So many definitions and opinions exist about what constitutes happiness. Is it a feeling? A mood? An attitude? A way of life? Let’s turn to the definition of happiness from Sonia Lyubomirsky, researcher and author of The How of Happiness and The Myths of Happiness. Lyubomirsky states that happiness is “the experience of joy, contentment, […]

Wanting to protect ourselves from harm is only natural. It would be naïve to trust everyone all the time or simply assume that the world is always a safe place. The hard truth is that people sometimes have devious motives and that life can contain danger and tragedy. However, there may come a time when […]

With mindfulness meditation gaining so much popularity over the past few decades, and seemingly even more so in the past ten or 15 years, it can seem as if just about everyone has taken up the practice. According to a recent research article (Burke et al, 2017) based on data from the 2012 National Health […]

Whether it’s that driver on the freeway that cuts you off, a colleague at work who passes you in the hall without acknowledging your “Hello”, or your spouse’s leaving their laundry on the bedroom room, it’s safe to say that anger has paid you a visit lately. Although we sometimes have a negative association with […]

Whether you consider yourself a social butterfly, more inclined to one-on-one interactions, or prefer solitude, there’s no denying that the quality of your personal relationships affect your levels of happiness, well-being, and physical health. We are wired for connection. As the saying goes, “No man is an island”. Consider research done on over 200 undergraduate […]

Mindfulness is all the rage – and with good reason. We are faced with an overwhelming, constant input of media, be it from our phones, iPads, laptop, or desktop computers – not to mention the burgeoning possibilities presented to us by cable and network TV, and movie theaters. Our bosses, colleagues, clients, family, and friends […]

What if there were a fun, low-pressure way to reduce your anxiety, build resilience, improve your connection with other people, and strengthen your ability to adapt to life on life’s terms? Welcome to the world of improvisation. Improv, or the art of making something up on the spot, without a script, score, or any sort […]

“Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our destiny. This second we can turn the tables on Resistance. This second we can sit down and do our work.” (Steven Pressfield) Whether or not we recognize […]

Most of us associate having the flu with not only coughing, sneezing, and sore throat, but also intense fatigue, apathy, brain fog, irritability, and loss of appetite. Being sick can wreak havoc with our emotions and throw us psychologically off-balance. It’s common to feel as if our “get up and go” has got up and […]

At the beginning of each calendar year, many of us set lofty goals, with the hope and expectation that with such achievements we’ll be happier. For instance, we vow to lose that extra 20 pounds, go to the gym more often, find a more rewarding job (or find a job, period), and improve our financial […]