How to Experience More Meaning in Life
Are you searching for the meaning of life? Have you found your one true purpose? For most of us, the answer is no. These questions treat meaning and purpose as
Your "Why" is Your Superpower
As the new year approaches, many of us will be setting goals or resolutions. January 1st is the perfect time for a fresh start, which can be very motivating. But
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
Do You Have a Psychologically Rich Life?
In my book, Beyond Happy, I discuss two factors that are important for well-being: happiness and meaning. A couple of years ago, psychologists Oishi and Westgate proposed a third path
How Minimalism Enhances Well-Being
I’ve written blogs in the past about the positive impact reducing clutter, embracing simplicity, and living with less have on your well-being. So, I wasn’t surprised when an
Helping Others Helps You
I recently joined the board of Hands On Atlanta and I’m excited to be part of an organization that so closely aligns with my passion for well-being. The mission
A Meaningful Life is Stressful
According to David Robson, author of The Expectation Effect, the phrase “stressed-out” started being used in 1983 after a Time cover story declared that people’s fast-paced lives were emerging
Cultivating Curiosity
Several years ago, I started choosing a word each January that I wanted to focus on for the coming year. I chose mindfulness one year, gratitude another, and compassion. The
Life is Short; Make Good Choices
Your time on earth is limited. You might not be here tomorrow. If you’re lucky enough to live to 90, you’ll have almost 4,700 weeks. That’s
How to Spend More Time on Meaningful Activities
Two types of activities contribute to our well-being: 1) activities we like to do because they bring us immediate pleasure and 2) activities we want to do because they give
The Joy of Cooking
For most of my adult life, I considered cooking a chore. I didn’t find much joy in meal planning, grocery shopping, or preparing dinner at the end of a
Look for the Helpers, Be a Helper
Two ways to boost your mood during these difficult weeks are to notice all of the wonderful things people are doing to help others and to find ways that you,
Prioritizing Connection and Commitment
I read David Brooks’ latest book, The Second Mountain, after hearing him talk in Aspen. In it he argues that our society is suffering from a crisis of connection. I
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
Help the Environment to Boost Your Well-Being
Some of the things I’ve been doing for my “year of less” have not only been making me happier, but they are also giving me a greater sense of
Choosing “Less but Better”
A couple of years ago I wrote a blog about choosing one word or idea as a theme for the year. This year my word is “less”. Instead of making
Deep Work for Well-Being
In his book, Deep Work, Cal Newport argues that the ability to focus without distraction on a cognitively demanding task is an essential skill for success. I would add that
How Meaning and Purpose Differ
Meaning in life is a critical component of well-being. Research has made this very clear. What isn’t as clear is exactly what meaning is and how we can build
How to Expand Your Sense of Time
Do you feel like time is rushing by too fast? I’m guessing that’s something most of us have in common. Our hectic, over-scheduled lives leave us feeling pressed
Building Resilience
Resilience is the rapidity with which we recover from adversity. Something we’d all like more of, right? So how can you build your resilience? There are many factors that
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
Are You Fully Charged?
I recently read Are You Fully Charged?, the latest book by well-being expert Tom Rath. I highly recommend adding it to your summer reading list! Tom has written six best-selling
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
How Positivity Helped Build the Panama Canal
At a dinner I attended this week, Pulitzer Prize winner David McCullough spoke about the building of the Panama Canal, the topic of his book, The Path Between the Seas.
A Plea For Meaningful Part-Time Work
According to the Gallup World Poll, people who voluntarily work part-time are happier, less stressed, and have higher job satisfaction than other employees. Obviously, not everyone can afford to work