1 . We all want to know what happiness means and try to find ways to help make our life better. Happiness — you know it when you see it, but it’s hard to define. You might call it a sense of well-being, optimism or meaningfulness in life, although those could also be treated separately.
We also know that we don’t always have control over our happiness. Research suggests that genetics may play a big role in our level of happiness, so some of us may start out at a disadvantage. On top of that, environmental factors can bring down mood and dry up our thirst for living.
A 2022 review of more than 200 studies found a connection between positive psychological features, such as happiness, optimism and life satisfaction, and a lowered risk of heart disease.
If what you mean by happiness is specifically “enjoyment of life”, there’s newer evidence to support that, too. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that people aged 60 and over who said they enjoyed life less were more likely to develop disability over an 8-year period.
A.But whatever happiness really is. |
B.It might take more work if your mood is low. |
C.For now these studies can only show associations. |
D.That refers to the person, and the situation he or she is in. |
E.Being able to travel around was also related to enjoyment of life. |
F.To manage our emotions is important for both our body and mind. |
G.It’s not as simple as “you must be happy to prevent heart attacks”, though. |
2 . The voice within can guide you toward development and optimism. But sometimes, that inner dialogue also presents a critical voice.
Choose your friend circle wisely. If you want to live a happy life, it’s important to surround yourself with people who want to see you do good.
Shift your mindset toward growth. A growth mindset is a belief that your talents are developable over time. A person with a growth mindset tends to be less likely to suffer mental health problems. So do develop a growth mindset!
Choose to respond rather than react. Often, when someone feels triggered (激怒), they react without thinking.
A.Identify negative thoughts. |
B.Learn from negative thoughts. |
C.It points out shortcomings, limitations and worries. |
D.As a result, they usually end up saying something they may regret. |
E.Are you feeling there are repetitive thoughts circling around your head? |
F.In this way, you’ll be more determined to achieve happiness and success. |
G.A saying goes that you’re the average of the five people you spend time with. |
3 . While socializing comes naturally for some, it can be a struggle for others. Shyness is a normal, common personality trait (特征).
Get Excited About A New Adventure
You may have been shy most of your life.
Pay Attention To Your Words
Practice Mindfulness (正念)
Mindfulness involves drawing your attention to the present and being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings.
Take Small Steps
Getting started can be the hardest part of learning how to be more social for those who are shy.
A.If so, that’s a part of you that you’re used to |
B.Sometimes the best path toward addressing a fear is exposure |
C.Mindfulness can help reduce symptoms of social anxiety disorder |
D.Taking time to tend to your appearance can make a big difference |
E.How we communicate and characterize ourselves can be powerful |
F.However, shyness can make it hard for people to connect with others and achieve their goals |
G.But engaging with people doesn’t have to be practiced as an important work presentation |
4 . Everyone knows what makes a good story. Our hero starts their journey as a flawed (有缺陷的) but relatable being with a personal goal. In scene after scene, they face challenges and setbacks that push them down new paths. By the end of the tale, they have succeeded and become a better person in the process. Just think of Jane Eyre, Luke Skywalker or Gilgamesh.
We love these plots in the novels we read, the films we watch and the video games we play. But the principles of a good story offer much more than entertainment. Recent research shows that the narratives we tell ourselves about our lives can powerfully shape our resilience (恢复力;弹力) to stress. People who generate tales of struggle and redemption (救赎) from their own lives appear to have much better mental health. You could describe this as the flawed hero effect.
Better yet, psychologists have found that spinning our memories into a well-told life narrative, and viewing our future as an extension of this story, can help us achieve our goals for self-improvement. And if you want to turn over a new leaf, it helps to choose a significant date that signals the start of a new “chapter”. Contrary to popular skepticism, resolutions made on 1 January are more effective for this reason. So, whether your goal is saving money, studying for exams, quitting smoking or getting fit, there is no better time to start. You just need to know how to use the power of self-narrative to boost your willpower, improve your well-being and create a better you.
1. Why are people who narrate their own life stories healthier mentally?A.They are ready to help others. |
B.They work more seriously. |
C.They are more resistant to pressure. |
D.They are more skilled at playing games. |
A.Retell. | B.Forecast. | C.Memorize. | D.Create. |
A.Improve happiness index. | B.Keep fit. |
C.Strengthen willpower. | D.Create yourself. |
A.Supportive. | B.Opposed. | C.Curious. | D.Subjective. |
5 . How to Learn from Your Regrets
Regret’s benefits don’t come to us by chance.
Kill the ghost (鬼魂).
People often say their regrets keep coming to their mind. This suggests that regret is like a ghost. Bring your ghost out of the shadows by making a list of your regrets. Write down why each one still bothers you and its bad effects.
Forgive yourself.
Collect your diploma.
Regret is like a school run by human nature. If you never experienced regret, you would keep repeating the same behaviors that led you to miss opportunities.
Regrets may hurt.
A.After you make a mistake, life moves on |
B.Filling your mind with them is destructive |
C.The ghost certainly doesn’t rule a person’s life |
D.We have to seek them out on purpose to improve ourselves |
E.You will find that a list is a lot less frightening than a ghost |
F.You choose a life sentence for a poor decision you made in the past |
G.If you let regret teach, you can note how you want to change your behavior |
6 . My younger brother has a strange relationship with birthdays. One year, he sent me an unexpected birthday card, which turned out to be a double
“You should just
“So basically, that means it doesn’t
“You’ve always been a little over the top about
“Fine. But I always remember yours,” I said. I would
The first year my daughter was away at college, he missed her birthday. By then, we both knew her
Her birthday is in September. In January of the following year, she
She later told me the special gift from her uncle
And it continued. Once he
So this year I was a bit
“I’m
“You’re
A.standard | B.success | C.service | D.surprise |
A.celebrate | B.study | C.leave | D.accept |
A.care | B.catch | C.matter | D.stop |
A.saved | B.born | C.hurt | D.praised |
A.refuse | B.like | C.forget | D.happen |
A.work | B.relationships | C.family | D.dates |
A.already | B.always | C.never | D.also |
A.uncle | B.friend | C.brother | D.classmate |
A.made up | B.wrote | C.replied to | D.received |
A.keys | B.money | C.pictures | D.text |
A.barely | B.smoothly | C.really | D.mildly |
A.expecting | B.understanding | C.enjoying | D.wanting |
A.helped | B.visited | C.joined | D.asked |
A.experiences | B.plans | C.findings | D.personalities |
A.wondered | B.picked | C.remembered | D.explained |
A.confused | B.worried | C.angry | D.bored |
A.wrong | B.changing | C.unusual | D.serious |
A.greatly | B.professionally | C.calmly | D.properly |
A.frightened | B.lucky | C.sorry | D.satisfied |
A.allowed | B.taught | C.advised | D.forced |
7 . Want to live longer?
Imagine your best possible self
One of the most effective ways to increase optimism is called the “Best Possible Self” method. One technique, for example, is to write for 15 minutes about a future day in your life in which you’ve accomplished everything you wish. Then spend five minutes imagining that reality.
Keep a journal of positives
Many of us can easily recite a lot of negative things that have happened to us each day.
Taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes you thankful can improve your outlook on life. Studies have shown that practicing gratefulness improves positive coping skills by breaking the typical negative thinking style and substituting optimism. Counting blessings even reduces problem behavior in adolescents.
Practice mindfulness(正念)
Simply bring to mind people that are in our lives from whom we have received some kind of help. You can spend one minute each morning and each evening doing this. The appreciation can foster a sense of optimism about the future. It will need to be practiced on a regular basis to keep the brain’s positive outlook in good shape.
This is really about nurturing the mind. And there is ample evidence to suggest that there are real psychological and physical health-related benefits.
A.Be grateful |
B.Be an optimist |
C.Everyone wants to live long |
D.But mindfulness itself isn’t easy |
E.But the effort is definitely worth it |
F.When asked what has gone well, we might hesitate |
G.Practicing this daily can significantly improve your positive feelings |