Dear Dr. Hurd: I am having a difficult time understanding the actions of my brother’s former girlfriend, who is also the mother of his 3-year-old son. When she says my brother can have him on a particular day, she always … Continue reading
Two common issues getting a lot of people into psychological (and interpersonal) trouble: 1) They don’t pay attention. 2) They ask others to solve something they’re actually able to solve themselves. Our culture is drowning in the notion of “attention … Continue reading
“Serenity” is not some mystical goal obtained by supernatural or superstitious means. Serenity simply refers to a state of inner contentment, peace and comfort. The cause of serenity is you, not someone or something else. Serenity is what people are … Continue reading
Nobody likes a snob. But most people don’t understand what a snob really is, either. If asked to define a snob, most people will say: ‘Someone who thinks himself better than everyone else.’ Actually, nothing could be further from the … Continue reading
I recently listened to a talk on suicide. The speaker was Jack Klott, a psychologist and “suicidologist,” author of Suicide and Psychological Pain: Prevention that Works. He was asked if children ever wanted to end their lives. He proceeded to give the example of an … Continue reading
Dear Dr. Hurd: I’m not sure I can give proper advice to my brother. He’s gay and really loves our parents, who are slightly religious but don’t practice. They’ve made anti-gay remarks in the past, and he’s afraid they won’t … Continue reading
Maria Montessori: “Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed.” What a beautiful and true statement! It has implications for children, for education, and so much more. I’d like to enlarge the idea by … Continue reading
We should all be careful of the way we phrase things, when talking about ourselves or others. Why? To be nice? No, that’s not the real reason. The real reason is that the way we phrase things has an impact … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd, I love your articles and columns and have learned a lot about applying reason to everyday living. One area I have always struggled with was planning and organizing my schedule and goals. Do you have any thoughts on … Continue reading
Dr. Hurd’s recent conversation with a member of the media went like this: — Many studies have shown that people who are in loving relationships are physically healthier than people who are not. What are some of the ways in … Continue reading
A reader asked: Why is it that the people who are the most UNAPPRECIATIVE are also the ones who want EVERYTHING? Great question! The answer is: The neediest are the greediest. Actually, “greed” is not always bad. Greed can mean … Continue reading
Conclusion of yesterday’s column. A lot of times, unhappy or overstressed people will think, ‘Why did this happen to me? Life isn’t fair!’ The thought can be in response to something horrendous and tragic, or to nothing more than a … Continue reading