It's that time again: time to look at an image of a novel pair of things that might not make any sense at all. What's the point of #TwinTuesday? Who even cares? I've been thinking about this because my comprehensive review of Google Analytics shows that the group of readers that enjoys #TwinTuesday is on the small side. "Maybe because it's just this weird thing that you do without any purpose," Dan suggested. Thanks, Dan, for that helpful feedback. Now, listen up:
It turns out that #TwinTuesday (and today's juxtaposition features a Nativity scene with a wind instrument) is not just the weird vanity project of two long-term bloggers. The novelty of the series actually has documented brain benefits, which I will now list for you:
- According to researchers Kashdan and Silva, thriving on novelty indicates general well-being. In fact, people who seek novelty - something new and different on a regular basis - are "at an advantage in creating a fulfilling existence." Sounds pretty good.
- Another Ph.D., C. Robert Cloninger, says in the New York Times that "[n]ovelty seeking...keeps you happy and healthy and fosters personality growth as you age." I don't know about you, but I don't want to stale and stagnate as I approach my next decade. I choose vibrancy and #TwinTuesday instead of those bad things.
- Finally, novelty in the form of seeing an image you've never seen before, like say, one of Nativity scene and Wind Instrument, activates a dopamine pathway in your brain. Drs. Bunzeck and Duzel actually confirmed this via fMRI, reports Belle Beth Cooper for Lifehacker. After seeing an unexpected image, you actually get a "rush of motivation to explore." I'm sorry, but that's a great and important impact of #TwinTuesday.
Want to make your own #TwinTuesday? You totally should. It might increase your happiness and improve your motivation and personality.
1 comment:
you're #socool and #soscienticif!
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