Do you find it hard to take a compliment, believing that you don’t deserve praise? Do you focus on minor mistakes you’ve made, rather than acknowledging all of the things you do well? If a friend compliments your smile, do you brush off the remark with a derogatory comment about yourself? If so, you may […]

Although the Thanksgiving holiday serves as a good reminder for us to pause and count our blessings, the truth is that gratitude represents an attitude and actions that we can seek to cultivate every day of the year. In addition to improving our relationships with others, expressing our thanks offers many other benefits. Some quotes […]

Why is it that some people bounce back from tragedy or even seem to thrive in the face of persistent hardship, while others collapse and stay down for the count? Are some people just born with this resilience, defined as “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)? Are […]

When asked to name their number one priority, people tend to list personal relationships, good physical health, meaningful employment, wealth, a comfortable home, sufficient leisure time… the list goes on and on. However, just about everyone would agree that they want to be happy. At the same time, many of us are concerned that we […]

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 […]

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 […]

“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 […]

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 […]