reward, or two small rewards if they waited for period of time. During this time, the researcher left the room for about 15 minutes and then returned.

The reward was either a marshmallow or pretzel stick, depending on the child’s preference. In follow-up studies, the researchers found that children who were able to wait longer for the preferred rewards tended to have better life outcomes, as measured by SAT scores,^[2] educational attainment,^[3] body mass index (BMI),^[4] and other life measures.

Original Source: Click Here

Don’t forget to share your insights & reflections in the comments below!

Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.png

Video of Blog Post → Click Here

FOMO ANXIETY Simple Tips for Feeling Better

On August 30, 2019September 2, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Awareness, Gratitude, Happiness, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Peace, Reflection Question, Video27 Comments

This post is for anyone experiencing FOMO. Particularly on a long weekend holiday!

Psychology Insight:

Holidays heighten social anxiety of every kind.

FOMO especially.

Consider these questions as you explore what’s going on below the surface.

1. Do you remember the first time you experienced FOMO?

2. How did you cope with the anxiety of missing out?

3. What if anything would you be willing to give up in your life in exchange for the fantasy of someone else’s life or experience?

4. What about your life do you cherish above all else?

Please share in the comments below, including your own strategies for handling FOMO. I’d love to know!

Savour this moment.

Free Yourself 🦋

On August 24, 2019August 27, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn courage, Emotional Freedom, empowerment, Happiness, health, Inspiration, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Peace, Reflection Question, Stress Relief and Release, Video60 Comments

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE

1. What would you stop doing if you only had one year to live?

2. What would you start doing if you only had one year to live?

3. What do you need to let go of to feel a sense of happiness, well-being, and peace?

4. What and who do you no longer want to be obligated to?

5. What joy do you wish you had more time for?

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CONTEMPLATION TIME

Take a long deep breath and meditate on your answers. You’ll be surprised at what your soul has to say.

YOU GET ONE LIFE.

Make it yours.

Dear Readers:

This video is equally a note to you + me reminding us to live with discernment and wisdom. For not everyone in our life appreciates the limits of our time and energy. And that’s ok. For we are the magic wand. We have the power to make choices. We have the ability to overcome social conditioning. We have the authority to change what and who we want in our lives. What and who we give our energy to unnecessarily, repeatedly, unconsciously.

WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE.

This ^ is freedom.

Happiness: What deters it? What contributes to it?

On July 11, 2019August 6, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Happiness, Mindfulness, Personal Growth, Psychology Class, Purpose and Meaning, Reflection Question, Video26 Comments

The Happiness Class

One of my favourite things to do as a professor is to stay after class and talk to students. They look at the world in a very unique way. Motivating me to think about psychology at a whole different level.

Especially when it comes to FOMO and happiness:

FOMO is an acronym for fear of missing out, which is a feeling of anxiety that manifests itself in various ways, from a brief pang of envy to more intense feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy. Source: Macmillan Dictionary

Student Insights

In the video below I share the insightful questions my psychology students asked about social comparison and happiness today. Each question underscoring the famous quote:

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Happiness, FOMO, and Social Comparison

FOMO and “measuring happiness” against each other’s’s lowlight reel (difficult times) and highlight reel (celebratory times) was also an active discussion on social media

Screen shot below from instagram in response to happiness video

I would love your insights too!

How would you answer the questions posed by my students:

What are 2 deterrents to happiness?
What are 2 contributors to happiness?
How is your happiness influenced by other people’s highlights and lowlights?
- Social comparison and happiness was the crux of today’s class discussion and accompanying video.
What simple changes can you make today to enhance your happiness?

Optimism Bootcamp - Click Here

Anxiety Relief Technique: What’s Under the Fear?

On June 26, 2019July 26, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Affirmation, Peace, Reflection Question, Strengths, Stress Relief and Release, Video26 Comments

Shifting from Fear to Peace

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The 5 WHYS is a simple and effective technique for getting under the fear one why at a time.

The goal is to discover the root source of what causes stress or anxiety in a particular time, place, or situation.

With the ultimate intention of enhancing inner peace, self-compassion, and understanding.

BELOW THE SURFACE PSYCHOLOGY

Try the 5 WHYS technique along with me (click here to participate) and let me know what you discover! Dr. D 💖

What’s your love language?

On March 22, 2019March 25, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Awareness, Happiness, health, Hope, Inspiration, Personal Growth, Psychology Class, Reflection Question, resources, Video34 Comments

How do you express your love?

What do you value most in a partner?

Love Lessons in the Classroom

In this week’s social psychology class, we talked about:

1) What we value in relationships.

2) Our 5 love languages.

3) The thought processes behind choosing a partner.

Video #1: Before Class Preparations

In video #1 I discuss the psychological theories and related life experiences that lay the foundation for this week’s social psychology class.

Love Lessons in Real Life

In video #2 below, I reflect on the lessons learned in this week’s psychology class and share insights on how to apply the love lessons in real life.

1) Including concrete ways of matching love values to your potential partner’s “tells”. Specifically, how to read your date’s nonverbal cues and behaviour.

2) And how to look for *concrete evidence* of love values, including honesty and thoughtfulness, in your date’s actions and words.

Video #2 : After Class Reflections

YOUR TURN

Let’s Talk about Love!

1. What is the one value you cherish most in a partner?

Examples:

trustworthiness – kindness – compassion – intelligence – humour – adventurousness – physical attractiveness – undivided attention

2. What is your preferred love language?

Examples:

Love Notes – Surprise Gifts – Helping – Quality Time – Cuddling

Please share in the comments!

I’d love to hear what you value in love

For more videos → YouTube Channel

Give pain room to breathe.

On January 16, 2019January 27, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Awareness, empowerment, Inspiration, Personal Growth, psychology, Reflection Question, Video

How do you respond when a close friend shares a problem with you?

Mechanical engineer. 3d image isolated on white background.

Are you a fixer or a listener?

If you’re anything like me, my first instinct is to fix the problem.

To try and save loved ones from adversity.

To rescue them.

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To make them instantly feel better.

I suggest we do the opposite.

Instead of rushing in, we take a step back.

Ask them what they need.

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Give their pain room to breathe.

In doing so, we validate the person and their experience.

Helping them stay true to who they are.

just be there

It’s ok to not be ok.

What comes – also goes.

Welcome it all.

Video of this post ⤴️

Come join my YouTube Channel too! 🎥🍿

WHY change NOW?

On August 18, 2018August 18, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Change and Transformation, motivation, Personal Growth, psychology, Reflection Question63 Comments

The first question I ask clients wanting to make a change is “Why Now?”

For there is no doubt that they (and you and I) have been wanting to transform an aspect of our lives for a very long time.

But the intrinsic motivation just isn’t quite there. The kind of motivation that is essential for lasting change.

Unfortunately too many people wait for something bad to happen in their lives before making positive changes.

This is a universal truth.

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How do we “change” how we change?

We take two steps back before moving one step forward.

We pause. We slow down. We notice.

We open our eyes to all the possibilities.

We write our dreams down.

We take photos of what inspires us to bloom.

We ask for honest feedback from people we trust.

We acknowledge what gets in the way of our potential. Big and small.

We compile all the reasons why our best lives shouldn’t wait another day.

And we have fun doing it! Positivity has power too. 🦋

Why change now?

Watch My CBC-TV Interview:
5 Ways to Embrace Change

Reading People: Lesson #1 Self Awareness

On July 22, 2018January 23, 2019 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Emotional Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Mindfulness, motivation, Personal Growth, Reflection Question, Teaching, Video50 Comments

“The simple act of paying attention can take you a long, long way.”

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Intrapersonal Intelligence ⇔ Interpersonal Intelligence

The first lesson in reading people, using the principles of emotional intelligence, is to understand yourself more deeply.

What motivates you. What excites you. What angers you. What lifts you up!

As self-awareness is essential for both personal and relationship success.

If you can’t comprehend your own emotions and motivations, how will you ever understand the behaviour of others?

Understanding Yourself ⇔ Understanding Others

Self-awareness as a daily practice.

Notice how your emotions ebb and flow throughout the day.

One way of doing this is to schedule time at the end or beginning of your day for quiet contemplation and self-reflection.

Find your favourite place to relax and unwind. Perhaps in the garden or in a cozy chair by the window. Or on a walk by the trees.

Alternatively, enjoy a 2 minute “Self Check In” at the top of each hour.

Pause. Reflect. Breathe Deeply.

**Journal. Meditate. Create.**

What you will find is the more consistently you pay attention to your own drives and desires, the better you will understand the emotions and motivations of others.

Simple self-awareness exercise.

In the video below, I share the simple exercise I use to enhance self-awareness in myself and others. Can you guess the EQ questions I ask students?

Your Turn:

How would you describe yourself in one word?

To hear my “one word” — check out the 1 min video above. 📌🎥

Coming Soon!

Reading People: Lesson #2

Social Awareness

Psychology 101: Ask Dr. D.

On June 27, 2018July 14, 2018 By Dr. Andrea DinardoIn Psychology Class, Reflection Question, Student Engagement, Student Motivation, Video41 Comments

Is it worth the wait?

Reflection Questions

1. Do you consider yourself a patient person, an impatient person, or an impulsive person? Give situational examples for each.

2. Identify a time in your life where delayed gratification led to a superior outcome over immediate gratification.

3. Which factors determine your ability to be patient in challenging situations?

Inspiration for this Post

Don’t forget to share your insights & reflections in the comments below!

Share this:

Psychology Insight:

Holidays heighten social anxiety of every kind.

FOMO especially.

Savour this moment.

Share this:

EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE

CONTEMPLATION TIME

YOU GET ONE LIFE.

Make it yours.

Share this:

The Happiness Class

Student Insights

“Comparison is the thief of joy.”

Happiness, FOMO, and Social Comparison

I would love your insights too!

Share this:

Shifting from Fear to Peace

BELOW THE SURFACE PSYCHOLOGY

Share this:

How do you express your love?

YOUR TURN

Let’s Talk about Love!

1. What is the one value you cherish most in a partner?

2. What is your preferred love language?

Please share in the comments!

Share this:

Like this:

How do you respond when a close friend shares a problem with you?

Are you a fixer or a listener?

To rescue them.

To make them instantly feel better.

I suggest we do the opposite.

Give their pain room to breathe.

It’s ok to not be ok.

Video of this post ⤴️

Come join my YouTube Channel too! 🎥🍿

Share this:

Like this:

The first question I ask clients wanting to make a change is “Why Now?”

How do we “change” how we change?

Why change now?

Share this:

Like this:

“The simple act of paying attention can take you a long, long way.”

Intrapersonal Intelligence ⇔ Interpersonal Intelligence

The first lesson in reading people, using the principles of emotional intelligence, is to understand yourself more deeply.

As self-awareness is essential for both personal and relationship success.

Understanding Yourself ⇔ Understanding Others

Self-awareness as a daily practice.

Notice how your emotions ebb and flow throughout the day.

Find your favourite place to relax and unwind. Perhaps in the garden or in a cozy chair by the window. Or on a walk by the trees.

Pause. Reflect. Breathe Deeply.

Journal. Meditate. Create.

Simple self-awareness exercise.

Your Turn:

How would you describe yourself in one word?

Coming Soon!

Social Awareness

Share this:

Like this:

Getting to know my students is one of my favourite parts being a professor.

Why did you become a psychologist? 🎥

What’s most interesting about being a college professor? 🎥

I would love to hear your questions too! 💥

Share this:

Like this:

**Journal. Meditate. Create.**