Secret to weathering tough times

To get through a period of uncertainty and stress, think about your past successes. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, analyzed participants’ decision-making patterns in a game designed to simulate times of change and unpredictability. The discovery: The most emotionally resilient folks kept their cool in the midst of chaos by drawing on past successes and building on what they’d done right instead of fixating on mistakes. The investigators say this focus contributes to a sharpened sense of judgment so we adapt to change and make wise decisions moving forward.