{"id":12783,"date":"2022-08-01T10:55:32","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T08:55:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foreo.com\/mysa\/?p=12783"},"modified":"2022-08-01T10:53:50","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T08:53:50","slug":"the-secret-life-of-secrets-by-michael-slepian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foreo.com\/mysa\/the-secret-life-of-secrets-by-michael-slepian\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Keeping Secrets Enhance Our Well-Being? Find out in “The Secret Life of Secrets”"},"content":{"rendered":"
Everybody has secrets. Think of a secret that you\u2019re keeping from others. It shouldn\u2019t take long; behavioral scientist Michael Slepian finds that, on average, we are keeping as many as thirteen secrets at any given time. His research involving more than 50,000 participants from around the world shows that the most common secrets include lies we\u2019ve told, ambitions, addictions, mental health challenges, hidden relationships, and financial struggles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Our secrets can cause us shame and anxiety and lead us to act in ways that are harmful to ourselves and others<\/strong>. In The Secret Life of Secrets<\/em>\u00a0Slepian tackles the science behind secrets\u2014why we have them, how they affect us, and what we can do about them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Slepian begins by defining secrets\u2014something that is hidden from others because it\u2019s embarrassing, painful, or both\u2014and distinguishing them from privacy (something we intentionally keep to ourselves) and lies (a deliberate attempt to deceive). He then reviews the scientific literature on secrets, finding that they are linked with poorer physical and mental health<\/strong>, as well as worse work performance and relationships.<\/p>\nOur secrets can weigh heavily upon us<\/h2>\n