In today’s world of smartphones and 24-hour news channels, we’ve become addicted to information. I found myself filling all my micro-moments each day with stuff that blocked me from forward progress. Brain “noise” is any information that is irrelevant, useless, hypothetical or distracting. And noise saps our brains of the energy to process the actually…
Try this experiment and discover possibilities On a napkin or a sheet of paper right now, draw just a rough picture of a coffee cup and saucer—and be creative. On a napkin or a sheet of paper right now, draw just a rough picture of a coffee cup and saucer—and be creative. Read on when you’re…
Set a goal, make a plan, and achieve success? Not so fast. In today’s post-recession economy, your five-year plan to achieve your life goal is all but null and void. Today, the road to success is full of twists, turns and unexpected detours. A recent study commissioned by American Express found that over half (52%) of Americans,…
Learning that you or a loved one has a chronic illness is news you never want to hear. The knowledge of such information is often accompanied by feelings of fear, anger, and depression, which can cause debilitating, unnecessary stress. By understanding more about your condition and adopting a positive outlook on life, you can set…
If there’s one thing sure to cause unhappiness, it’s the feeling that we lack control over things around us. If it’s all out of our hands, what’s the point of working at a particular job, or being in a relationship or… getting out of bed? Studies show that people with a greater sense of control…
We love having options… chocolate or vanilla? Comedy or drama? Boxers or briefs? But would you believe the numerous choices we face every day deplete our stamina, focus and willpower? Researchers have shown that self-control is a limited resource, so our brains tend to default to the path of least resistance when we’re overwhelmed with…
We all search for something larger than short-term satisfaction New research led by social psychologist Roy Baumeister articulates a paradox each of us faces—an internal battle between our desire for happiness and the quest for meaning in our lives. If you’ve ever been a tired-eyed new parent, you understand this fascinating tug-of-war. Normally when people…
In the weeks following the Sandy Hook tragedy, the lead stories on the news have been truly heart wrenching. Sometimes I find I can’t bear to read or watch another story, and other times I simply can’t look away. As a parent of three girls, I desperately want to shelter my children from the negative…
I was at a Starbucks in New York, completely minding my own business, when… Actually, in truth, I was at a Starbucks intentionally eavesdropping on the conversation of some people at the table next to me, when I overheard one slightly overweight woman say to her three fit friends, “I’ve tried 19 diets over the…
One afternoon in Los Angeles I took my mom out to lunch. We had decided to try a cute little café in Santa Monica that is well known for healthy food. Both of us were trying to get more exercise and eat more fruits and vegetables, so splitting a salad there fit in perfectly with…