Toxic people defy logic. Some are blissfully unaware of the negative impact that they have on those around them, and others seem to derive satisfaction from creating chaos and pushing other people’s buttons. Either way, they create unnecessary complexity, strife, and, worst of all, stress. Studies have long shown that stress can have a lasting,…
Living like a solitary hermit can be unhealthy if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons —but newly-published research shows that not all forms of societal withdrawal are equal. In fact, the findings published in the journal Personality and Individual Differences by a University of Buffalo psychologist suggest that one form of social withdrawal, referred to as unsociability,…
Baby, You’re a Firework! ‘Tis the season to be jolly — people all over the globe are dusting off the mistletoe and puckering up for the long line of friends and family just waiting to be welcomed into your house for another round of yearly festivities. “Christmas is a time when you get homesick, even…
“Instead of complaining that the rose bush is full of thorns, be happy the thorn bush has roses.” ~Proverb We all complain. Even if you argue that you are the happiest person in the world, you still complain sometimes. Sometimes we complain without even realizing it, but rarely is it helpful. Sure, a common complaint…
We know that rates of depression and stress can increase significantly over the holiday season. But you don’t need to have a diagnosis of clinical depression to feel down during the holidays. According to Mental Health America, the holiday season for many can be a time of loneliness, self-evaluation, reflection on past failures, and anxiety about an…
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~ Ward In my journey to happiness, it took me awhile to get to this constant state of gratitude I reside in daily. It is the parent of all other emotions, and I can’t emphasize enough that THIS is…
The holidays can really usher in emotions and feelings that we find it much easier to suppress throughout the rest of the year. We may find that we lose patience with the long lines at the shopping mall, and our email inboxes seem to be completely taken over with advertisements for our favorite restaurants, discounts…
What happens when you run out of creative ideas? And where did they come from to begin with? Can you open a secret door to find a creativity engine, prime it with a few pumps and then use that energy to fuel any endeavor – from a masterwork in music to a novel approach to…
What is holding people back from the life that they truly want to live? I’d say that one very common and destructive thing is that they think too much. They overthink every little problem until it becomes bigger and scarier and it actually is. Overthink positive things until they don’t look so positive anymore. Or…
“I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures.” ~Lao Tzu I am fortunate to have married a man whom shares my love of taking the simple road. Simplicity for us is not about how much stuff we do or don’t own, it is a motivating force (core…