Reading for Well-Being

by Joanna Pozzulo, Ph.D.

For many of us who live in Canada, cold, long winters are a rite of passage. By March, we’re often ready to put away the snowshoes. What better way to usher in the brighter season than with a book to help us adopt a sunnier outlook?

Do you consider yourself a naturally happy person? This question is posed at the beginning of The Positive Shift: Mastering Mindset to Improve Happiness, Health, and Longevity (2019) by Catherine Sanderson, Ph.D.

She suggests that if you answered “yes,” you won’t need to read her book. I couldn’t disagree more! Although I consider myself on the “happier” side of the scale, I still read this book and am so glad I did. The Positive Shift is for anyone looking to implement some evidence-based strategies to help with their happiness level. Spoiler alert: We have some control over our happiness.

Sanderson states that our level of happiness, physical health, and even longevity is connected to how “we think about ourselves and the world around us”. In other words, our mindset. By making small changes, we can help improve our happiness and health (both mental and physical). And if you are wondering where to start, there are several self-assessments provided in the book to better understand your starting mindset.

The book is chock-full of pretty straightforward strategies and the science behind them to “shift your mindset.” Perhaps, not surprisingly, my favourite strategy was “read a book you love!”. Sanderson even cites a study that found reading for over 3 ½ hours a week can increase longevity! Count me in! The Positive Shift includes some great chapters on aging, memory, and health. Hint: Don’t give into the stereotypes! Mindset matters!

Reading for Well-Being

I would argue that this book is for anyone looking for strategies on how to be a little happier. By making a few changes to how we think about situations, we may be able to improve our overall well-being. If one strategy doesn’t work, not to worry; there are many included in the book to try out.

If you want to hear from Dr. Sanderson directly, check out my interview with her on the Reading for Wellbeing Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@ReadingforWel lBeingPodcast.

Don’t forget to subscribe if you don’t want to miss any of my interviews.

For more evidence-based picks for wellbeing, sign up for the Reading for WellBeing Community Book Club https://carleton.ca/mental-health/bookclub-sign-up/

Happy reading!

Joanna Pozzulo, Ph.D.

Chancellor’s Professor Department of Psychology Director, Mental Health and Well-Being Research and Training Hub (MeWeRTH) https://carleton.ca/mental-health/ Carleton University