Are you a person who can act on tough questions? Questions like: What am I grateful for? What choices do I have? What actions can I take to improve my life? What are my primary strengths? How can I live a more balanced life? People who can act on these questions likely also describe themselves [...]
Some people's lives seem like a soap opera. But though endless crises and confrontations can be entertaining on TV, they make for frustrating, unsatisfying lives. If you'd rather have peace of mind than daily dramas, you need to take charge of the script. "Learn to act for yourself instead of just responding to what's happening [...]
Are you worried, or just concerned? The distinction is an important one, says Terence J. Sandbek, PhD, a psychologist specializing in the treatment of worried people. "If you keep thinking about the problem and don't take action, you worry. If you take appropriate action, that's concern." The key is change, says Dr. Sandbek. If you [...]
Contrary to popular belief, worrying isn't necessarily negative—if it's done properly. "Worry is like a mental fire drill. It helps you anticipate danger, identify risks and rehearse a plan before it happens," says Beverly Potter, PhD, author of a variety of books on self-improvement and productivity, including The Worrywart's Companion. Worrying becomes a problem, however, [...]
We live in tense and stressful times. "But you can easily avoid adding to the turbulence," says Mike George, meditation teacher and author of 1,001 Ways to Relax. "In fact, you can become one of those people for whom the world has a great need; those who can stay calm in a crisis, cool in [...]
Picture a rose bush in full bloom. What did you notice first: the roses or the thorns? A rose bush has plenty of both. But if you focused on the roses and overlooked the thorns, you were thinking positive. There is a lesson here. Thinking positive is a choice. It's a decision to appreciate the [...]
It’s February… and that means Chocolate! It’s tradition. It’s love. Giving chocolates on Valentine’s Day has been a tradition for over 100 years. Of course, we would only honor our love for that someone special with something that tastes fabulous. So, it’s our good fortune that chocolate evolved from its original form as a bitter [...]
Buy bread at bakery thrift shops. Ask your doctor about generic equivalents for your prescription drugs. Cut back on expensive gifts. Shop year round at sales to stock up on holiday and birthday gifts. Discover great “finds” at garage sales—but check items carefully, and stick to your needs. Visit clothing thrift shops for your children’s [...]
The following four-step process can help you to master the skill of decision-making: Identify the real issue. For example, you are trying to decide which movie to see, but you are having a hard time agreeing. As you talk about it, you realize that the real issue is that you simply want some time to [...]
Do you like your orange juice organic or regular, with or without calcium, or with minimal or maximal pulp? How about your toothpaste? Is it the herbal variety with added fluoride, the cavity-busting option with baking soda or the original formula with flavor crystals? Or maybe the thought of having to select any of those [...]