1 . Ask most people which day of the week they fear the most and the answer is likely to be Monday. The first day of the working week can make us experience a sense of tiredness or fatigue.
Some consider the term, pseudo-science, saying that there is no such thing as a 24-hour depression.
Fortunately, we don’t have to suffer that on Monday, not if we remember: we all have our good days and our bad days, and those aren’t for the calendar (日历) to decide.
A.The most depressing day of the year is the third Monday in January. |
B.Actually it’s common to feel a bit depressed for several times in a year. |
C.But most people know that the Monday blues can be very real. |
D.That’s why the feeling is described as the Monday blues. |
E.The term is not even scientifically true, with basically no evidence. |
F.These can have a negative impact on our performance, productivity and the people around. |
G.In fact, it’s actually a good opportunity to check in on our mental health. |
Many people think that money brings happiness. However, according to Professor Michael Argyle, this is not true. In Britain, we are
Professor Argyle has found that very poor people and very rich people are unhappier than those in between. For example, very poor people in
Because of this, a few young millionaires are changing their life styles. Richard Cross, a multi-millionaire computer analyst ( 分 析 师 ) from California is an example. His house
So what can make
3 . The Power of Insensitivity
Highly sensitive(敏感的)person, or HSP, is a term invented by psychologist Elaine Aron. HSPs can come with many challenges. They may find it hard to adapt to new surroundings, and easily become uncomfortable in response to certain feelings or others’ opinions.
The power of insensitivity can be explained as “slow power”. Usually, people connect “insensitivity” with something bad, but indeed, it stresses the ability to keep doing something difficult without complaining.
There are some ways to practice “insensitivity”: Don’t pay too much attention to the ups and downs of life at the moment.
Everyone can gain the ability to be insensitive.
A.Insensitivity plays a significant role. |
B.Rather, you should be looking forward. |
C.That’s where the need to be insensitive comes from. |
D.Once you slow down the pace, you will feel more comfortable. |
E.Those not easily affected are the people who care less about others. |
F.That is, calmly facing the downtime in life and moving towards one’s own direction. |
G.One reason why insensitivity allows people to better survive is the strong self-awareness. |
I’m sorry to hear that life is getting you down right now ... I’m not sure there’s any specific advice I can give to cheer you up. It’s sometimes quite annoying to be reminded how much people love you when you don’t love yourself that much.
I’ve found that it’s of some help to compare one’s moods(情绪)about the world to the weather. Here are some obvious things about the weather:
It’s real.
If it’s dark and rainy, it really is.
It isn’t under one’s control as to when the rain stops, but it will stop one day.
You can’t change it by wishing it away.
It really is the same with one’s moods.The wrong approach is to believe that they are illusions(幻想). Panic, anxiety and anger are as real as weather.
But they will pass; they really will.
In the same way that one has to accept the weather, one has to accept how one feels about life. “Today’s a bad day” is a perfect approach.“Hey-ho, it’s raining inside; it isn’t my mistake, and there’s nothing I can do about it. But when the sun comes out, I shall take full advantage.”
I don’t know if any of that is of any use... I just hope this brings you a little more pleasure and purpose in life.
Best wishes!
Yours,
Stephen Fry
1. How does Crystal feel according to the letter?A.Ignored. | B.Ashamed. | C.Panicked. | D.Unhappy. |
A.offer tips on making friends |
B.teach skills of writing poems |
C.share comfort and encouragement |
D.explain ways of observing weather |
A.Literature. | B.Watch This. |
C.Just Ask. | D.Science Forum. |
Charles Darwin formulated the most successful theory in the history of biology: the theory of evolution. He was also responsible for another grand theory: the theory of emotion, which dominated his field for more than a century. Its core principle was that the mind consists of two competing forces: the rational and the emotional.
We now know that, on the contrary, emotions enhance our process of reasoning and aid our decision-making. In fact, we can’t make decisions, or even think, without being influenced by our emotions.
Consider anger, for example. Backed by the threat of attack, anger creates incentives (动机) for others to comfort the angry individual. Your mental calculations increase the importance you place on your own welfare and goals at the expense of others’. Coaches tap into anger as a motivational tool because the focus on the self encourages athletes to push themselves to achieve their goals. Anger also causes you to perceive less risk.
The new view of emotion may not correspond to the way Darwin saw it, but it does support one of the basic conclusions of his theory of evolution. Humans are not as different from non-human animals as people believed. What can we learn from this? The first and most crucial step is self- awareness.
A.Emotions play a critical role in shaping our thoughts and decisions, subtly influencing the framework of our reasoning even when we believe we are thinking rationally. |
B.He believed that emotions played a constructive role in the lives of non-human animals, while the usefulness of emotions was largely replaced by the evolution of reason in humans. |
C.That can produce better judgments in situations where risk aversion (厌恶) is inappropriate, as when you are analyzing stocks (股票) or playing poker. |
D.Anger, while often perceived negatively, can sometimes fuel our motivation and reduce our perception of risk, enabling more decisive actions in certain situations. |
E.Studies show that those with high levels of emotional intelligence fare better in their personal and professional lives. |
F.If emotions aid rational reasoning, how does that work. |
6 . Higher levels of optimism (乐观主义) are related lo a longer lifetime. People with the highest levels of optimism have 11 % to 15% longer lifetime than those who practice little positive thinking. The optimists may live to age 85 or beyond.
Optimism doesn’t mean ignoring life’s stress. But when negative things happen, optimistic people are less likely to blame themselves.
Optimism can be improved by training. Studies have found only about 25% of our optimism is programmed by genes (基因).
It’s not easy to carry out optimism exercises. Like exercise, they will need to be practiced regularly to keep the brain positive.
A.It may also lengthen your life. |
B.The rest is up to your attitude to life. |
C.Being optimistic also improves your health. |
D.The optimism exercises may be a hard process. |
E.The focus on the positive can reshape your brain. |
F.Practicing this daily can significantly improve your positive feelings. |
G.They are more likely to see the barrier as a good chance to turn positive. |
7 . Sometimes, we meet with situations that cause us to feel angry to the point we may want to erupt like a volcano or curse (咒骂) someone out.
Science suggests that hearing, seeing, or swimming causes our brain to produce neurochemicals that increase blood flow to the brain and heart. “
Proteins such as fish, tofu, and chicken, help us produce higher levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are chemicals in the brain that play a role in your mood, motivation, and concentration. “I found that some foods messed with my stomach.
Whether it’s quick sentences or journal entries, writing down how you feel is a great way to release negative emotions. “
“If you have trouble not getting angry when discussing something or trying to work through a problem with someone, always imagine the conversation is being videotaped. If you keep that in the back of your mind, you will always think about what you say, and it could help keep your mind from the anger,” wrote u/therealtidbits.
A.For me, nothing is better than exercise. |
B.Whenever I can’t help getting angry, I read. |
C.Pretend that when you get angry people are watching. |
D.Whenever I can’t exercise or burn out the feelings, I write. |
E.Anyway, there are always better ways to handle when angry. |
F.They then messed with my head, which brought out the anger. |
G.Pretend there is a camera before you and be mindful of what you say. |
8 . Steps to happiness
Life is full of happiness and sadness. The following skills can help improve your state of happiness.
Be kind to yourself
It is not always easy as we are often not confident. But those little troubles, such as when we make a mistake, and when we judge ourselves as “stupid” or such like, can actually have quite an impact on our mental well-being.
Find your happiness
For some people, watching 90 minutes of man running around and kicking a ball brings great joy and passion.
Move
Improve your relationships
We all need others.
Eat properly
Eat the right foods and you’ll feel an obvious change in your attitude and mental well-being in a few weeks.
A few simple steps can improve your mental status. Give it a try, a few minor changes can make all the difference to your happiness.
A.Challenge yourself. |
B.Get up and walk, or go jogging. |
C.It’s hard to be an island, entire of itself. |
D.Being kind to others is also important. |
E.Instead of being negative on yourself, try being positive. |
F.For others, this is similar to a trip to the dentist for root treatment. |
G.Aim for a well-balanced diet and one that is as close to nature as possible. |
9 . What’s the secret to happiness? Although that answer won’t be the same for everyone, you can follow daily practices to develop joy from within.
Letting Go
Getting Up Early
Waking up a bit earlier and practicing your morning life can guide you towards happiness and success.
Mindful Eating
Good, healthy food can bring joy into your days if you choose to practice mindful eating. There is no doubt that your food choices affect your overall physical health.
What’s more, being mindful when eating can also bring happiness as you become present in the moment and focus on joy.
Living in the Now
The secret to happiness is to live fully in the here and now.
A.Yet each has unique benefits. |
B.A great morning results in a great day. |
C.You’d better try it the next time you eat. |
D.Most people can’t focus on living in the present. |
E.However, some foods can also affect your feelings. |
F.Discovering a form of movement that you love is most important. |
G.Forming happiness begins with giving up what no longer serves you. |
10 . We’re all human, and we know there are some days when we feel good and others when we get down in the dumps. But knowing how to keep things steady, or at least more positive than negative, is a smart move for your health, both mental and physical.
At the first step, you’re supposed to try mood tracking.
·Daily Journaling
Just let it flow! Each day, write down how you felt when you woke up in the morning, at midday, and in the evening.
·Mood Chart
This is similar to journaling, but it offers a bit more structure that can help show any patterns that seem to influence your mood.
A.Below are two popular ways to do this. |
B.In fact, that is an unrealistic expectation. |
C.And then there are times when our moods zip up and down! |
D.Becoming aware of your mood trends can help you get there. |
E.These are images you color in according to how you’re feeling. |
F.Create a chart in your journal, on a whiteboard, or on a piece of paper. |
G.If you notice mood changes between those time periods, write those down too. |