When I teach relaxation skills or biofeedback, I encourage my patients to practice twice a day at roughly the same times each day so that their bodies and brains begin to treat to their “behavior medicine” in the same way that they would adjust to a daily oral medication. People who have regular meditation practices…
Throughout the year, we have a number of chances to reassess our progress, modify our plans, and resolve to better ourselves in various ways. These can be considered as times for renewal. The start of a new year is such a time. So are birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and changes of season. Now is a particularly…
The Goal-Achieving Psychotherapy approach places a great deal of emphasis on being proactive to make good things happen. It is important, however, to recognize that sometimes it pays to do nothing. I’m not talking about meditation or some other type of formal relaxation, although there is definitely a time for that in the healthy lifestyle. …
Stock market experts tell us that one of the common mistakes that average investors make is to invest in “hot” stocks that are doing well, and then to become disillusioned and sell when the stock loses significant value. The typical amateur investor thus often winds up doing the opposite of what people hope to accomplish…
One of the concepts that I have difficulty relating to is boredom. I’m seldom bored, but I frequently hear others complain that they are. It’s not a subject that I’ve studied a whole lot, but I think that I’ve had enough experience in avoiding boredom to enable me to help others by sharing my thoughts…
I’ve been carrying one of my favorite football quotes around with me for about 50 years. Although I’m no longer certain who said it, it was a quarterback whose offense just came out on the field after the opponent’s punt pinned their team back near their own end zone. Despite the seemingly dismal situation, as…
In working with people, I sometimes find them to be reluctant to express themselves with confidence in social situations. Some are hesitant to apply for a jobs or leadership positions in organizations or to advocate for their beliefs. In holding themselves back, they often cite a lack of confidence or a feeling that what they…
Each holiday exists for a purpose That purpose may be to celebrate the birth of a famous leader or contributor to uniqueness of the planet. It may be to honor heroes or workers. It may be to mark a seasonal milestone such as the harvest or the beginning of a new year. Valentine’s Day has…
As we make our imperfect journey through life as human beings, most of us try our best most of the time. Even so, we make mistakes. Some mistakes can be huge. Fortunately, most of the mistakes that we make tend to be small and not of great consequence to the well-being of ourselves or others. …
It seems to be a rite of passage for many teenagers to deny the existence of other generations. Many teens want nothing to do with their parents, are embarrassed to be with their siblings (older or younger), are immune to the influence of teachers, and are willing to do almost anything to not be different…
This blog is being written on the day when we celebrate the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King. In his short lifetime, Dr. King used non-violence to lead the way for advances in civil rights and harmony among diverse segments of society. He also was a role model for promoting hope. His most famous speech…