It’s not your past that makes you who you are. It’s how you interpret your past. If you look at negative past experiences as examples of how NOT to be — and (by implication) indicators of how best to be … Continue reading
Overthinking means unproductive thinking. I don’t like the term “overthinking” because it implies, incorrectly, that a certain amount of thinking is the right amount (what amount? never specified) and to go above or below it is irrational. This is no … Continue reading
You can choose what you feel. How so? Because your feelings come from your thinking. If you only think about negative things, you’ll only feel negative. If you think in a more balanced way, you’ll feel more balanced. If the … Continue reading
“Why do I act irrationally?” This is a general question, to which there is a general answer: “I’m operating on a wrong premise.” The task of introspection is to discover the wrong premise upon which you’re operating. It’s these “silent” … Continue reading
How to cope with bad news? It’s all around us, I know. But what’s GOOD? Is nothing good in your life? For a lot of people the answer is, “Much is good in my life.” My advice, then, is spending … Continue reading
Being strong doesn’t mean hiding from, or repressing, your feelings. To run from something is not a sign of strength. At the same time, wallowing in–or being overcome by–your emotions is not an indication of strength, either. Strength comes from … Continue reading
“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.” There’s truth to this old saying. You can choose to accept another’s criticism as true, or false. You can thank them if it’s true, and ignore them–or … Continue reading
There are two ways to look at people who do something well, or better than you. One is: “Why can’t I be like that?” The second is: “Wow, what a great job he does. I’m going to strive for that, … Continue reading
People in general, not just politicians, have their “spin.” The issue is communication. The key to communication is following the facts and logic relayed by the person speaking to you. Facts and logic are the means by which you evaluate … Continue reading
A serious goal that involves a major life change is an all-or-nothing proposition. You either commit to it, or you don’t. If, for example, you decided to become a writer, you would write every day—or more days than not. You … Continue reading
Perspective comes from hope and confidence. We all know hope is valuable, but confidence is very important, too. Confidence allows us to assume that we are able to solve and resolve problems—even when in the moment we cannot solve them … Continue reading
The whole idea of calling mental health or behavioral problems–like depression, alcohol abuse–a “disease” was to encourage people to stop viewing them with shame. If you view your problems with shame, you’ll more likely deny or ignore them rather than … Continue reading