Some of the best lines in cinematic history, in my opinion, come from 80’s chick-flick Steel Magnolias. Ouiser, played by incomparable Shirley MacLaine, with her racy Southern humor is someone I think we can all relate to. “I’m not crazy. M’Lynn, I’ve just been in a very bad mood for 40 years!”
If you feel like you’ve been in a bad mood for just as long, maybe this will cheer you up. That temper of yours just might make you smarter than your calmer counterparts. A new study found that people in a bad mood paid more attention to the world around them than happy-go-lucky people. Your bad temper might actually mean you have a high intelligence quotient. Yes, when you are in a bad mood you become more critical of your surroundings. and more capable of making good decisions in life.
If you really stop and think about it, it actually makes a lot of sense. A negative mood is better for your cognitive thinking skills than a good mood. Have you ever noticed how, when you’re in a bad mood, it seems like every little thing that goes wrong just makes you all the madder? No, the Universe isn’t out to get you. You just tend to notice those little things more than you do when you’re happy. This is because you’re subconsciously looking for ways to validate your mood. And this is especially true when you wake up feeling sad or mad for no apparent reason.
While being grumpy may not boost your IQ in the “do I qualify for Mensa?” sense, it may have a positive effect on your emotional IQ. Women tend to be less gullible and more able to judge the intentions of others when they are sad or grumpy. In general, we tend to be more empathetic and intuitive thinkers. Whereas positive mood seems to promote creativity, flexibility, cooperation, and reliance on mental shortcuts, negative moods trigger more careful thinking, paying greater attention to the external world.
Sadness promotes information processing strategies best suited to dealing with more demanding situations, so occasionally a bad mood can be very helpful to you. Just consider this: when you’re in your bliss zone, it’s hard to imagine anything going wrong and knocking the sunshine out of you. So, when something does happen, it takes your brain time to adjust. When you’re grouchy you’re already waiting for the other shoe to drop, and you are more prepared to deal with a difficult scenario.
It seems temporary aggravation can be healthy for you and your marriage, too. It’s good to know that there are some benefits to getting up on the wrong side of the bed. I guess you could say in that regard, I’m living the dream. This kind of attitude especially comes in handy while handling professional, personal, or even social problems where cold-headed logic is the need of the hour. Research also shows that quick-tempered women are also great leaders. So your bad temper can come in handy improving your focus and attention to details. Why else do you think that all mothers are considered themselves CEOs of their household? Has your spouse ever found a lost shoe in the freezer before while getting everyone out the door and remembering to flush all the toilets in the house just in case?
Intelligent people are usually the ones who are more often worried or angry or even depressed. Ernest Hemingway once said: Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know. While it is proved that bad temper and moodiness can help with intelligent decision-making, it is not the kind of emotion you should be living with all the time. It can lead to stress, anxiety, and even depression. Experts advise you to live most of your day being cheerful, friendly, and optimistic whenever you can.
The most important thing is to keep a healthy balance of all the emotions as all the emotions together make your personality and form your psychology. And people function the best when their emotions are working in tandem – each taking control only when needed. So what did I learn from studying all this research? It turns out I’m not moody at all. I’m just a freaking genius.
Smashed Potatoes with a Lemon and Feta Greek Yogurt Sauce
The perfect dish for when you just want to punch someone in the face but know that you don't look good in orange.
INGREDIENTS
For the Potatoes
- 2 lbs small Yukon gold potatoes
- Flaky Sea Salt and fresh cracked pepper
- 1/2 lemon, cut into segments
- 1/4 cup olive oil
For the Yogurt Sauce
- 1/2 cup plain full-fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cup feta, crumbled
- 1/3 cup curly leaf parsley, chopped
- 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped
- Juice and zest from 1/2-1 lemon, depending on taste
- 1 tablespoon red or white wine vinegar
- 2-3 large cloves garlic, minced
- Kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper
- Additional feta, lemon zest, and herbs for topping
INSTRUCTIONS
- Add potatoes to a saucepan cover by 1-2” with cold water and generously salt. Bring to a boil and cook just until fork tender. While potatoes are boiling, preheat the oven to 425F. Drain potatoes into a colander and allow them to fully dry.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment and lay out potatoes. With the bottom of a glass or glass jar, gently but firmly smash down each potato, being careful not to fully mash them. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Add lemon slices to the tray and bake, turning with a spatula at 20 minutes and baking for another 20-30 until edges are a beautiful golden brown. If potatoes break, no worries, they’ll still taste delicious but you may need to lesson baking time for smaller pieces.
- While potatoes are baking, whisk together all sauce ingredients. Adjust seasoning. Set aside.
- Plate potatoes from the oven and top with additional olive oil and yogurt feta dressing while still warm. Sprinkle with feta, herbs, and lemon zest. Serve immediately.
