Do Not Grieve Alone.com

We are all familiar with “fight/flight” relative to stress research. But, interestingly, now researchers are discovering that the fight/flight model was based on male subjects and NOT on female subjects.

Research done at UCLA suggests that women have a different response to stress. Researchers are labeling that response set “tend and befriend.” So, that instead of either fighting or fleeing, women have a need during stress to bring people closer…only connect.

This is challenging to do in a world that is full of business and stress.

Look at your own network of support, or if you have limited support, start challenging yourself to develop new avenues for that support.

There are several ways people show us social support during stressful times:

Friends who provide us with feedback and affirmation (Cheerleaders)

Friends who provide us with empathy, nurturing, , caring and trust (Cozy Blankets)

Friends who provide us with information, suggestions, solutions (Internet Queens)

Friends who provide us with concrete aid and service (Worker Bees)

Challenge, who is in your support arsenal? What kind of support are you? Are there relationships you wish to cultivate?

Research in positive psychology began as a reaction TO the research that had been done studying “not so well folks.” As a result the methodology employed to study “mental illness” was the same methodology used to study “mental well being”. Seligman, Peterson, Diener, and a host of others have been intently looking at what creates a person who is able to not only survive the slings and arrows of life, but indeed, those who learn to thrive.

As a first Happiness Tip, my suggestion would be to go online to Values in Action and take the Values In Action (VIA) Signature Strengths Test…you will be glad you did.

 Great foundation for building Happiness/Strength and Hope during a time of challenge.