Google+

"Meaningful Photos": An exercise to enhance meaning in life



February 20, 2017 /Photography News


Difficulty: Moderate | Frequency: 1/Day | Duration: 15 Mins


Why you should try it

Research suggests that finding greater meaning in life helps people cope with stress and improves their overall health and well-being—it’s what makes life feel worth living. But finding meaning in life can sometimes feel like an elusive task. In our day-to-day lives, it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture—we tend to focus more on the mundane than the deeply meaningful.

Yet research suggests that there are potential sources of meaning all around us, from the moments of connection we share with others, to the beauty of nature, to the work that we do and the things we create. This exercise helps you bring these meaningful things into focus—literally. By having you photograph, then write about, things that are meaningful to you, it encourages you to pay closer attention to the varied sources of meaning in your life, large and small, and reflect on why they are important to you.

Time required

15 minutes per day for one week to take the photos. One hour to do the writing exercise. While it is not necessary to take a photograph every day, assume that the photography will take you a total of 90 minutes over the course of a week, with an additional hour for the writing.


How to do it

1. Over the next week, take photographs of things that make your life feel meaningful or full of purpose. These can be people, places, objects, pets. If you are not able to take photos of these things—like if they’re not nearby—you can take photos of souvenirs, reminders, websites, or even other photos. Try to take at least nine photographs.
2. At the end of the week: If you used a digital camera, upload your photos to a computer. If you used a non-digital camera, have your photos developed.
3. Then, once you have collected all of your photos and items, take time to look at and reflect on each one. For each photo or item, write down a response to the following question: “What does this photo represent, and why is it meaningful?"

Evidence that it works

Steger, M. F, Shim, Y., Barenz, J., & Shin, J. Y. (2013). Through the windows of the soul: A pilot study using photography to enhance meaning in life. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 3, 27-30.

College students were instructed to take 9-12 photographs of things that they felt made their life meaningful; one week later, they viewed and wrote about each photograph. They completed a battery of questionnaires before and after this exercise. Afterward, they reported feeling like they had more meaning in their lives, greater life satisfaction, and more positive emotion than they had beforehand.

Why it works

Taking time to recognize and appreciate sources of meaning through photography can help make them more tangible and serve as a reminder of what matters most to you. This greater sense of meaning can, in turn, inspire us to pursue important personal goals and give us a sense of strength and purpose when coping with stressful life events. The use of photography might also benefit people who are more visual than verbal—something for therapists, parents, or teachers to keep in mind as they approach conversations about meaning, purpose, and values in life.

Sources

Michael Steger, Ph.D., Colorado State University


24 comments:

  1. Unknown says

    Hey, are you using google photos to keep it organized? There is no limits of photos! This is really nice one! http://motivationgrid.com/12-rules-to-become-a-great-leader/ Also this is tutorial how to use it!


    Justin says

    Be that as it may, while educational cost is infrequently debatable, it is conceivable to deliberately cut spending on other school costs while as yet acquiring the devices you require too take advantage of your school experience. By being interested in option method for acquiring books, supplies and transportation, you can spare thousands each semester. Here, we talk about five tips for cutting expenses on non-educational cost school costs. Cash Advance Chicago


    Unknown says

    Thanks for the information. May become useful here in the near future.
    game poker


    Unknown says

    Many thanks! This is an awesome site!
    poker online


    Unknown says

    I really enjoy simply reading all of my
    poker


    Happy New Years 2016 Images says

    happy mother day images
    happy mother day images 2016
    happy mothers day images
    happy mothers day images 2016
    free happy mothers day images
    free happy mothers day images 2016
    happy mothers day picture 2016
    happy mothers day pics 2016
    happy mothers day photos 2016


    Radhika Dixit says

    I really liked your post.Really looking forward to read more.
    Activa 125 Price in Mumbai


    Justin says

    Obviously, the genuine estimation of your business is frequently altogether different than its book esteem. All things considered, in the event that you are offering a bit of your business to an outsiders then you are going to need to have an income centered valuation finished notwithstanding a monetary record budgetary articulation. auto title loans chicago


    Justin says

    Waiting Recession Forces Students Toward Pricier Private Student Loans The re-development of private understudy credits won't be constrained to only revenue driven universities, notwithstanding. The ascent, fall, and rise-again of private understudy advances as a piece of U.S. understudies' long haul money related guide future is attached straightforwardly to increments in the expenses of school and the disappointment of government budgetary guide to keep pace with the expansions. Check Cashing Lemon-Grove


    Justin says

    Understudies who don't indicate enough monetary need as per the government rules, yet at the same time require an advance to pay educational cost expenses, may meet all requirements for an unsubsidized Stafford undergrad credit. This sort of advance doesn't give you the financing cost effortlessness periodcheck cashing


    Justin says

    In the different understudy advances that you take to finish your studies, the financing costs for the different advances will be shifted. Some of them might be a bit on the higher side, and some of them on the lower side. With this, the regularly scheduled payment for a few advances would have been high, and some low. cash advance


    marko says

    Generally, this can indicate a heavy installment once school is finished and the 6 month elegance period has lapsed. Union permits understudies to consolidate these advances into one advance with a lower, single regularly scheduled installment. check cashing


    marko says

    In a perfect world, an understudy seeking after a degree in advanced education ought to have the capacity to commit themselves to scholastics without worrying about whatever else. Sadly, the authenticity of the circumstance is that advanced education is a costly undertaking and keeps on becoming costlier every year. Check Cashing


    marko says

    In any case, the issue is that the expense of training is taking off higher every last year. That is the reason numerous understudies tragically stop their tutoring after they move on from secondary school. Check Cashing


    marko says

    Another kind of understudy advance that is accessible is known as a PLUS credit. This kind of advance is accessible to guardians of the understudy with awful acknowledge the length of the guardians have preferred credit over the understudy. Cash Advance Spring-Valley


    Unknown says

    that could be the end of this article. Here youll obtain some web sites that we feel you will appreciate, just click the links over

    Neat huge :) Here my web : Souvenir Pernikahan Unik - Grosir Jaket Parka - Rental Mobil Jakarta


    Paulo says

    The explanation behind this movement is two-fold on one hand the Obama organization needs to ensure that school is accessible for more individuals and on the other the precarious money related atmosphere is bringing on numerous private speculators to pull their financing of understudy advances. Check Cashing


    Paulo says

    Getting a moneylender who will give you good rates, terms and conditions for the advance is not simple and you should look around, online or something else. Check Cashing


    Paulo says

    This is on account of loaning organizations offer you with low union financing costs and the adaptability to build your credit reimbursement period. On the off chance that you wish to merge understudy credits, you can approach any of the solid and built up loaning organizations that offer you with this office. Cash Advance Spring-Valley


    Paulo says

    When we perceive the way that we have trespassed and comprehend that Christ is the thing that we require, we will really find that to wind up a tycoon is extremely basic. The Bible advises that we look for first the kingdom of God before different things could take after. www.usapaydayloanstore.com/chicago


    Paulo says

    Foundations, for example, Sallie Mae and HSBC are perfect spots to get such credits, while others like Act Educations Loans would offer you certain advantages like not obliging you to apply by means of FAFSA and bringing down your financing cost by a minor sum should you have your installments deducted specifically from your ledger. check cashing


    raybanoutlet001 says

    new york knicks
    yeezy boost 350 white
    gucci borse
    under armour outlet
    nike outlet
    oakley sunglasses
    cheap mlb jerseys
    ray ban sunglasses
    michael kors uk
    ecco shoes


    Anonymous says

    Akbar Birbal Kahani
    Get Free Netflix accounts


    Unknown says



    2017 good friday






    good friday 2017




    good friday 2017 messages






    good friday 2017 images


24 comments so far. What do you think?

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.