‘Why am I feeling down? I know there are people with problems a lot worse than mine, so why do I always feel sorry for myself?’ I hear this all the time. It’s a perfectly reasonable observation, but it doesn’t … Continue reading
Category: Life’s a Beach!
Twelve Easy Steps to Less Stress
Life, like anything of value, isn’t free, and stress is part of the price we pay for living. But stress isn’t always unhealthy; it can be a signal that you’re accomplishing productive and important things—your career, raising kids, or enjoying … Continue reading
Are you happy?
Psychologist and researcher Dr. Martin Seligman, author of ‘Authentic Happiness’ (2004, Free Press), asserts that happiness has three components:(1) mood, (2) meaning, and, (3) how engagedpeople are in what they’re doing. ‘You could think of [these] as three different ‘takes’ … Continue reading
Ten tips for raising emotionally healthy kids
‘I love my kids!’ I hear it all the time. But sometimes love, by itself, isn’t enough. Children are a central theme with many of my clients, and I have learned much about what to do—and what NOT to do. … Continue reading
Always acting on your feelings can be hazardous to your health!
I was at the red light at Rts. 113 and 20 last week when a large pickup truck blatantly sped through the light—on the shoulder and around the stopped cars. He never looked. He never slowed down. Drivers on the … Continue reading
Exercising your choices can broaden your horizons!
A Wave reader in South Bethany writes: Dear Dr. Hurd, I loved your column [January 25, 2006] describing resort dwellers as ‘outlaws.’I agree with everything you said, and I do consider myself self-sufficient and capable of ‘being alone without being … Continue reading
Your time is your own! Treat it that way
Do you have a neighbor who ‘drops in’ any time of day—uninvited? Do you know a child who can’t keep his hands off of other people’s property? Do you have friends who call you and expect you to be available … Continue reading
Smiling: the science of feeling good about life
Recent medical and psychological studies have shown that a smile is a whole lot more than just a ‘frown turned upside down.’ Did you know that high-tech medical imaging has shown that the sight of a smiling face makes the … Continue reading
Resort living takes a special kind of person!
I reconnected recently with an old friend whom I had not seen for over 20 years. When I told her that I was living and working at the beach, she commented that people who live full time at a … Continue reading
Resolving contradictions can lower your stress
Feeling anxious? Uneasy? A persistent feeling of anxiety can sometimes stem from nothing more than confusion, brought about by the presence of two contradictory ideas. The confused person can even be unaware that the conflicting ideas are causing these feelings. … Continue reading
Sometimes anger isn’t what it appears to be!
Well, it’s 2006, and the off-season is in full swing. But a change in the calendar does not, by itself, eliminate psychological burdens you might have carried with you from 2005. One of the emotions that people sometimes hold on … Continue reading
Nine tips to help you keep promises to yourself
It seems that ‘Life’s a Beach!’ hit a nerve last week when we took what was (apparently) an uncomfortably close look at New Year’s resolutions (remember them?). Most of the responses I received can be pretty much summed up like … Continue reading