Helping

So I'm actually studying Psychology at school right now and I love it! and YES quite frankly, I am analyzing you right now.

No, of course I don't do that!

But what I am interested in is learning why people do the things they do. So here's a fun fact about helping behavior.

 So, they had this study of people and how likely they would be to help. They had students of the Princeton divinity school as the participants, so they measured if religion affected the likelihood that people would help.

The researchers half of the people discuss plans after graduation and then were instructed to go over to another room to do another task. The other half discussed the parable of the good Samaritan and then were instructed as the other group were. On the way to the other lab, there was a conferderate (or cool way to say an insider on the job), who posed as if he needed help. I forgot what he needed but he looked and acted like he needed help. The REAL study was to see whether the people would go and help the individual out (Psychologists are REALLY sneaky fyi)

Along with religious and non-religious differences, there were also two different conditions. In both groups, the researchers told some to hurry and go to the next room because they were late, whereas in the other were told they had a lot of time.

So what happened? [drum roll...]

Sadly, evoking religious topics (good Samaritan story) DID NOT cause more people to help. However, a better predictor of whether or not people would help was if they had TIME to help.  Those in a hurry were less likely to help than those who were told they had time.

It may sound depressing to some, but it's a good insight on how we naturally think. BUT, it doesn't mean we have to be this way. Knowing this helps me to realize my thought process better and CHANGE it. Instead of thinking I don't have time to help people, I should think I always have time to help. Helping others is more important than anything really. So am I going to drop everything to help? Probably not. But by starting with the little things like helping to pick up books for a stranger even though I'm late for class or talking with a friend who needs some time even though I have a paper to write, just maybe I'll be able to change my way of thinking and not hesitate to help someone in need. Just maybe.

Just a little thought

Sharing is Caring

Call me Maybe?

So we had a talent show for church this Friday. It was amazing! People are so talented and just so skilled! From bag pipes to drums to Asian dancing, it was just grand.

Talents are something that we've been given to SHARE I think. I mean even if you sing really well but never sing in front of people, there's no sense of having that talent right? My friend sang last night and he has a NICE voice. Music has the power to move you, inspire you, and even change you. If my friend never sang for people, I guess he could enjoy his own voice, but that doesn't seem like that much fun.

Sometimes, we don't want to brag when say, we have a nice voice, awesome dance skills, or the ability to be pretty funny. I mean, if you are doing the talent show to brag, I don't think you'll be that good. People are pretty smart. They can see your intentions. But if you're really sharing your talent to entertain, to inspire, or to cause PURE joy, then people really enjoy it. That's when sharing a talent become FUN.

We all have talents. I'm a strong proponent of sharing them! Through sharing, I think we'll laugh more, we'll be inspired more, and we'll enjoy life even just a little bit more.

Here are some of the talents shared last night~

Just a little thought

Compliments

Has anyone ever told you a genuine compliment and you absolutely hated it?

NOPE.

Compliments are good things that take very little effort to say. Just the other day, a random girl, who was very stylish I might add, came up to me and said she LOVED my outfit! Did I spend time in the morning to put it together? Maybe... Did her comment make me feel oh so very good? YES.

It's interesting how one little thing can go a long way. I remember feeling good about myself pretty much the entire day. I remember just thinking how nice that girl was and just how happy her compliment made me feel. It's so amazing to me how much one person can influence another. Even if we try to deny it, receiving a compliment, I think, can put an instant SMILE on our face.

The other day, I saw a girl by the stoplight with a really cute outfit. I thought, WOW! Her outfit is so CUTE! I thought for a second, and remembered the other girl who had complimented me on my outfit and how happy it made me feel. Then I just turned to her and said how cute her outfit was. And that's when a smile INSTANTLY lit up her face! It was pretty cool to see that and in turn, made me really happy.

So I'm trying to give a compliment everyday. Compliments are honest nice opinions about the people I see around me. I just need a little bit of courage to tell a stranger that her bow in her hair is cute, share with a classmate that his comment is class was really good, or say to a friend how much I really appreciate them.  It may be just a little thing, but maybe this little thing might change the world a little bit at a time.



Just a little thought

The Little Things

The little things in life make me happy. For the next ten days, I'll make a list here :)

1. When the crosswalk is GREEN when you reach the intersection

Since I walk everywhere, when the light turns green right when I reach a crosswalk, I just want to skip and leap all the way across to show my HAPPINESS and JOY. But I contain myself, don't worry. I feel like it validates my timing, my walking skills, and it's just a little blessing for the day. It may be little, but a lot of little things can pile up pretty quick!

I mean, because of that, I didn't have to wait in the hot sun, carrying my books, and looking miserable for the passing cars to see. Instead they see a happy little asian walking across the street. Isn't that a nicer scene?

Just a Little Thought



  

Photo Graphy

Photo comes from the Greek word LIGHT, and graphy comes from the Greek word WRITING. So, photograph means writing with light. I love taking pictures so I decided to "write" more with the pictures I take.

So here's a picture of me and my camera. Hopefully you'll enjoy the journey we'll take together!

Just a little thought

Vertically Challenged?

So usually, when I stand next to someone, I feel like I'm at a good height. Not too short, not too tall...but just right. When I'm walking next to my roommate who is 5'7, I don't feel like I'm THAT much shorter than her...I say our eye levels don't differ by maybe 3 inches...MAX.

But reality hits when we walk in front of a reflective glass. I see myself, and I see her...I'm BARELY above her SHOULDERS! what the HECK?! I can't believe it...Why is my perception of my own height so off? Is this how all people feel? Or is it just me?

Maybe it's because we, as people of vertical challenged, don't see ourselves as short. We may see someone else and think they are short (guilty of this...) but ourselves? No way. We think we are average UNTIL we are forced into reality by standing next to our taller roommate in front of a mirror where we can't be in DENIAL. 

But that's just my thought. My 5' 1 3/4" thought. That is all. 

Just a little thought

Taking the time to remember

I am a HORRIBLE person...yesterday in this blog, I didn't mention September 11th at all. I am sorry. I will never forget September 11th. I wrote in my journal last night this entry:

"...a day to always remember those who lost their lives, when the country was attacked by those who were misled... Thank you for the acts of bravery that let us know we are humans who stand up for truth and freedom..."

If we don't take the time to remember, who will? I was in 8th grade when this happened and I didn't understand what was going on. My mother was watching the television when I woke up and I thought she was watching a movie...I wish it was just a movie. Seeing the planes crash into the twin towers was unbelievable and I didn't know what to do. What could I do? All I could do was pray.

I know that so many are impacted still today by the aftermath of this horrible destruction that occurred. I want everyone to know that we will NEVER forget. We will continue to commemorate those who lost their lives and continue to fight for freedom and dissipate hatred wherever it exists. 

I am sorry again for not writing this post earlier but I will always remember. Remember that it is not  to hate but rather love, not to stand alone, but rather united, and remember that this did happen, but will hopefully never happen again.

Just a little thought