Exercise: Raise your hand if you’ve recently engaged in any of the following activities: Called someone a moron, a jerk, or an idiot? Screamed at someone for being stupid? Looked at someone and said, “I can’t stand the sight of you!”? Pushed someone down then kicked them over and over and over? What’s that, you … Read more
Think about the person you are today. Where did you come from? Physically, of course, you’re a genetic mix of your birth parents’ traits; personality-wise, you’re a product of both those geneticsand the environment in which you were raised. Fortunately, we humans are skilled at rapidly assimilating everything that happens around us. Unfortunately, we humans are skilled at … Read more
Let go of feeling guilty about something Make a date with yourself to do something you enjoy Smile Learn something new For an entire day, respond to all news from others with “That’s wonderful!” Empty your closet of everything that does not make you feel beautiful Look at a problem from a perspective other than … Read more
Your past is SO last year. Whatever happens in the next year/next phase of your life need not follow any old pattern, for you always have the opportunity to reboot. Here are seven tips inspired by the annual return to school
Today is the final day of Act Happy week: a week-long series on using your body to invoke Happiness. Today: Say Thank You — expressing Gratitude changes your body chemistry AND changes the environment around you (a 60-second lesson — read more at the blog)
Nine Strategies to Avoid Happiness: How to Live as a Victim and Still Control the World! (you’ll have to go there to learn more. Bwahaha!)
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a rut, seemingly unable to change a habit or a feeling? Have you heard the quote, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results” and thought, “What does that mean for me?” One way to creatively approach any stubborn situation … Read more
We don’t always recognize when we are being Kind to another person. Sometimes just offering a smile or a listening ear to someone who’s having a bad day feels so “easy” for us yet has a huge impact for the other. Perhaps the best strategy is to show up, always, with respect and a willingness to be of service.
Gifts for the New Year: Practice Optimism to Create a Positive Future As Martin Seligman (the father of Positive Psychology) realized decades ago, we can train ourselves into any number of emotional states. He first noticed the phenomenon of Learned Helplessness in lab animals subjected to random reward/punishment activities over which they had no control. … Read more
Happiness frightens some people more than giant spiders. In honor of Halloween, I’ve assembled a list of stories people tell when they try to resist the conversation about Happiness. As you’ll see, while these myths can feel as scary as any monster, in the end they are only as “real” as vampires and zombies. 13 … Read more