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Melissa Hughes
Mar 43 min read
Leveraging Stress for Success
We all experience stress and the psychological effects it has on us. But what if we could actually use stress to our advantage?
Melissa Hughes
Jan 193 min read
Quit your bitching; Complaining makes you dumb.
The average person complains about 20 times a day. Research shows that it negatively affects more than our mood. It actually makes us dumber
Melissa Hughes
Jan 42 min read
The Mystery of Roseto
Thanks to a small town of Italian immigrants, we've learned that belonging and a shared purpose contribute are sound predictors of health.
Melissa Hughes
Dec 21, 20235 min read
7 Habits for a Healthy Brain
It's not a secret that our physical health has everything to do with lifestyle. But lifestyle choices also impact our brain health.
Melissa Hughes
Dec 18, 20233 min read
Neurogenesis: It's a Brain Changer
For a long time, we believed that once the brain had fully developed, we had all the brain cells we'd ever have. Now we know differently.
Melissa Hughes
Sep 13, 20235 min read
Embodied Cognition: Mind Games that Trick the Brain
The brain thinks in metaphors that have a powerful influence on the way we think and act. It's called embodied cognition and it's powerful
Melissa Hughes
Sep 4, 20235 min read
Unmet Expectations or Magical Thinking?
Our expectations influence our reality as well as our interactions with those around us.
Melissa Hughes
Aug 11, 20234 min read
Prevent Cognitive Decline with 3 Simple Habits
It's normal to forget things now and again. But cognitive decline is real. The good news is we can prevent it with simple lifestyle changes
Melissa Hughes
Aug 10, 20232 min read
Mind Over Matter: It's not woo-woo science (it's a thing)
Many think of phrase "mind over matter" as a miraculous paranormal construct. Research shows it's much more than woo-woo science.
Melissa Hughes
Aug 4, 20233 min read
The 10% Brain Myth - BUSTED
The idea that we only use 10% of our brain is a common misconception. Research shows that much of the brain is never truly inactive.
Melissa Hughes
Jul 20, 20235 min read
Pleasure Quirks
The brain is wired to maximize pleasure and minimize pain. But the way we experience them is pretty quirky.
Melissa Hughes
Jun 30, 20233 min read
Get Your Game Face On
The expression we wear doesn't just influence people around us, it also influences our own mood, cognition, and recovery from stress.
Melissa Hughes
Jun 29, 20233 min read
How Cognitive Fluency Influences Who and What We Like
As amazing as the human brain is, it's also very lazy. The easier info is to process the more we like it, believe it and trust it.
Melissa Hughes
May 1, 20235 min read
Do our Names Shape our Lives?
Studies show we gravitate toward occupations and lifestyles that fit our names.It sounds incredibly narcissistic, but the research is clear.
Melissa Hughes
Mar 31, 20233 min read
The Science of Surprise
Control freaks beware: perfectly planned experiences don’t make us the happiest but surprises do. It's called emotional intensification.
Melissa Hughes
Apr 8, 20223 min read
The Power of Psychological Anchors
Psychological anchors are powerful influences over our decisions and perceptions. They are everywhere and we rarely even notice them.