Useful InfoHealthy habits beyond diet and exercise? Research shows that having a pet and listening more to others can actually lower your blood pressure.
“Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.”
-Michael Leunig
The meaning of love, like all concepts, is a subjective one. From my perspective, “love” describes a quality of relationship imbued with great meaning, affinity and care. This relationship can be to another living being, to oneself, or to a particular experience. read more »
There are a variety of theories about how to make behavioral changes – either starting something new or eliminating something old. This post reviews some key models for changing behavior, including more established theories, like classical and operant conditioning. In addition, you will also find more recent thinking on the subject, including Dr. BJ Fogg’s interesting behavioral change program known as “3 Tiny Habits.”
Relationships – whether with wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfriends or even just friends – involve some of life’s greatest challenges. While there are several factors that contribute to the success of a marriage or long-term partnership, communication skills – or lack thereof – can either help or hinder one’s prospects. read more »
This post focuses on the concept of psychological resilience in human beings. Why do some people overcome insurmountable odds to succeed, whereas others have much more difficulty coping with adversity? Why do some bounce back from tragedy, whereas others just never seem to recover? read more »
When working with clients in therapy or coaching sessions, I’ll often hear about the struggle many face to respond to, rather than react to stimuli. Those aren’t necessarily the words clients are using, but the difference between responding versus reacting is exactly what they are talking about. read more »
I just learned about an inspiring organization called Community Healing Network.
Founded in 2006, their mission is to put attention on inner healing in the black community, with a particular emphasis on eradicating the myth of black inferiority. Led by volunteers throughout the United States, this non-profit’s advisors include Chair, Dr. Maya Angelou, Professor Anita Hill and Yale Law Professor Stephen Carter, among other prominent black leaders. read more »
As an athlete, I like to ask myself, “If exercise can strengthen the brain, then what’s my excuse?” I’m trying to be funny, but the study below is no joke. It shows that exercise not only strengthens muscles, like biceps and abdominals, but can actually “strengthen” the brain. read more »
People often view ‘fear’ as a liability. It’s seen as a problem that must be eliminated or avoided. While fear itself certainly is not a pleasant feeling, it does offer many benefits that are worth highlighting. read more »
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (also known as CBT) has been studied extensively and is considered one of the most effective forms of talk therapy for a variety of psychological problems, including depression, anxiety and anger management. read more »
The word motivation stems from the latin word “movere,” which means “to move.” Motivation exists when there is a stimulus ” to move” or take action. If you find yourself lacking this stimulus, review the 8 tips in this article that will help you increase motivation and overcome procrastination. read more »
Being a good listener requires openness and presence of mind. When most people think they’re “listening,” what they’re often doing instead is focusing a majority of their energy on what they’re going to say next. While the other person is talking, they’re waiting (patiently or impatiently) for that moment when they can chime in with their own thoughts, opinions, rebuttal, etc. Under these circumstances, minimal attention is being directed on what’s being heard, with maximum attention being placed on one’s own response. read more »
We’ve all experienced times when we feel “stuck.” It may occur when working on a problem at home or at work. You keep running through it over and over in your mind without finding an adequate solution. It can happen when you’re fixated on something that happened in the past or worrying about something that may happen in the future; you just can’t seem to take your mind off of it. read more »
Learn more about what “emotional baggage” is and how to deal with it by reading this article entitled “Handle Your Emotional Baggage With Care.” read more »
Most people are familiar with anxiety. We are all are programmed to feel a certain amount of it, depending on our circumstances. This is normal. From an evolutionary biology perspective, this wiring provides benefits, as it is designed to help us anticipate and avoid problems. For example, a certain amount of anxiety or stress can provide the alertness and motivation to prepare for an exam or important meeting. This is functional anxiety. read more »
Learn more about this ancient practice that helps people live more in the present moment. Studies show that mindfulness can be an effective tool for stress management, anxiety, depression and other problems. It can also be an effective tool for peak performance in work and recreational endeavors. read more »
“Stress Management 101,” provides an overview of what stress is, how it hurts us and ways to lower it. Much of the content in this article was inspired by information gleaned from stress experts Dr. Fred Luskin and Dr. Kenneth Pelletier in their book, Stress Free for Good, and from the wildly popular, former Harvard professor Tal Ben-Shahar during his talk on PBS, “Happiness 101.” read more »
When people think of what it means to be “healthy,” often the first things that come to mind are regular exercise, nutritional eating and getting plenty of rest. These are indeed very important, but research shows that there are other strategies worth considering as well. This article looks at five of these “not so obvious” strategies that can help supplement the basics, when it comes to improving one’s overall health and sense of well-being. read more »