The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact

Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.”

Barbara Fredrickson, one of the researchers who pioneered the “peak-end principle,” argued that the reason we over-weight peaks in memory is that they serve as a kind of psychic price tag. They tell us, in essence, this is what it could cost you to endure that experience again.

(It’s called “36 Questions.”)

Researchers have found that if you conduct a gratitude visit, you feel a rush of happiness afterward—in fact, it’s one of the most pronounced spikes that have been found in any positive psychology intervention. Glassman experienced it: “It was such an amazing feeling,” he said. “I felt almost untouchable.” Better yet, researchers say, this feeling

These are important questions but impossible to answer in one’s head. Better to take a risk, try something, and distill the answer from experience rather than from navel-gazing. Action leads to insight more often than insight leads to action.5

What typically happens to a professor is this: You’re assigned to teach a course, often with very little notice before the semester. Let’s say it’s “Intro to Chemistry I.” You flip through a textbook and experience a shock: How in the world can I get through all this material in one semester? It’s overwhelming. There are too many variables to consi

Our relationships are stronger when we perceive that our partners are responsive to us.

1. Do I know what is expected of me at work? 2. Do I have the materials and equipment I need to do my work right? 3. Do I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day? 4. In the last seven days, have I received recognition or praise for good work? (Validation.) 5. Does my supervisor, or someone at work, seem to care about me as a person? (Carin

In organizations, mentorship can take a stronger form. High standards + assurance is a powerful formula, but ultimately it’s just a statement of expectations. What great mentors do is add two more elements: direction and support. I have high expectations for you and I know you can meet them. So try this new