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…
I don’t consider myself to be a guy who scares very easily, but there are two kinds of people who scare me – not because I consider them to be dangerous to me but rather to themselves. The first type are the ones who don’t know how to say “No” whenever they are asked to…
My new book will be out this summer, and I hope that you will read it regardless of your age. It’s titled, “Rejuvenaging: The Art and Science of Growing Older with Enthusiasm”. As it’s title implies, the target market is made up of those who are in the second half-century of their lives. The message…
Winners never lose! That doesn’t mean that they always win. Despite how paradoxical that statement appears to be, it is true. To have the mentality of a winner in any aspect of life, one doesn’t lose sight of the goal and pursues it despite the fact that s/he inevitably experiences setbacks. In fact the major…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
Human beings are social animals. Research has demonstrated the importance of building and maintaining a social network as being one of the most important indexes of mental health. It is also protective against negative aspects of the aging process. But social comfort is not evenly distributed. Social role modeling from parents and older siblings, growing…
In her revolutionary and creative book, Mindset; The New Psychology of Success, Carol Dweck pointed out how some people acquire a Fixed Mindset – believing that they have very little control over the direction of their lives, while others develop a Growth Mindset – recognizing that their efforts play a huge role in how their…
The research is really very clear. Health, longevity, and happiness are associated with staying active intellectually and socially, maintaining a positive attitude, and especially with keeping oneself physically fit. In 2003, Dr. James Fries identified four physical health habits that are protective against disability. In fact, individuals who do not smoke, drink only moderately, follow…