for

October 2017 Newsletter

How Positive Thoughts Build Your Skills, Boost Your Health

and Improve Your Work
Research is beginning to reveal that positive thinking is
about much more than just being happy or displaying an
upbeat attitude. Positive thoughts can actually create real
value in your life and help you build skills that last much
longer than a smile. Barbara Fredrickson is a positive
psychology researcher at the University of North Caroli-
na, and she published a landmark paper that provides
surprising insights about positive thinking and its impact
on your skills.
What Negative Thoughts Do to Your Brain
Negative emotions narrow your mind and focus your
thoughts. For example, when youre in a fight with some-
one, your anger and emotion might consume you to the point where you cant think about anything else. Or,
when you are stressed out about everything you have to get done today, you may find it hard to actual start
anything because youre paralyzed by how long your to-do list has become. In each case, your brain closes
off from the outside world and focuses on the negative emotions of fear, anger, and stress. Negative emo-
tions prevent your brain from seeing the other options and choices that surround you. Its your survival in-
stinct.
What Positive Thoughts Do to Your Brain
When you are experiencing positive emotions like joy, contentment, and love, you will see more possibilities
in your life. Research suggest positive emotions broaden your sense of possibility and open your mind up to
more options. In fact, the biggest benefit that positive emotions provide is an enhanced ability to build skills
and develop resources for use later in life. Fredrickson refers to this as the broaden and build theo-
ry because positive emotions broaden your sense of possibilities and open your mind, which in turn allows
you to build new skills and resources that can provide value in other areas of your life.
Where to Go From Here
Finding ways to build happiness and positive emotions into your life whether it is through meditation, writ-
ing, playing a pickup basketball game, or anything else provides more than just a momentary decrease in
stress and a few smiles.

Periods of positive emotion and unhindered exploration are when you see the possibilities for how your past
experiences fit into your future life, when you begin to develop skills that blossom into useful talents later on,
and when you spark the urge for further exploration and adventure.

Clear, J. (2013, July 10). The Science of Positive Thinking: How Positive Thoughts Build Your Skills, Boost Your Health, and Improve Your Work.
Retrieved October 12, 2017, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-clear/positive-thinking_b_3512202.html
Tour Update
Teaching Lab
Opened in the Fall of 2012, the Teaching
Lab houses the Psychology department
and the Environmental Science
department. The first floor of the
Teaching Lab is used as classrooms and
lecture halls while the upper floors of the
building are used as professors' offices
and labs for students to conduct
research through the Psychology
department. UNCW now offers a PhD
program in Clinical Psychology. Students
of the doctoral program have the
opportunity to conduct research, clinical
trials, and teach topics relating to
behavioral health.
Fun Fact: Professor of Psychology Dr.
Antonio Puente is also the 2017
President of the APA (American
Psychology Association).
UNCW Recognized for Diversity and Inclusion Efforts
UNCW is among 80
universities selected to
receive the 2017 Higher
Education Excellence in
Diversity Award
from INSIGHT Into
Diversity magazine. The
HEED Award recognizes
colleges and universities for
their commitment to make
diversity and inclusion a priority across their campuses. This is
the first year UNCW has earned this distinction.
UNCW has made significant strides in closing the graduation
gap among diverse populations. In 2015, the Education
Trust recognized UNCW as one of the top eight performers out
of more than 240 universities successfully closing the
graduation gap between white and underrepresented minority
groups in the time span between 2003 and 2013.
Support and accountability are two key themes that are also
assessed. UNCWs Office of Institutional Diversity and
Inclusion provides leadership, partnership and support for
diversity initiatives on campus. OIDI coordinates a large
number of learning opportunities and various resources,
including the Upperman African American Cultural
Center, Centro Hispano and the LGBTQIA Resource Office.

Important Dates and Information

Intercultural Festival, November 11th ! New Hanover Fair CFNC App Week

The event, which will take place

on November 11, 2017 from 12 to
4pm at the Burney Center, will fea-
ture performances by student and
professional dancers; booths cele-
brating 35 different countries, each
represented by UNCW students; a Thursday, Oct. 26th November 13th17th
raffle sponsored by local business-
es; and more. We are expecting over 1,000 at- Fair Time: 5:30 p.m. Laney High School
tendees, including students, employees, and Wil- 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday
mington locals. Fair Location: Wilming- and Friday, 8:00 AM
ton Convention Center 12:00 PM
One of the main attractions will be the Earth Bal-
loon, a 20-foot inflatable globe created with high Address: 515 Nutt St.,
resolution satellite images, and true to life colors. Wilmington, NC 28401