As a new NFL season begins, it is interesting to note the paths that pro football’s greatest quarterbacks took to achieve their immortality. Tom Brady of the New England Patriots is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time. He has achieved this status despite the fact that he was taken in the 6th round as…
Tragedies Don’t Bring Out the Best in People; They Highlight It
The tragic flooding of the city of Houston and surrounding areas brought on by Hurricane Harvey has caused unthinkable devastation and misery to countless numbers of people. Even while the damage was taking place, however, TV channels and computer screens were showing images of first responders and volunteers who left the comfort of their own…
DREAM Is Not A Four Letter Word
The way that some people avoid pursuing their dreams could suggest that DREAM is a dirty word. There is a lot of controversy about the meaning of dreams occurring while you sleep, so – for purposes of this blog – I will concentrate on another definition of dream. A dream can be a vision of…
Make Gratitude A Choice
When you get stuck in traffic and arrive at your destination late, do you focus on disappointment due to the tardiness – or do you feel grateful that you weren’t in the accident that caused the traffic backup and none of your fellow drivers struck your vehicle to make up for lost time? When you…
You Don’t Have To Be Old To Age Awesomely
If you met me when I was in my 20’s and 30’s, one of the easiest ways to bore me would be to engage me in a conversation about the importance of saving for retirement. It seemed so far away; I didn’t have a lot of extra money to put away; and I assumed that…
The Road To Success Is Crooked
When you take out your car to drive to your job or the market or a restaurant or the gym, there is a good chance that you will be following a course that involves making several turns at different corners before you get there. If you drive in a straight line, you will probably find…
When Do You Say, “Because I Can!”
Occasionally, a retired friend of mine asks me why I continue to work as much as I do – probably more than I ever have before – even though I could also be retired. My response is, “Because I can!” It’s pretty much the same response that I give when I’m asked why I go…
Are You Here Today?
One of the most widely adapted practices in the psychotherapy field in recent years has been the inclusion of mindfulness in conjunction with more conventional therapies as well as being a distinct treatment modality on its own. While formal Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction programs (MBSR) have received the most notice, the use of mindfulness in addressing…
Reward Yourself By Owning Your Successes
At The Mental Health Gym, we make a big deal about doing the right things to maximize your potential. Nobody accomplishes all that they can achieve, but you can come pretty close by maintaining a positive mindset, taking reasonable risks, being willing to make mistakes, and learning from our non-successes rather than dwelling upon them.…
You Are Your Competition
I’m a pretty competitive guy. There have been times, however, particularly when I was younger when my competitiveness worked against me. Why? Because I hadn’t yet learned that I am my competition. Whether I was in the classroom or in the gym or in a social setting, I sometimes held myself back from trying as…
Take The Risk Of Being Vulnerable
The 2016 presidential campaign and election in the United States, as well as the events preceding and following the inauguration of the new president, have symbolized a phenomenon taking place in many parts of the world. There is an increasing polarization based upon political beliefs, ideologies, religions, and other factors. It’s logical byproduct is a…