Why do some people view winter as a magical season when others see it as something to dread?

The secret is in the mindset, according to health psychologist Kari Leibowitz. She spent a year doing research in Tromsø, Norway studying how the people who live above the Arctic Circle celebrate deepest winter. What she discovered is that it goes beyond hygge. It depends on where your brain settles its focus.

“Winter is many things. It’s paradoxical,” says Leibowitz. “Yes, it’s cold and dark, and it can be gloomy and depressing. But it can also be beautiful and quiet and cozy and magical. The mindset we have about winter helps us make sense of this paradox. Is winter wonderful or dreadful? Is the season a limiting time of year, or is it full of opportunity? Research shows us mindsets matter most in these ambiguous situations.”

Leibowitz joins Kerri Miller this week on Big Books and Bold Ideas to explore how shifting your mindset about winter can be a useful life skill. She also tackles the question about who has the worst winter, and how the debate over Daylight Saving Time should be settled.

Guest:

Kari Leibowitz is an health psychologist, speaker and writer. Her debut book is “How to Winter.”

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Episode ID: 1000698293535

GUID: 01JNHD3V7YREPREXSPSQ9JC90N

Release Date: 07/03/2025, 22:30:00