Personal Mini-Experiments: Elevating Emotional Well-being

Niki Baggs

The Positive and negative emotions are both influenced by and influencers of what goes on in the brain. Our brain is what determines what is positive and potentially beneficial (provoking positive affect) and what is negative and potentially harmful (provoking negative affect), but there is a feedback loop in which positive and negative affect also influence brain activity.
Harnessing pleasant emotional experiences through short experiments can significantly boost the brain to recognise joy and happiness. Here are a few engaging ideas to enhance your emotional state:

  1. The Cartoon/Comedy Pre-test / Post-test: Gauge your current emotional state using the PANAS scale. Enjoy an episode (preferably 5 to 20 minutes long) of a beloved cartoon or sitcom known for its wholesome humour. Immediately after watching, reassess your emotional state using the PANAS scale. Reflect on any noticeable shifts in your positive and negative emotions.

  2. The "Movie, Then What?" Experiment: Curate two contrasting movies: one with sombre themes but a hopeful conclusion (a "feel-bad" film), and another highlighting joy and triumph (a "feel-good" film).Host the same group of friends on two separate occasions for movie screenings. After each movie, prompt your friends to envision their desired activities by asking, "If you could do anything right now, what would it be? What else? "Observe and compare the variety and enthusiasm of suggested activities between the "feel-bad" and "feel-good" movie viewings.

  3. Common-sense Definitions of Happiness: Engage in meaningful conversations with friends and acquaintances from diverse backgrounds and age groups. Pose questions such as, "How do you define happiness in your life? What are some indicators of your happiness? "Prepare to be enlightened by the range of perspectives and entertained by the accompanying anecdotes shared by individuals.

By immersing yourself in these mini-experiments, you'll not only experience moments of joy but also gain valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of happiness.