Depression can overcome us unexpectedly and without explanation. Other times, we feel it coming for hours, days or weeks. We brace ourselves for the tangible sensation of the heavy curtain descending, blocking out the light. It feels as though we are fumbling in a dark room, looking for the light switch. We find it, only to […]
When we feel emotional pain or struggle to maintain our mental health, we are often quick to assume that part of the issue lies with low self-esteem. The truth is low self-esteem has been given more airtime than it deserves over the years. What has not been given ample attention is what we are often […]
Our brains are bombarded with information, constantly. Maybe it’s the latest updates on the supply chain. Or the economy. Perhaps it’s just a never-ending stream of work emails. Or too much input from family members and friends. Whatever it is, mixed in with all that information is a healthy dose of misinformation, too. Some of […]
Finding our purpose in life is powerful. Knowing what we are “born to do” can make all the difference. Once we do, if we define something significant, measurable and tangible as our touchstone, this can provide a strong foundation on which to base virtually each decision and every choice we make. For example, when we […]
We’re all naturally inclined to develop habits. And we can use this tendency to help us be kind to ourselves. Since we need to learn to be kind to ourselves to be genuinely kind to others, this is an important opportunity to take advantage of. So, let’s get right into it. Here’s how to use […]
Many of us share a strange combination of feelings right now. These feelings have ebbed and flowed for many of us for much of the last two years. We’re nearly obsessed with hearing the latest news, desperate to learn some new ‘known’ in the vast sea of uncertainty that surrounds us. At the same time, […]
For years, I thought happy people smiled often and were generally joyful. I also thought of them as being imbued with a sense of serenity and calm. Recently, I’ve come to realize that the graceful, steady state of being I’ve aspired to is not happiness at all. It is more aptly described by a different […]
When we forgive, we release emotions that cause stress and negativity. In fact, science has proven that when we release these negative emotions, our well-being immediately improves. The effect is long-lasting and others around us feel better, too. This makes forgiveness an amazingly powerful choice. But as we all know, forgiving people who have hurt […]
If we put other's needs before our own for too long, it can become challenging to remember what we enjoy doing. Here's how to snap out of this unhealthy pattern and remember how to be happy.
Welcome to How to Find Happiness in 10 Weeks or Less, Week 7: What You Need to Know about Healthy Relationships. “Our relationship with ourselves sets the tone for every other relationship in our lives.” – Robert Holden This quote says it all! What a perfect way for us to start off this post, which […]
What does intimacy mean to you? Though other thoughts often come to mind when we hear the word ‘intimacy’ what an intimate relationship is really all about is being able to be authentic with another person. To share our true selves without restraint. Intimacy takes more than a willing partner. Sometimes that can actually be […]
A while ago, I was talking to a friend who recently had a baby. While she was pregnant, we shared many conversations. It was a welcome opportunity to reflect on fond memories. I recalled many lovely experiences from when I was expecting and shortly after I had my children. Among other things we shared, I […]
Do you have trust issues? When we cannot or do not trust those close to us, it is difficult (if not impossible) for our relationship with that person to thrive and grow. In fact, relationships that lack trust can never be truly intimate or fulfilling. So, learning to take that risk, to trust someone, maybe even […]
Multi-tasking was once treated like a "silver bullet" - the solution to all the overwhelming demands on us. Now, the science has proven, multi-tasking is bad for us, and results in poorer outcomes. It's time to give it up. If we can.
Do you suffer from “comparisonitis“? It’s a difficult ailment to overcome. It’s easy to fall into the habit of making comparisons, especially comparing ourselves to others. We can find ourselves doing this related to family issues, finances, accomplishments, appearance; the list goes on and on. We may compare how popular we are to others, and […]
Many of us fear change and try to avoid it at all costs. New ideas make us nervous. We push back on suggestions to do things differently. Shifts to our routine make us uncomfortable. But it’s constant, there’s no getting away from it. It makes sense to try to make the best of it. To not […]
People are naturally driven to collect things. Some psychologists believe it’s our way of ‘imposing order on the world’. That it helps us cope with things that are outside of our control. I’ve never considered myself a collector. If anything, I’m more of a “thrower-outer”. Except I can’t seem to get enough cookbooks. My collection […]
When asked to name essential life skills, practical abilities probably come to mind. Changing a tire, cooking a meal, our ability to make good decisions or exhibit self-control are examples of skills that make life easier for human adults. One life skill that we probably do not consider right away is our ability to practice […]
Do You Believe In Destiny? Read this post to find out why it is simultaneously exciting and reassuring to know that the universe has something in mind for you, and how to go after it!
We all worry now and then. Sometimes we get nervous as we anticipate a major event (either good or bad). Even just having a change in our daily routine or commute can cause us stress and anxiety. Travel, sickness, or relationship challenges can make us tense. Sometimes even just mounting household and work nuisances lead […]
We often hear people say, “what goes around, comes around”, and many believe this is the essence of Karma. But karma involves much more than that. Reading a short article about the true meaning of karma was enough to make me want to keep researching it. What Karma Really Means Karma is a fundamental belief […]
We all know how challenging it can be to stay upbeat. But we humans face a challenge that’s much more difficult than that. As a species, we are not naturally positive. In fact, we are not naturally neutral in temperament, either. Our thoughts tend towards the negative in our natural state. That ingrained tendency is […]
Scientists estimate that non-verbal communication (most of which is considered “body language”) may account for 65% or more of our total messaging. So, it is quite important to be able to interpret the signals we see others giving us, and also to understand the messages we may be sending. All About Body Language Body language […]
Today’s article is a guest post from Dr. Upasana Gala, who is the founder and CEO of Evolve Brain Training. Evolve Brain Training is an award-winning neurofeedback-centered institute that focuses on using non-invasive brain training techniques to maximize the brain’s true potential. Dr. Gala earned a doctorate in Neuroscience from the revered Baylor College of […]
Over the last decade or so, there has been a tremendous amount of research related to positive psychology. Much of it focuses on the subject of kindness. When I’m feeling down or need encouragement, reading up on positive psychology and especially kindness provides me a real lift. Somehow, learning more about a healthy practice that brings […]
Welcome to How to Find Happiness in 10 Weeks or Less, Week 10: How to Take Generosity and Gratitude to the Next Level. It’s our final week in this 10-week journey together, and what an adventure it has been! We’ve covered a rich collection of topics to help us understand our own definition of happiness […]
Welcome to How to Find Happiness in10 Weeks or Less, Week 9: How to Use Habits to Boost Happiness to New Heights. This week, we focus on the connections between habits and happiness. More specifically, we are going to explore how to use our natural tendency to develop habits to our best advantage by identifying […]
