[Ailist] Barbara Frederickson video re her new book on Positivityon YouTube

Mon Feb 9 09:17:09 MST 2009

I was interested in the comments about fear causing a fight or flight 'survival instinct' to take over. Interested because on most episodes of Survivorman on the Science channel Les Stroud stresses that one of the key elements of long term survival is maintaining the belief that you will survive. I imagine that celebrating little victories and hopeful signs is key to maintaining that belief. It is about overcoming the fear that you will not survive.

I see a similar thing at work in workplace safety. If you are constantly fearful about being injured you will probably be injured because your focus on what can possibly injure you is narrowed. If you are positively aware that you are being safe and you are using various skills to maintain your safety and that of others around you much more of your brain is engaged in staying safe.

Roger

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu [mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of BILL SCOTT
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 3:24 PM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: Re: [Ailist] Barbara Frederickson video re her new book on Positivityon YouTube

Hi all,
This thread has been an interesting one - particularly the focus on research into "positivity ratios." My earliest exposure to this type of thinking was in the early 80's when I was a young, youth and family counsellor. I picked up Virginia Satir's Peoplemaking (written in 1972) and read it cover to cover. 
I was enthralled by her message - which I would describe as a precurssor to post-modernism and social contructionism. In Peoplemaking, Satir said that we need to hear 4 positives for every negative we hear about ourselves. Seems she was right on the mark - a little ahead of her time. Best regards, Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: Bruce Elkin <bruce at bruceelkin.com>
Date: Friday, February 6, 2009 11:17 am
Subject: Re: [Ailist] Barbara Frederickson video re her new book on Positivity on YouTube
To: Sue Derby <sue at thesumoexperience.com>, "ailist at lists.business.utah.edu" <ailist at lists.business.utah.edu>

> > In preparing for an upcoming public workshop on employee
> engagement, I was
> > excited to come across a video of Barbara Frederickson talking
> about the focus
> > of her new book "Positivity" on YouTube. One of her sound
> bytes stuck with me
> > all day today. She said: "The message in my book is timely,
> because we are
> > facing enormous challenges in this country, and President
> Obama has urged us
> > to choose hope over fear, and my research underscores why this
> is such a vital
> > choice for us,  I have been able to show that fear closes
> down our minds and
> > our hearts, whereas  positive emotions literally open our
> minds and hearts.
> > We're going to need that openness if we are going to face the
> challenges with
> > clear eyes and come up with the creative solutions that allow
> us to come
> > through this difficulty even stronger than before."
> > 
> > You can connect to the video at
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds_9Df6dK7c> January 26th, 2009
> > 
> > Interestingly another video link was sent to me today - fun to
> watch, quite
> > brilliant, funny, good message: 'Magic of Free Parking': 
> > http://www.karmatube.org/?id=1445 Notice the link to
> Appreciative Inquiry on
> > the site.
> > 
> > Enjoy!
> > 
> > Sue Derby
> 
> 
> Hi Sue, allŠ
> Thanks for this info, and the links. The Fredrickson video is
> excellent, as
> is the whole Karma Tube site (as well as hilarious).
> More and more evidence that gratitude and appreciative 
> approaches are
> powerful tools for creating a flourishing life/work.
> 
> I¹ve been touting the positivity ratio for many years, since
> John Gottman,
> relationship expert and co-founder of the Gottman Inst. in Seattle
> discovered that relationships that flourished had about a 5 to 1 
> positive to
> negative events ratio. He has authored numerous books on 
> relationships, and
> IMO, they make books such as Men Are From MarsŠ look like 
> children¹s comic
> books in comparison.
> 
> Currently, on their site, you can donate the book The Seven
> Principles for
> Making Marriages Work to US armed service personnel.
> >                                             http://www.gottman.com/
> After seeing an item on the number of soldiers rates committing
> suicidegetting close to the number killed in combat, this seems 
> a useful way to
> help.
> 
> Another thing Fredrickson says that I think is very important,
> is that fear
> closes us down, and positive emotions open up our hearts and 
> mind.  In my
> ebook Emotional Mastery: Manage Your Moods and Create What 
> Matters Most‹With
> Whatever Life Gives You! I say:
> 
> > Neurobiologist David Ingvar studies brain function with PET
> (Positron Emission
> > Tomography) scans.  Such scans show computer-generated
> pictures of the
> > neo-cortex during different states of mind.
> > 
> > When individuals face real or imaginary threats to survival
> and cannot
> > anticipate a positive future, Ingvar found, the higher parts
> of their brain
> > turn off.   Their brains downshift into a narrowly 
> focused, ³me first,²
> > survival mode.
> > 
> > When for example, fear-mongering politicians or activists tell
> us we must
> > change, now, or we, our nation, or the Earth are doomed, they
> do so to
> > frighten us into changing our thinking and doing.
> However, when we are
> > frightened, our bodies flood with fight or flight chemicals
> that first
> > activate us, but eventually inhibit our ability to think and
> act effectively.
> > 
> > If the fear gets too intense, Ingvar argues, our brains shut
> down. While
> > survival fear does focus energy, it narrows our interest to
> ³looking out for
> > number one,² says Michael Macoby, commenting on Ingvar¹s findings. 
> > [Emotional Mastery -  http://www.bruceelkin.com/ (scroll down)]
> 
> Now is not the time to shut down, or focus only on one¹s self.
> Now is the
> time for people to open up and come together.
> So, I¹m very grateful to you, Sue, for passing on these links. I 
> appreciateyou reaching out to us.
> 
> All the best!
> Cheers!
> Bruce
> *********************************************************************
> BRUCE ELKIN: Helping You Create What Matters Most!
>  20+ Years   -   Clients on 6 
> Continents   -   Author of 3 Books &
>    The Forthcoming Simplicity, Success & Sustainability
>    
>      Tell me, what will you do
>                 with your one wild and precious life?
>                                                     - Mary Oliver Get 
> My Fr.ee e-Newsletter at
>       
> http://www.bruceelkin.com/newsletter.htmlPhone: 
> 250.388.7210   Web: http://www.BruceElkin.com
> Blog: http://createwhatmattersmost.blogspot.com
> *******************************************************************
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Best regards, 
Bill 

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Engaging human potential 
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