Habit Formation in Psychology: The Characteristics of Habits

A diagram of a human brain with arrows in a circular motion around it, showing habit formation in psychology

What are the characteristics of habits? How can you form good habits? You may not realize it, but approximately 95% of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors stem from habits. Therefore, understanding how to form positive habits is an important part of building a successful life.  Here’s our brief overview of habit formation in psychology to help you learn how to break bad habits and embrace good ones.

Why Extroverts Tend to Have More “Lucky Moments”

A woman jumping for joy in a city because she's having a lucky moment

Why do extroverts have more lucky moments than introverts? Why should you relax into luck? Because extroverts tend to put themselves in more new situations than introverts, they’re more likely to encounter “lucky” moments. Rather than being a form of magic, luck often comes from putting yourself into situations where positive outcomes are more likely to happen. Here’s a deeper look into extroverts and luck from the book The Luck Factor.

How Change Your Luck by Reframing It (The Luck Factor)

A woman in a red leather jacket holding up an empty picture frame, showing how you can reframe your luck

Is it possible to change your luck? Is there such a thing as good luck and bad luck? What can you learn from bad luck? In his book The Luck Factor, Richard Wiseman says that there’s no such thing as good or bad luck—it’s all in the way that you frame a situation. Lucky people see “bad luck” as a learning opportunity rather than a setback. Here’s how you can change your perspective on luck.

How Meditation Changes the Brain: 5 Effects We Know About

A cartoon of a cute and happy brain with closed eyes illustrates how meditation changes the brain

Is meditation really as beneficial as people claim? What specific changes can it make to your brain and overall well-being? Meditation has gained popularity in recent years, with many touting its numerous benefits. In Altered Traits, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson separate the signal from the noise to clarify what we do and don’t know about how meditation changes the brain—and, therefore, the meditator.  Keep reading to learn about the science-backed effects of meditation.

The Key to a Successful Mindset: Studying Victorious People

A silhouette of a man's head with a successful mindset, represented by a dollar sign against blue and black smoke

Do you want a successful mindset? What’s the power of positive thinking? According to Brian Tracy, by studying the behaviors of successful individuals, you can adopt their habits and mindsets to achieve similar levels of success. Their experience provides a proven blueprint for achievement so you don’t have to figure everything out through trial and error. Discover how studying the lives of other successful people can boost your own fortune.

How to Be Lucky: 3 Techniques From a Psychologist

A black and white image of a woman crossing the finders on both hands because she's trying to be lucky

Is it possible to learn how to be lucky? What can you do to turn around bad luck? According to psychologist Richard Wiseman, it’s possible to manipulate luck in your favor. He shares that if you brighten your outlook, broaden your horizons, and learn to turn your luck around then better luck is more likely to find you. Here are Wiseman’s tips on how to become lucky, from his book The Luck Factor.

Traditional & Secular Mindfulness in the Modern West

A middle-aged man with white hair and a beard practicing secular mindfulness meditation on a rock by a river

Is mindfulness meditation just for monks and spiritual seekers? Can everyday people benefit from this ancient practice? In Altered Traits, Daniel Goleman and Richard Davidson explain how mindfulness has evolved from its traditional roots to become a popular tool for self-improvement. Today, people approach meditation through various paths, ranging from deep spiritual practices to casual stress relief techniques. Keep reading to understand traditional and secular mindfulness approaches in the West.

Aware: Book Overview & Key Takeaways (Daniel J. Siegel)

A woman with long hair wearing a bluish sweater holding an open hardcover book

How can you expand your consciousness and improve your overall well-being? What benefits might you experience from strengthening your awareness? Aware, a book by Daniel J. Siegel, introduces a meditation tool called the Wheel of Awareness. This practice aims to enhance your focus, emotional health, and cognitive abilities. It also claims to offer physical benefits such as improved immune function and heart health. Read on for an overview of Siegel’s book.

What Is Your Self-Concept & How Does It Affect Your Success?

A woman looking at herself in the mirror what her self-concept is

What is your self-concept? How does your self-concept determine how much success you have in life? According to Brian Tracy, your self-concept determines your level of success across all areas of life. Everything you do gets filtered through your self-concept, influencing your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in alignment with that internalized perception of yourself.  To learn more about your self-concept and its role in your life, keep reading.