There are very few things that we can do during the last week in December to change the quality of the outcome of the year. Hopefully, not many of us would want to change it to any great extent, but I do feel that it’s appropriate to have a level of discontent about the past in order for us…
It has been told that when Michelangelo was asked how he was able to take an unformed block of marble and create the masterpiece statue of David, he reportedly answered that it was easy, “I just chipped away the parts that didn’t look like David, and what was left was David.” There’s no verifiable evidence…
Ageism is a form of stereotyping and/or discrimination based upon a person’s age. It has often limited older adults from employment opportunities and leadership positions in organizations because of a feeling that older individuals are not as healthy, sharp, or able to function effectively as someone who is younger. When this thinking is applied without…
Do you remember when the only thing that you could use a phone for was to make and receive calls? That seems so boring now that we have smart phones that can do a multiplicity of tasks. Among other things, a smart phone can also serve as a computer, camera, texting machine, postal service, word…
When I feel overloaded and overwhelmed and a sense of loss of control over important parts of my life, I can usually look at my desktop to help me regain a sense of control. As much as we have come to rely on electronics for communicating, banking, and other activities, I still get a lot…
Do you ever take a meeting with yourself? At the risk of sounding weirder than usual, I believe that most people don’t spend enough time talking with themselves. As a result, we may take too many actions without pre-planning or without fully researching our options. The best way to get around that is to have…
Whenever people discuss potential calamitous events of the future – like destruction of the planet due to global warming or an intentional or inadvertent nuclear event or the total collapse of the Social Security System or robots who start controlling humans rather than the other way around, you will often get at least one person…
A true measure of emotional strength is the ability to stay calm at a time of crisis or chaos or turmoil. The ability to stay calm is such an empowering skill. Staying calm at a time when others seem unable to do so is such a powerful emotional tool. It permits rational decision-making as well…
Exercise is in fashion these days. When I was growing up, the only gyms that I knew about were in schools or community centers. They tended to be large rooms with very little equipment, no weights, and generally designed for team sports such a basketball, volleyball, or dodgeball. Nowadays, if you live in a city…
When psychologists speak of assertiveness, they typically are referring to being able to express your thoughts and feelings honestly while not impacting on the rights of others. Unassertive people are easily taken advantage of because they don’t stand up for their own rights – and they may make purchases that they don’t need or work…
When working with people to help them change habits for the betterment of their lifestyles and health, I’m often met with a response on the order of, “I really want to – but it’s hard.” It seems like an acceptable excuse for not going on a diet, not implementing an exercise program, not going back…