Positive Psychology Ireland

19/02/2026

Engineering work demands creativity and innovation in order to solve complex, interdisciplinary problems. But creativity and innovation skills are not emphasized in many traditional engineering courses. So engineers enter the workforce with important analysis skills, but may struggle to “think out...

15/02/2026

Some good news stories !

The World Health Organization hailed progress tackling FGM, Colombia’s deforestation rate continued to fall, and Norway’s polar bears proved surprisingly resilient, plus more
https://www.positive.news/lifestyle/arts/good-news-stories-from-week-7-of-2026/

11/02/2026

A well known effect of anger since the 60s, and the research on the anger prone Type A personality . What’s interesting about this research is that the effects on blood vessels etc were produced from simply RECALLING things that made the person angry. What happens between your ears matters to your whole body- why not recall some good times and see what effect that has on you?

Just 8 minutes of anger can "paralyze" your blood vessels for nearly an hour, significantly raising the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Recent research highlights a startling physiological link between temper and heart health, revealing that just eight minutes of intense anger can physically impair your vascular system. A study of 280 adults found that recalling anger-inducing memories reduced the ability of blood vessels to dilate by roughly 50 percent, an effect that lingered for up to 40 minutes after the emotion subsided. Unlike sadness or anxiety, which did not produce the same significant vascular impairment, anger caused the endothelium—the inner lining of blood vessels—to stiffen and lose its essential elasticity, effectively restricting healthy blood flow.

While a single episode of frustration may not be immediately fatal, the cumulative impact of repeated anger can be devastating for long-term health. This temporary restriction in blood vessel function increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and atherosclerosis by preventing the cardiovascular system from repairing itself effectively over time. Experts from the American Heart Association suggest that managing these emotional outbursts is not just a matter of mental well-being, but a critical physical intervention for preventing chronic heart disease and maintaining arterial health.

source: Shimbo, D., Cohen, M. T., & McGoldrick, M. (2024). Effect of Acute Provocation of Anger, Sadness, and Anxiety on Endothelial Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association.

09/02/2026

This French pilot has some good advice!

08/02/2026

Interesting about turn - not abandoning tablets, but scaling back their use in favour of actual books, as reading comprehension dropped.

Sweden is going back to books and pencils in schools. Here's why that matters.
After going all-in on tablets and screens in classrooms, Sweden noticed something troubling: reading comprehension dropped. Attention spans shortened. Basic skills suffered.
So they changed course.
Now the Swedish government is funding physical textbooks again. Teachers are bringing back handwritten notes and actual encyclopedias. Tablets aren't banned—but they're no longer the star of the show.
The research backs it up: kids understand and retain information better when they read it on paper.
It's not anti-technology. It's pro-balance.
Maybe there's a lesson here for the rest of us. 📚
Source: The Think Academy

03/02/2026

Glad to hear that real play and connection are being showcased in the new Toy Story movie.

Toy Story 5 may have just delivered one of the clearest warnings about modern childhood. The villain isn’t a monster or a scary figure; it’s a tablet. This reflects a growing concern among parents and scientists: screens are quietly taking over the time, attention, and imagination that used to define childhood.
Today, kids spend 5 to 7 hours a day on devices. Free play, outdoor activity, and pretend games are shrinking. Screens provide instant images but remove problem-solving, reduce pretend-play, and collapse attention spans. The average toddler now expects new stimulation every 7 to 12 seconds; this isn’t curiosity, it’s overstimulation.
Hands-on toys and real-world play remain crucial. They build motor skills, spatial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving. Screens, no matter how interactive, cannot replace the three-dimensional, multi-sensory experiences that form strong brains.
Even the connection suffers. Eye contact, shared smiles, joint attention, and emotional mirroring are all critical for wiring the social and emotional brain. Screens often steal these moments without parents even noticing.
Disney’s message is bold but necessary: protecting childhood means prioritizing play, imagination, and human connection over glowing screens. It is a reminder that real childhood happens when hands, minds, and hearts are fully engaged.

31/01/2026

31/01/2026

26 LESSONS I'm taking into 2026 👇🏾

lesson 1: the person you marry is the most important career decision you’ll ever make.

lesson 2: failure isn’t the opposite of success - it’s the tuition fee.

lesson 3: the first thought you have is often the truest. Trust it more.

lesson 4: regret is always louder than rejection.

lesson 5: do not let the internet tell you how hard you should or shouldn't work.

lesson 6: everything is figure-out-able if you’re willing to look stupid.

lesson 7: anger is often just fear in disguise.

lesson 8: your health is the foundation under every ambition. Without it, nothing stands.

lesson 9: if you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it deeply.

lesson 10: your childhood is an explanation, not a justification.

lesson 11: you become unstoppable the day embarrassment stops being a price you fear.

lesson 12: if it costs your peace, it’s too expensive.

lesson 13: the people you love will always be your best investment.

lesson 14: growth feels a lot like loss at first.

lesson 15: if you can’t change it, change how you see it.

lesson 16: most timeframes and delays people give you are fake - it's just "how it's always been done". Your job is to push on them to see if they're made of concrete or paper.

lesson 17: your energy introduces you before your words do. Get right with yourself.

lesson 18: your biggest opportunities will show up dressed as problems

lesson 19: the people who win are the ones who can suffer boredom.

lesson 20: success is rarely about doing more - it’s about deleting what doesn’t matter.

lesson 21: great work is just good work repeated. Be consistent, not perfect.

lesson 22: protecting your time is the highest form of self-care and self-respect.

lesson 23: fear shrinks when you move
toward it.

lesson 24: discipline is easier than regret

lesson 25: don’t just chase goals. Chase environments that make those goals inevitable.

lesson 26: mind your own business.

I’m curious, which of these lessons did you have to learn the hard way? Drop the number in the comments. Or, if you have a Lesson 27 that I missed, leave it below. I’ll be reading through ❤️

21/01/2026

Follow Book cafe

18/01/2026

Maybe not in January but worth bearing in mind !

06/01/2026

Daniel Kahneman, expert on the role of the unconscious mind .

Daniel Kahneman, renowned psychologist and Nobel laureate, once stated, “A reliable way to make people believe in falsehoods is frequent repetition, because familiarity is not easily distinguished from truth. Authoritarian institutions and marketers have always known this fact.” His words serve as a powerful reminder of the psychological mechanisms that influence how we perceive information and make decisions.

This insight sheds light on how the mind can be influenced by repetition, whether through the media, advertising, or even political messaging. The more frequently an idea is presented, the more familiar it becomes, and the more likely we are to accept it as truth—even if it is false. This psychological phenomenon underscores the importance of critical thinking and the need to question the information presented to us on a daily basis.

Kahneman’s work highlights the need for vigilance and discernment in the age of information overload. In a world where messages are constantly being repeated, it’s crucial that we learn to distinguish between what is true and what is simply repeated to manipulate our beliefs. By cultivating awareness and skepticism, we can protect ourselves from falling victim to falsehoods.

As we continue to navigate the complexities of information in today’s world, how can we ensure that we remain informed and critical of what we hear and see? Share your thoughts and join the conversation about how we can better protect ourselves from misinformation in the digital age.

29/12/2025

Mindfulness and Wellbeing: Take the Steps is a structured five week training in mindfulness and CBT. Build resilience, emotional agility,happiness and peace of mind while reducing anxiety and low mood.Devised and presented by chartered psychologist, Margaret Forde