Give the Gift of Gratitude
Most winter holidays focus on the theme of Light in the Darkness. Light inspires hope whether you are celebrating the birth of Christ, the sustaining oil of Hanukkah, or light…
Whole Brain Living
You might remember Jill Bolte Taylor, whose 2008 presentation “My Stroke of Insight” (see below) was the first TED talk to go viral. At age 37, Dr. Taylor was a…
Introverts and Extroverts: Bridging the Communication Gap
Most discussions of the introvert/extrovert trait explore how people on both ends of this continuum experience social situations. For example, extroverts generally feel energized by being with other people, whereas…
Cultivating Compassion: Tonglen Meditation
Months back, I signed up for an online meditation retreat, and it turned out to be just what my broken heart needed this past weekend. I felt overwhelming anguish about…
Solve the Body First: Simple Strategies to Thrive Under Pressure
Most people think of stress as coming from their challenging circumstances, but the truth is that stress arises in the body. When a stressful situation captures our attention, we throw…
Defusing Defensiveness
Defensiveness is a common form of emotional self-protection. When we feel corrected or criticized, we deflect or shut down the conversation to avoid feeling hurt, sad or ashamed. An emotional…
Intuition: How Cultivate It and When to Ignore It
Intuition is a treasure trove of information offered by your body. Often, your body knows something before your mind can find concepts and words to express it. You can enhance…
How to Listen Persuasively
The next time you’re trying to convince your spouse, child, friend, coworker or political opponent to understand your perspective about something, set your argument aside and try a different research-supported…
Relationship Remedies to Prevent Family Conflict from Ruining the Holidays
Are you excited about holiday gatherings with your family? Or are you dreading the prospect? How were your Thanksgiving or Hannukah family visits? During the holiday season we see lots…
Escaping Perfectionism’s Trap
Are you haunted by a perfectionistic inner voice? Do you tend to set unrealistic goals or find yourself frozen—procrastinating on tasks for fear of not getting them just right? Are…