Refraining from revealing good news can make you feel more energized.
- In the study, participants had an average of 14 to 15 pieces of good news, of which an average of five to six were confidential.
- Avoiding revealing them increases the feeling of energy.
- Positive secrets are driven by internal desires, not external pressures.
Much research has suggested that keeping a secret is bad for well-being, but this has only examined withholding confidential information that has negative life implications. In a new study, American and Australian researchers have challenged the long-held belief that secrecy is a burden. “Although negative secrets are much more common than good news, some of life’s most joyful occasions begin with secrets, including marriage proposals, pregnancies, surprise gifts,” said Michael Slepian, a professor at Columbia University, in a statement.
Keeping positive secrets has an energizing effect
For the purposes of the work, the scientists conducted five experiments with 2,800 people to analyze the consequences of positive secrets. In one experiment, participants were shown a list of nearly 40 types of good news, which included items such as saving money, buying a gift, or reducing debt. The latter then indicated which ones they were currently living in and were confidential. Some volunteers were asked to think about good news that they kept secret, while others thought about good news that was not secret, then rated how much the information made their day and whether they liked it. intend to share it with someone else.
According to the results, published in the journal Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, adults had an average of 14 to 15 pieces of good news, of which an average of five to six were kept secret. Participants who reflected on their positive secrets reported feeling more energized than those who reflected on their good news that was not confidential. People who said they intended to share their good news with others also reported feeling more energized. According to the authors, a motivational mechanism helps explain the energizing effect of positive secrets.
“Positive secrets are more often chosen due to personal desires”
“People often keep positive secrets for their own pleasure or to make a surprise more exciting. Rather than relying on external pressures, positive secrets are more often chosen because of personal desires and internal motivations. When we feel Whether our actions arise from our own desires rather than external pressures, we also feel ready to face whatever lies ahead.” concluded Michael Slepian.
