Many people are trained to believe that when dealing with other people, the reasonable thing to do is to compromise; to meet the other person halfway. That might sound nice, but in my experience it doesn’t always work. All action … Continue reading →

The high holy days of masquerade are upon us, and rarely does a Halloween go by without my getting a few inquiries about the psychology of costumes and disguise. Ancient mystical beliefs held that if you disguised yourself on All … Continue reading →

I received a letter from a reader to whom I responded in another local publication. She told me that her boss was a bit of a micromanager, and that she (the writer) felt insulted, i.e., she was taking her boss’ … Continue reading →

You never know what you’ll discover in the nooks and crannies of the Internet, and I recently ran across a great saying (author unknown): “Sometimes when things are falling apart they may actually be falling into place.” In other words, … Continue reading →

So many relationships — business, personal or otherwise — end up boiling down to honesty. For example, are you obligated to deal honestly with somebody who has been proven to be dishonest? The person who asked me this question suggests … Continue reading →

Many people are under the impression that they’re avoiding trouble in their relationships by not fighting. They mistakenly assume that the absence of fighting is an indication that the relationship is healthy. But that assumption is wrong. A happy relationship … Continue reading →

People often react badly when you say something they’d rather not hear. But it’s just as bad when you don’t say what they want to hear. The perfect example is an email I received from a reader: “Dear Dr. Hurd: … Continue reading →

We humans are imaginative creatures. On a moment’s notice, we can dig up convincing reasons to do just about anything. Take overeating, for example. We have perfected a long list of motives for eating to excess, over and above the … Continue reading →

A reader emails about her friend who is divorced from a man who was somewhat abusive and narcissistic. Her friend enjoys being with her new boyfriend because he is kind to her. However, the reader’s friend confides in her that … Continue reading →

There’s a saying that suggests that you should never do business with friends. I received an email from a reader who did business here locally with a friend, and now there are problems with the expensive item she purchased. The … Continue reading →

Feeling anxious or uneasy? A persistent feeling of anxiety can sometimes stem from mental conflict brought about by the presence of two or more contradictory ideas. You might not even be aware of the cause, but if the confusion is … Continue reading →

Everybody tells me that they love their kids. It’s natural, and it sounds very nice. But love, all by itself, isn’t enough. We have to pass a test to drive; we need accredited education to be a health professional, yet … Continue reading →