How to Have a Longer, Happier Summer
Summer is a wonderful time to create happy memories. There are a few simple ways we can hack our brains, so the season feels longer and we have more positive
Learning to Shift Your Emotions
In his book, Shift, Ethan Kross addresses what he considers “one of the greatest challenges we face as a species: how to manage our emotional lives.” While this is a
Let Them, Let Me
I’ve written several blog posts about how important acceptance and focusing on what you can control are for your psychological well-being. In her latest book, The Let Them Theory,
What to do When Stressed
Stress is the price we pay for a meaningful life. It arises when something we care about is threatened. Work, relationships, and politics can cause stress because they are things
Balance and Duality for Greater Well-Being
I recently took a Peloton ride with Hannah Frankson that was all about balance. The first half of the ride was dedicated to resistance, while the second half focused on
Embracing Awe
I wrote a blog about awe just before the Rio Olympics. Anticipating the Olympics in Paris has made me think about awe again. In his book on the topic, Dacher
How Rituals Make Life Better
I’ve written before about the many routines that I’ve incorporated into my daily life. They make it easier for me to remember to do things that are good
How Discomfort Can Increase Happiness
The fascinating connection between pain and pleasure in our brains can explain why too much pleasure may be bad for happiness, while experiencing some pain or discomfort may increase happiness.
Using Regret for Good
In his latest book, The Power of Regret, Daniel Pink argues that regrets can be used to make us better. Instead of ignoring our regrets or ruminating about them, we
In Praise of Pride
Pride is one of the seven deadly sins, but is it really that bad? Pride is a positive emotion and there is a lot of research showing the benefits of
Positive Emotions Facilitate Positive Change
Have you been trying to start any new habits lately? Maybe something that will help to boost your immune system, like exercising or eating more plant-based meals? Or something that
Trusting that Change is Good
I’m writing this as I sit on my porch, trying to stay out of the way of the movers who are loading our belongings onto a truck. My husband
From Aspen with Love
I recently attended the Aspen Ideas Festival. It’s a weeklong event featuring discussions of politics and economics, the environment, technology, science, health, education, and the arts. I learned a
A Powerful Path to Self-Control
Self-control is about sacrificing something now in order to gain something in the future. The ability to resist temptation is essential for success. Typical suggestions for increasing self-control include relying
Do Talk to Strangers
Researchers Nicholas Epley and Juliana Schroeder conducted a study where they asked some of the participants to engage in conversation with a stranger on their commute. Those participants reported having
4 Ways to Experience More Joy
Experiencing frequent positive emotions is an important aspect of well-being. Joy is a positive emotion that I’d like to experience more often. What about you? Here are a few
Be Happy in Spite of
People are often surprised to hear that we get happier as we age. It seems like a paradox, because old age is filled with aches and pains and losses. But
How Curiosity Helps You Learn
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein Did you know that curiosity helps you learn better? It also makes learning more fun. That’s because
World Happiness Summit
I returned yesterday from the World Happiness Summit in Miami. Three amazing days learning about happiness, mindfulness, and well-being from positive psychologists, spiritual leaders, and hundreds of people who clearly
Olympics Bring Us Awe and Inspiration
The 2016 Olympic Games start tomorrow in Rio. I can’t wait! The Olympics are fun to watch for many reasons. I especially like the feelings of awe and inspiration
Summertime Smiles
Summertime makes me happy, and I bet many of you feel the same way. I prefer warm weather to cold weather, so that’s one reason why I like summer
What Story Are You Making Up?
Brené Brown has written another great book. Rising Strong provides a 3-step process to help us rise from our falls: * The Reckoning is about recognizing your emotions and getting curious
A Simple Trick to Control Your Emotions
Have you ever said or done something you regretted because you were emotionally triggered? Haven’t we all? When something upsets us, making us angry or scared, our brain detects
Create Your Own Upward Spiral of Well-Being
How well are you sticking to your New Year’s resolution? If you’ve been trying to do something you don’t enjoy, you probably haven’t kept it up.
The Mental Skills That Mindfulness Builds
I recently attended a conference on mindfulness and well-being at work at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. I learned so much from some of the world’s top