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
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
Become the CEO of Your Health
Modern medicine is amazing at treating acute problems. Thanks to advances in emergency care, survival rates after major trauma have increased by more than 50% since the 1970s. Heart attack
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
Why We Can’t Get Enough
Most of us know what we should do and what we shouldn’t do to be happier and healthier. Yet knowing is a lot easier than doing. Despite being aware
Managing Expectations for Greater Happiness
Have you ever heard the saying “happiness equals reality minus expectations”? It is true that expectations have a significant impact on our happiness. We are happier when reality is aligned
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
A Positive Mindset Can Increase Longevity
In my last post, I wrote about how your mindset regarding stress determines its impacts on you. Your mindset shapes your health and well-being in many profound ways. In her
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
Your Personal Highlight Reel
Our need to make sense of the world causes our brains to create a narrative that explains our experiences. The resulting story shapes our personal identity or what we believe
Mindset
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford Mindset is a belief, or the way you think about something. How you view something
Welcoming a Slow Down
Anyone who knows me at all knows I’m a big planner. I make plans for everything as far out as possible and changes of plans can make me uncomfortable.
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
Your Words Impact Your Well-Being
Last summer I heard a talk by Johannes Eichstaedt. He discussed the research he and his colleagues are doing as part of Penn’s World Well-Being Project. They are using
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
What's Your AQ?
A lot has been written about the importance of IQ, your intelligence quotient, and EQ, your emotional quotient, for success. A lesser-known quotient, your AQ, can also have a big
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
Focus on What Can You Control
According to a survey of 3,500 adults by the American Psychological Association, 55% of Democrats and 59% of Republicans say the 2016 presidential election is a significant source of
Calling for a Media Revolution
I’m done. I can’t take so much negativity! The 2016 presidential campaign has been so divisive it makes it hard for anyone to stay positive. That’s why
Use Fact-Checking to Stay Motivated
The way we view things impacts our behavior. We are more motivated to take action when we are positive and optimistic. Positive emotions open us up to see alternative solutions
How to Help Your Kids Thrive
Parenting isn’t easy, is it? How can you help your children live their best lives? One thing you can do is to positively influence their self-narratives. According to Timothy
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
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