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

‘I can’t wait ’til I retire!’ ‘Ahh, retirement—no more commute, no more taking orders, no more responsibilities!’ We hear comments like these all the time from hard-working people. Indeed, the ‘holy grail’ of retirement is, and should be, the ultimate … Continue reading →

When it comes to kids, the subject of spanking is not so much a raging debate as it is a perpetually unresolved one. There’s a lot of emotion on the subject, but not a whole lot of reasoning. From a … Continue reading →

What’s wrong with spanking a child? It’s not so much a raging debate as a perpetually unresolved one. There’s a lot of emotion on the subject, but not a whole lot of reasoning. What’s a psychotherapist’s take on the subject? … Continue reading →

According to a survey, 20% of Americans believe that it is possible to communicate with the dead (Gallup Organization, 1996). Films such as ‘Bless the Child’ and ‘Sixth Sense,’ along with TV shows peddling self-proclaimed mediums such as John Edward, … Continue reading →

We all want to be in control. Life is full of unexpected developments and undesirable outcomes, so it’s just natural to try to control what we can. Sometimes, though (especially with loved ones), there is the danger of imposing this … Continue reading →

I appreciate all the email and calls I receive in response to Life’s A Beach! Not only is it nice to know that somebody’s out there reading these words, but I also get inspiration for future topics. One of the … Continue reading →

It’s probably safe to say that we all tell lies at one time or another. Most likely they’re ‘little white lies’ to spare somebody’s feelings, or to get out of some commitment—either work, or a promise we should never have … Continue reading →

‘It’s a jungle out there. Disorder and confusion everywhere’People think I’m crazy, ’cause I worry all the time. If you paid attention, you’d be worried too.’ Composer Randy Newman’s theme song from the celebrated TV series ‘Monk’ (USA Network) perfectly … Continue reading →

‘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 →

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 →

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 →