When being 'mindful' could pay off – literally

+ Jimmy Carter turns 100 US Edition - Today's top story: Being 'mindful' about your bank account can bring more than peace of mind − a researcher explains the payoff [View in browser]( US Edition | 1 October 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Toxic aftereffects of East Palestine train derailment]( - [Donald Trump’s fixation on mental acuity]( - [Why Congress is trying to mandate AM radio in all cars]( Lead story Mindfulness has seeped into everyday language, and not just for activities like meditation. Advice to do something “mindfully” now appears in discussions about careers, romantic relationships – even money. Behavioral scientist Emily Garbinsky noticed the word popping up in marketing materials from banks and investment companies; she even spotted a financial mindfulness journal for sale. But mindfulness can be tricky to define in the first place, let alone when applied to finances. What does financial mindfulness mean – and can it make a difference for your bank account? Garbinsky and her co-researchers used interviews to create a financial mindfulness scale, and then used it to analyze data like credit scores. One intriguing finding they highlight is the importance of “financial acceptance” – [not just having a good grasp of your financial situation, but coming to terms with it](. “This doesn’t mean being complacent,” Garbinsky writes. “Instead, it’s about being able to face unpleasant financial decisions without letting your emotions take over.” [ [The latest on philanthropy and nonprofits. Sign up for our weekly Giving Today newsletter](. ] Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor Products tout ‘mindfulness’ in financial planning, but it’s not always clear what that means. Oscar Wong/Moment via Getty Images [Being ‘mindful’ about your bank account can bring more than peace of mind − a researcher explains the payoff]( Emily N. Garbinsky, Cornell University Awareness and acceptance of not only your money, but your feelings about your money, can help guide responsible financial decisions. Environment + Energy - [Toxic chemicals from Ohio train derailment lingered in buildings for months – here’s what our investigation found in East Palestine]( Andrew J. Whelton, Purdue University A lot went wrong in the scramble to respond after a train carrying highly volatile vinyl chloride and other chemicals derailed in 2023. The lessons can help ensure safer responses in the future. Politics + Society - [Yes, calling someone ‘mentally disabled’ causes real harm]( Kathleen Béres Rogers, College of Charleston Donald Trump’s words about Kamala Harris – she’s a ‘mentally disabled person’ – were widely criticized as coarse and ugly. 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And what impact will the death of longtime leader Hassan Nasrallah have?]( - [Police stop more Black drivers, while speed cameras issue unbiased tickets − new study from Chicago]( - [Voters without kids are in the political spotlight – but they’re not all the same]( Today's graphic 📈 [A chart showing the percentage of people in the United States that experienced food insecurity from 2001 to 2023. The food insecurity rate declined to 10.2% in 2021 from nearly 15% in 2011, as the government ramped up safety net spending to cushion economic blows from the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate increased in 2022 and again in 2023, when it rose to 13.5% after a rollback in benefit spending.]( From the story, [Grocery stores that donate expiring food − instead of price discounting or discarding − make higher profits]( - - More of The Conversation [A graphic with the words Election 2024 coverage to help you understand, Read now]( Like this newsletter? 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