SimplyNumbers

Rejection shown to have physical impact

According to new research reported on at Science Daily, social rejection upsets your heart. When you feel rejected, your heart rate drops for a brief time.

Researchers, Bregtje Gunther Moor, Eveline A. Crone, and Maurits W. van der Molen of the University of Amsterdam and Leiden University in the Netherlands were interested in discovering the ways in which social pain can actually affect you on a physical level. 

In the study individual participants were shown photos of unknown people who had rated whether or not they liked the participants, based on the participants own photos. Surprisingly, the participants heart rates fell in anticipation before they found out how they were rated by others.

"Unexpected social rejection could literally feel 'heartbreaking,' as reflected by a transient slowing of heart rate," conclude the researchers in their report.

A day without laughter is a day wasted. ~ Charlie Chaplin

Joseph Campbell - On being an adult

In the video, Joseph Campbell discusses the rites the some cultures have to facilitate the transformation from childhood to adulthood. He talks about the importance, and reverence, placed on the tools used and the initiation act itself. To the children, the rites are powerful and dramatic, because the power and mysticism of the rite has been instilled within them for their entire lives.

Campbell talks about how someone like a PhD candidate, who has spent many years in schooling, might miss this transition especially because those in the Western world don't have the same instilled reverence as other cultures. These people may struggle to be recognized as an authority, and that is their stepping stone into power and adulthood.

Find a place inside where there's joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. ~ Joseph Campbell

Escaping the backslide

Psychology Today has a great post about recognizing that you're backsliding, and then finding ways to "get back on the horse", regroup and make another attempt at working with a new healthy habit. Ian Newby-Clark, the author, offers some helpful tips to help with sticking with your goals:

• Embrace your life as it is
• Recognize that life happens
• It's okay to feel guilty
• Don't be afraid to ask some tough questions

I would also like to recommend that you find a way to be tolerant and compassionate with yourself. That is not to say that you will be making excuses, rather recognizing that you are human, and as human you are not perfect. Then, recognize that you set your goals for a reason, and being willing to dust yourself off, and keep going.

Compassion is the awakening of the heart from bestial self-interest to humanity. ~ Joseph Campbell

Super Harvest Moon

Get out your telescopes! Those of us who enjoy watching the night sky are in for a special treat this evening. We're going to be able to see what astronomers are calling the Super Harvest Moon. A Harvest Moon appears to brightly glow and only appears on certain occasions. This year, the event is made even more bright and special because it is happening at very close conjunction with the equinox. The time difference is only 6 hours, and the last time that an event like this occurred was in 1991, with a ten hour difference. And, the next time this viewing event will take place will be in 19 years in 2029.

Pema Chodron on friendship with ourselves

In the above video, Pema discusses developing unconditional friendship with ourselves, and how we are all really the same. Everybody can be critical of themselves. But, instead of acquiescing to this part of ourselves, and trying to cover it over, we can try to find a way to touch and heal the parts of ourselves that may be hurt and in need of compassion. When we try to run away from our true feelings, our old habits and addictions are reinforced

“Achievement is not always success, while reputed failure often is. ” ~ Orison Swett Marden

New study finds new connection between yoga and mood.