This quote from Aristotle is a mouthful…so I honestly have to look it up when I need it. It doesn’t make the cut as a “pithy” maxim, yet Aristotle points to a very profound and sublime Truth. The Truth that he points to is something that I always keep with me and try to…
Last week, I had one of those “series of unfortunate events” days. I won’t bore you with the details, but I was trying to run a few quick errands before going into work and one minor frustration after another added up until I was running 10 minutes late for a client. I really don’t…
We all run into negative thought “loops” at times that are difficult to shake. Sometimes these negative thought loops can contribute to our suffering because the way we think affects the way we feel. For instance, incessantly thinking about a romantic relationship that went south can lead to strong feelings of sadness, anger, regret, and jealously…
Exercise is a powerful method to improve emotional and cognitive functioning that is relatively simple. We’ve all heard it – the mind, body, and spirit are all connected. The more that I learn and grow, the more I view this as an essential truth. There is plenty of scientific research that supports the mind-body…
Chronic sleep deprivation negatively affects millions of Americans. Sleep loss is detrimental to our moods, productivity, concentration, and relationships. Since improving sleep is so critical to our functioning, we should try different strategies to help us get more sleep. Consider trying some of these tips BEFORE pursuing prescription medication because medication has side effects…
I’m summarizing (and adding my own thoughts) to a recent article on MSNBC’s website entitled, “Need to Recharge Your Brain? Step Outside” by Andrea Thompson. In 2007, for the first time in human history, more people in the world lived in urban rather than rural areas. These urban areas tend to be fast paced…
The importance of play is underrated. Kids and adults both need it, as detailed in the Feb/Mar 2009 cover story in Scientific American Mind. The kind of play I’m talking about here is unstructured, creative play. Yes, board, card, and video games have their place as well, but free play is too often getting…
I recently was trying to work out a ticket problem with a Southwest Airlines customer service representative. The representative was patient and kind and treated me like…well, a person. I know, he should do this anyway but oftentimes that doesn’t seem to be the case. I told the representative how much I appreciated his…
Words can be tremendously powerful. Very subtle changes in choice of words, voice inflection, etc. can totally change the impact our words have on others. Importantly, our words cannot control others, only influence them. Other people could choose to ignore what we say altogether. However, to a great extent, the words we choose can…
I was recently watching a docudrama called “Control” that chronicled the rise of the punk/new wave group Joy Division and troubled front man Ian Curtis. I heard that the movie was great, especially the nuanced, brooding performance of Sam Riley as Ian Curtis. I read one reviewer who wrote that Sam Riley didn’t play…