Mikolaj's Monday Maunder - Build on the good ones

Inspiration and lessons for your leadership journey!

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“America, in contrast to the venerable Eastern cultures, is a ventilationst society.  We deem it honest, just, and even healthy to express our anger.”

~ Martin E.P. Seligman, PhD ~

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I’m writing this week’s blog on World Gratitude Day and the International Day of Peace – two emotional states we need much more of in this world.  Marty points out something about our culture that can hit close to home for a lot of us – the belief that expressing your anger is somehow cathartic and good for you.

In fact, the research convincingly disputes that belief.  For example, in one study, researchers measured the overt hostility of 255 medical students.  Twenty-five years later, as practicing doctors, the researchers found that those who had measured the highest in hostility and anger had five times as much heart disease as the least angry ones.

In another study, it was only those males with more explosive voices, more irritation when forced to wait, and more outwardly directed anger who had the highest risk of heart attack.

Experiments with both men and women have shown that when anger is bottled up, blood pressure goes down and only goes up when anger is expressed.

As I wrote in my latest book, A Travel Guide to Leadership, “Positive emotions actually quell the “fight or flight” response as it broadens attention; enhances thinking patterns that are flexible, creative, integrative, and efficient; and, fosters positive actions.”

The bottom line from the research is that all emotions – both positive and negative ones – when they are openly expressed amplify, broaden, and spread. 

Let’s build on the good ones.

If you like this week's blog, I encourage you to share it with your family, friends, and colleagues and join me on my journey to empower and inspire millions of people around the globe.

Together we can spread words of Encouragement, Inspiration, Empowerment, and Loving Leadership!

Together we can make a difference!

Thank you and…

Have an amazing journey today!

Alan

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