What’s interesting about these times is not what we debate — but the things we don’t debate. It’s not the things that are said, but the things that are seldom or never said that matter the most. We debate, for … Continue reading
We’re always hearing from politicians that the battle is ‘Wall Street vs. Main Street.’ The politicians promise to protect Main Street from Wall Street. In a fog of ignorance, it might sound appealing and it certainly generates applause. But in … Continue reading
Thanks to a reader, I recently ran across a somewhat cynical yet surprisingly astute commentary on human relationships: There’s a really good chance that the last person who got annoyed with you for seemingly no reason at all did it … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: It would be interesting to read your thoughts on something. I’m talking about the incident that actually made AOL news, that of the waiter who refused to serve the people in the restaurant. These diners had asked … Continue reading
A university student recently asked me some questions that pertain to my profession. I’m publishing the interview here. How many years have you worked in the field? Since 1988 upon completion of my Master’s degree, when I began working in … Continue reading
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, the heir apparent to the leadership of the badly floundering Republican Party, made the following point after Obama’s State of the Union address. ‘Here’s the bottom line: Presidents in both parties have understood that what made … Continue reading
Marry only when the other person seems lovely to you. Marry when you love, not when you would sacrifice for him, or wish to possess him. When those twin evils, self-denial and possessiveness, enter a human relation, hell comes with … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: Thank you for writing the piece on handling people who want to validate their irrational emotions. You answered it from your perspective as a therapist. What I also would like to know is what I could do … Continue reading
The ongoing federal budget and national debt crisis reminds me of a bad—and frankly hopeless—marriage. Each side blames the other, without any implied ownership of the problem itself. If the emotions on each side were permitted to speak freely, they’d … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I am a public elementary school teacher. At a recent in-service day an expert speaker was brought in to talk to the elementary school staff about behavior intervention. The speakers’ main thesis was that teachers need to … Continue reading
A reader sent in the following quote found somewhere on Facebook: “Funny thing is that social psychology research says that the more you think things through, the less logical your action — gives you too much time to rationalize.” It’s … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd: How do you (as a psychotherapist/life coach) deal with someone one who wants you to validate their irrational emotions and accuses you of not caring how they feel? Dr. Hurd’s reply: I sometimes say to people: ‘You pay … Continue reading