Research on Mindful Chocolate Eating & Mood Boosting

I love coming across mindfulness research as I research students’ college lists! Gettysburg College’s Department of Psychology Professor Brian P. Meier recently co-published a study, “The sweet life: The effect of mindful chocolate consumption on mood”. In short, you can change your mood state for the better while eating chocolate, particularly when you’re present in the moment, and fully aware of the chocolate you’re eating.

The same likely goes for everything— a wandering mind on autopilot is more likely to be trapped within thoughts. And thanks to our thought reruns and patterns— we are usually thinking about what we must do, worrying about or re-playing the past, or constantly trying to solve some theoretical problems. If you want to truly change your mood, it’s most helpful to pause, turn your attention inward, to an anchor to ground yourself in presence, or to really engage in whatever activity you are doing, and just be with it. Simple, but not easy! Pass the dark chocolate, please!

Bigger Than...

Bigger Than...

During my (intermittent) periods of distance running, I listen to high-energy music to keep me motivated. High BPM tunes help translate into more energetic steps! Within this genre, a song that has resonated with me lately is “Bigger Than” by Justin Jesso & Seeb.

I loved it a little more when I finally saw the music video, which includes kids drawing pictures of what they want to be when they grow up (the 3-year-old who wants to be a rainbow was a personal favorite!). What struck me was the part where Justin bursts the balloons representing fears, and confetti rains down. “A life that's bigger than… Bigger than the fears I have.”

A Windy Discovery About the Benefits of Positive Stress

A Windy Discovery About the Benefits of Positive Stress

In the late 1980s, a group of researchers, architects, and engineers built Biosphere 2, an experimental enclosed ecosystem in the Arizona desert. The structure was designed to simulate a closed-off environment that could sustain life independent of the outside world. Inside, there were different biomes, including a rainforest, a savannah, and an ocean with a coral reef.

One of the biggest surprises that the Biosphere 2 experiment revealed was the importance of wind in the growth and health of trees. Without the natural movement of air, the trees inside Biosphere 2 struggled to thrive. This discovery was a significant reminder of the importance of studying natural ecosystems to better understand our environment's needs.

What does this have to do with stress?

Like trees, humans also need certain types of stress to thrive. The right amount of stress can help us grow,

The Layering Over Our Goodness

The Layering Over Our Goodness

In the decade before the pandemic, the share of high school students who reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40% to more than 1 in 3 students. The pandemic only exacerbated this trend, leading the American Academy of Pediatrics to declare a national state of emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2021, 44% of high school students reported they persistently felt sad or hopeless during the past year. This number is even higher for girls (57%) and teens that identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual (69%), as seen in another staggering report by the CDC.

https://time.com/6255385/teens-mental-heath-how-to-help/

The well-being of young people is deeply concerning and raises questions about what has led to the pervasive sense of despair, depression, and anxiety. Essentially, nearly ubiquitous negative messaging has created layers that can mask your authentic and inherently good self. It is almost like rather than looking in the mirror and seeing yourself, you only see all of the potential ‘negative’ comments an imaginary frenemy would make. This can lead you to forget your true worthiness of happiness, safety, belonging, and fulfillment.

Seeking 'The One'

Seeking 'The One'

During this time of year, I help 11th grade students create and refine their college lists. We use Corsava card sorts, engage in longer discussions, start researching colleges, and plan virtual or in-person visits when possible over spring break. While we stress the importance of finding a college that is a good fit academically, socially, and financially, it's crucial to remember that there isn't just one perfect college for each student. I recently heard a parable that made me chuckle, as it highlighted the frustrating process of applying to highly selective colleges for many students.

Nasrudin was visiting a younger friend who was about to get married. He asked Nasrudin (then an old man), “Did you ever think of getting married?” Nasrudin replied, “Of course I did think of getting married. In my youth, in fact, I very much wanted to get married.”

 “So, what happened...?” the friend asked curious.

“I wanted to find for myself the perfect wife,” Nasrudin said, “so I travelled looking for the perfect wife. I first went to Damascus. There I met a beautiful woman who was gracious and kind, but she wasn’t well educated."

"Then I travelled further and went to Isphahan. There I met a woman who was both spiritual and worldly, beautiful in many ways, but not socially adept.”

“What a tragedy...then what did you do...you gave up...?” the friend asked.