Creating Your Own Luck
Have you ever noticed how some people just seem lucky? Opportunities fall into their laps, chance encounters turn into new adventures, and even their mistakes somehow work out for the
Using Mindful Optimism to Stress Less
In her book, The Mindful Body, Ellen Langer proposes that a mindless view of events causes stress. Stress relies on two things: 1) we assume something is going to happen
Using Mindfulness to Improve Your Health
For years, Ellen Langer’s research has fascinated me. She is a psychology professor at Harvard who studies mindfulness, which she defines as the process of actively noticing things. One
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
Using Your Senses to Boost Well-Being
Our senses play a crucial role in our well-being. In her latest book, Life in Five Senses, Gretchen Rubin explains how sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch can impact human
Paying Attention to Your Attention
A lot of different things impact your well-being. Attention is near the top of the list. Your ability to focus and the choices you make regarding what you pay attention
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
Creating Habits for Positive Change
The hardest part of change isn’t knowing what you should do, it’s doing it. The two things that have helped me include more well-being practices in my life
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
Smartphone Use Impairs Focus and Memory
In her book, How to Break up with Your Phone, Catherine Price presents research showing the negative impact smartphone use can have on our brains. In order to focus, our
Wishing You a Phubbing Free Holiday
I love to celebrate the holidays by giving and receiving presents. But this year, I’m going to do my best to also give the gift of presence. The holidays
Protect Your Telomeres to Live Longer
I recently attended the World Congress on Positive Psychology in Montreal, Canada. It was exciting to hear about the latest research being done in the field. I was especially intrigued
The Power of Combining Doing with Being
Many people are experiencing fear and uncertainty as a result of the presidential election. The overwhelming response has been to take action. Thousands of people around the country participated in
Technology and Well-Being
Technology can be bad for our well-being. The constant distractions of text messages and emails can increase our stress levels and prevent us from being mindful, which can hurt both
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
Self-Compassion Helps You Achieve Your Goals
This week I taught a class on goal getting for greater well-being to the students who live in George Mason’s Mindful Living Residence. I told them about a number
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
Look Up!
It’s hard to believe The Breakfast Club came out 30 years ago this month. What an awesome movie! And how sad to think that something like that would probably
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
Is It Helpful?
I’ve mentioned before that I am a worrier. Let’s say I’m a recovering worrier. I used to worry a lot! But since I’ve started practicing mindfulness
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,
Increase Happiness by Savoring the Past
I have written a number of blogs about how mindfulness or paying attention to the present moment can increase happiness. Becoming more mindful has been especially helpful to me because
Sochi Olympics, All About the “Spoice”
When Sage Kotsenburg won a gold medal in slopestyle, his message was to “keep it spoice!” According to the urban dictionary, “spoice is an exclamation of gratitude towards life. It’