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
Use Design Thinking for Positive Change
Are there things you’d like to do differently in 2018? According to one study, only 9% of people achieve their New Year’s resolution. We often give up trying
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
Embracing the Unknown
Some people handle the unknown better than others. I am not a big fan of surprises. My fondness for making plans is directly linked to my desire to know what
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
Michelle Obama on the State of Women
A few days ago the White House hosted The United State of Women Summit. The day was full of fantastic speakers covering issues including violence against women, health and wellness,
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
Saban & Swinney Know What Matters Most
Tonight is the big game! Alabama and Clemson play in the college football national championship. Their coaches, Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney, were interviewed together on ESPN. In just five
Are You an Impostor?
In a recent interview Adele was asked what she thought about her album “21” being ranked by Billboard Magazine the top album of all time. She said she was beyond
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
What Do You Believe?
Last week I had the privilege of moderating a Veritas Forum discussion on well-being between Dr. Todd Kashdan, professor of psychology and senior scientist at Mason’s Center for the
How You Think About Stress Matters
There is a lot of research showing how bad stress can be for our health. And it can be! But it doesn’t have to be. In her book, The
Careful Not to Overplay Your Strengths
Knowing and using your strengths is a great strategy for increasing your happiness and success. But it’s important to find the “golden mean” of your strengths by using the
Writing a Book is Scary!
I remember listening to an author speak several years ago, telling the audience that you shouldn’t write a book because you want to write a book. You should write
Choose Compassion Over Empathy
I attended a dinner last week with Tania Singer, a neuroscientist from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, and Matthieu Ricard, a Buddhist monk, scientist, and meditation expert. They told
Don't Let a Slip-Up Cause You to Give Up!
Did you make any new year’s resolutions? How’s it going? About 50% of us give up on our resolutions by February. Don’t let that be you! Many
Work Hard But Let Go
ABC News anchor Dan Harris has written a hilarious book called 10% Happier. In it he tells of his journey as a journalist covering the worlds of spirituality and self-help
Are You Hovering?
I’ve been hearing a lot about helicopter parenting lately. It’s natural for parents to want to protect our children and help them to be successful. And while there
How to Stress Less When Making Decisions
We like knowing that we have options. That’s one reason making decisions can be so difficult. A decision is basically eliminating options. If you order the chicken, salmon is
Lessons from Revitalize 2014
Last weekend one of my favorite websites, MindBodyGreen, hosted an online wellness summit. Wow! It was awesome! There were 26 different talks by leading experts in food, fitness, personal growth,
You Don’t Win by Proving You Are Right
Relationships are strengthened through positive interactions. This means that too many arguments can hurt a relationship. When you get into an argument with someone with the aim of proving you
Move it! Move it! (And Measure it!)
The research showing the health risks of inactivity has me a bit worried, especially since I spend most of my days writing at my computer. I thought I was fine
Focus on Habits not Goals
Have you made any resolutions for the new year? What goals do you hope to achieve in 2014? Would you like to lose 10 pounds? Move into a new position
You Can’t Have it All! Focus on What Matters
Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook, and Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!, are leaning into their careers. Others, like Anne-Marie Slaughter, have made different choices. She decided to scale back when
What’s Good About Leaning In
I have to admit that, despite my passion for the issue of women’s careers, I didn’t rush to read Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In when it was