Why You Shouldn’t Undermine Your Partner’s Parenting
While writing my upcoming book on divorce, I have reviewed a lot of research on the terrible effects of parental alienation (described there by Richard Warshak, author of Divorce Poison…
Personality
Positive Thinking Improves Physical Health
No one can avoid all negative feelings in life and it’s not realistic to think you can or should. But the happiest people somehow know how to buffer them by…
Changing Our Routines and Habits
Humans are creatures of habit and routine. Just as it takes us 20 years or more to develop our adult personalities, we’re also developing behaviors and habits that will stay…
The Benefits of Being an Introvert
Extroverts have easier lives, it would seem, than those of us who place more value on peace and quiet. Popular culture appears to be in love with noise and speed,…
What is Catastrophizing?
Catastrophizing is an irrational thought a lot of us have in believing that something is far worse than it actually is. Catastrophizing can generally can take two different forms: making…
Just Let Go of Perfectionism
“The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.” -George Eliot We are constantly bombarded with perfection. Adonis on the cover of…
Mistake Phobia
Mistake phobia: No, it’s not a real diagnosis, although maybe it ought to be. I came up with the idea while listening to a mom talk about her 9-year-old son:…
What Makes Us Happy?
If I were to ask you what makes you happy, you would probably have no problem providing me with at least a few answers — a new car, less body…
Dealing with Difficult People
In an article titled “Becoming Adept at Dealing with Difficult People and Avoiding Conflict,” Elizabeth Scott states people should “work to maintain a sense of humor.” She references shows such…
Self-ishness: The Key to Finding Lasting Love
“You complete me.” It’s the most destructive idea about love in American culture. It may make for a good line in a movie. But the notion makes for very unstable…
Workplace Stress
Stress has been endemic for centuries, with the term conjuring images of frantic, hyper-aroused or solemn, withdrawn individuals. While the study of stress and its effects date back to the…
How Our Social Network Helps Us Thrive
One way that your attitude can affect your health is that a bad attitude can drive other people away. And interaction with other people is vital for your health. Human…
Five Easy Steps to Better Communication
Being able to express yourself clearly and being able to listen well can help you avoid a great deal of stress in your closest relationship. Unfortunately, we are more likely…
Characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder
Individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder make frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. The perception of impending separation or rejection, or the loss of external structure, can lead to…
Choosing Happiness in Our Lives Revisited
Ten years ago, I wrote how we often make the choice of something else less important over our own and our loved ones’ happiness. This article has generated a lot…
