THE BEST
OF YOUR LIFE
CONNECTIONS
Think Positive,
Be Personable
Remembering who and what you value
can make you more socially confident
Does mingling at parties make you nervous? You don’t
need to hide behind a floor lamp; instead, remind your-
self of what matters in life. Reflecting on what you value,
such as friends or religious beliefs, can help you socialize,
even if you’re usually insecure around others, according
to new research published in Psychological Science.
ourselves we can draw on when we need to,” Logel says.
So just focus on something good, and feel free to carry a
memento of it. That’s what Logel does: Her key chain reads
SISTERS, to remind her of her siblings’ support. —Tina Adler
FROM TOP: ILLUSTRATION BY SHAW NIELSEN; PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN UELAND
As if men and women didn’t have enough differences, here’s another: When making
decisions, we respond to pressure differently. Stressed men tend to move quickly, especially
to obtain rewards—such as earning money on investments—whereas stressed women tend
to take their time, a new study from the University of Southern California finds. “This could
create conflict by making it difficult to come to a consensus,” says lead researcher Nichole
Lighthall. But if we know why we’re different, she adds, we may find it easier to cope.
Should Decisions Go Her Way...or His?
