In this final column, I am focusing again on the work of our commencement speaker, Michelle Gielan '96. We will continue our exploration of how we can improve our own lives and those around us through her book, Broadcasting Happiness: The Science of Igniting and Sustaining Positive Change.
Part II of Michelle's book, "Overcome Stress and Negativity," particularly caught my attention. I'm not a fan of negativity, but I contend with plenty of it. Meanwhile, let's just say that my job can be stressful – in part, because of negative people. We know from my previous column that we are bombarded with way more information than we can process, a fact that offers an opportunity to influence what we absorb. One way to do that is to ask questions. Another way is to "fact-check." When faced with what feels like an overwhelming situation, we can feel paralyzed. Effective fact-checking can lead us from "paralysis to activation."(111) Michelle defines fact-checking as "the practice of ensuring that you have the right facts to accurately portray the present, but also the process of discovering facts that lead to alternative and more beneficial future outcomes."(113) Identifying the right facts can shift one's outlook on a situation from pessimistic to optimistic, and, as we already know, having an optimistic attitude carries numerous benefits including better health and greater success.
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