During the epidemic, everyone is sweeping the snow in front of their doors? Try "writing a diary" to cultivate "altruistic behavior" and actually create happiness?!
Many people have heard a classic song: “Grateful heart, grateful for you.” I believe everyone can hum a few verses of the melody of this song, but singing the lyrics is easy, but practicing it is not so easy. Because of the previous outbreak of the new coronavirus in Taiwan, the distance between people has become even more estranged. I am terribly anxious every day, so how can I have any spare time to be grateful to others? However, according to research from the University of Oregon in the United States, being grateful is actually helpful in improving happiness, and one way is to “write a diary” every day.
Writing a diary every day with a “grateful heart” triggers the brain to initiate “altruistic behavior”
Research from the University of Oregon aimed to determine whether writing, such as keeping a diary, could increase an individual’s altruistic traits. At the beginning, 33 subjects were evaluated through questionnaires and MRI brain scans to assess their personality, physical and mental status. During the first MRI scan, the researchers will hand a sum of money to the subjects. They decide whether they want to donate the money to a local food bank or transfer it into their own account.
After analyzing the metabolic function of the subjects’ brain cells, the researchers found that the “prefrontal cortex” structure in the brain responded. Previous studies have shown that this structure is related to the altruism in human instinct. Next, in order to test the impact of the “diary writing” behavior on the subjects, 33 subjects were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group: the 16 subjects in the experimental group wrote diaries every day that were related to “gratitude”. " related; while the reminders that the other 17 people received every day were relatively neutral and had nothing to do with gratitude.
After three weeks of the experiment, the subjects were asked to have another brain MRI scan, fill out a repeated questionnaire, and decide whether they wanted to donate that money to a food bank. The researchers found that in the experimental group, the changes in the prefrontal cortex were particularly obvious, and they were more willing to donate money to food banks. In other words, the subjects’ latent altruistic traits seemed to be stimulated.
Writing a diary will give you “great luck” and will your learning ability increase instantly?
Christina, a professor of psychology at the University of Oregon. Christina M. Karns (Christina M. Karns) said that previous studies have shown that “positive thinking” and “always having a grateful heart” have considerable benefits in improving physical health and creating overall happiness. This positive view not only emphasizes Gratitude is good for oneself, and people are more inclined to help more people through gratitude, achieving a positive cycle between people.
Not only that, a study by Ritsumeikan University in Japan also mentioned that the act of expressing gratitude through writing a diary can actually make college students more motivated to learn and more likely to focus on their studies, even when they are Three months later, the researchers tested the students again and found that the students’ learning ability was still strong. It can be seen that expressing gratitude through journal writing may indeed change people’s perception and brain operation patterns.
Perhaps during the epidemic, it is difficult for people to gain positive energy through outdoor activities, and they are more likely to feel depressed because they stay at home all day long. However, by recording life behaviors through diaries, you can express your gratitude to your relatives and friends around you even if you cannot go out. , and can also vent the dissatisfaction with life in the heart, which is actually one of the ways to express emotions. If you are worried and depressed all day long because of the raging COVID-19, you might as well write down your daily life. Your mood may change as a result.
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