Please pass the tissues

Every once in a while we just need a good cry. Right? No, says a researcher at the University of South Florida. Or at least, tears are not enough by themselves. Jonathan Rottenberg says his new study shows there’s not as much of a benefit to crying as people would believe. Instead, he suggests it’s sympathy that can make people feel better. Bolstering social connections and laying the groundwork for empathetic relationships may serve as the best way to prepare for that burst of bawling. Instead of just weeping, we need someone to offer a hug and an ear.

Details of the study are in the Journal of Research in Personality.

Stephen Goforth

Coasting

If you are in go-go-go mode with the gas pedal stuck in the down position, it isn’t necessary to slam on the break. Instead, try to give your mind enough time to process your experiences, instead of just "having them." Allow your body time to coast.

Otherwise, you may find yourself bouncing back and forth between the go-getters, pulling you toward constant activity by modeling it for you (and making you feel guilty for failure to keep up) and the enablers on the other side, pushing you to keep the engine running at all costs.

Since the important stuff is going on internally, figure out ways to get breathing into your life.

Stephen Goforth