“If I back off and mind my own business, this means I don’t care.” I find this a recurring theme in the lives of many people, especially about their loved ones. Because of what I do for a living, I’m … Continue reading
“You can’t do that! It’s not fair! I never get a fair shake!” How many times have we heard (or said) these things? When one is especially frustrated about the timing of events or the pile-up of ordinary stressors, it’s … Continue reading
All parents lie to their kids, claims a columnist writing for “Daddy Files” on Facebook [reprinted as “19 Lies Parents Tell Their Kids” at huffingtonpost.com 5/12/14] Says who? The writer-father, Aaron Gouveia, lists a number of lies (19 total) which … Continue reading
I need help understanding a few things. It has to do with smoking cigarettes and legalizing marijuana. Take the case of Maryland. Just this last week, I learned two things about Maryland. One, they’re decriminalizing marijuana possession — not just … Continue reading
The leading indicators of insanity involve arbitrary claims and magical thinking. For examples of both, consider this recent story: A proposal by University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) junior Bailey Loverin would force professors to issue “trigger warnings” before teaching … Continue reading
What does it mean to accuse someone of being on an “ego trip”? Let’s start with the concept of “ego.” In the original Greek definition of the term, “ego” basically refers to the self, or “I.” In the Freudian version … Continue reading
Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn’t that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you. — Marilyn Monroe
A lot of people love to do affirmations first thing in the morning – to keep themselves feeling peppy and positive. I myself have some favorite go-to affirmations which I love. But, I gotta say, sometimes I’ve noticed that affirmations … Continue reading
People often make appointments with me to “fine-tune” some aspect of their life. For example, a reader emails that he and his wife want to attend marriage counseling to help make things “as vibrant and healthy as possible.” He goes … Continue reading
More and more people are writing me with questions about Asperger’s Syndrome. What is Asperger’s Syndrome? Is it a legitimate classification, or a faux disease? Regardless, what can one do about it? Asperger’s Syndrome is the latest, newest and coolest … Continue reading
People often say to me, “Why am I feeling down? Why do I feel sorry for myself?” It’s a perfectly reasonable observation, but it doesn’t get to the heart of why some people cope better than others. The key to … Continue reading
It might surprise you that at least one member of Barack Obama’s party, in the U.S. Senate, thinks Obama is too much of right-wing capitalist for the country’s good. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) discussed her relationship with President Barack … Continue reading