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- Michael Mantell's Positivity : Here's the Most Positively Positive Step You Can Take for Optimal Living - by Submitted on Feb 29, 2016 from Michael MantellDr. Michael Mantell is fond of saying, "what you feed, you grow." When it comes to health, longevity, successful social connections and long-term loving relationships, personal and communal wellbeing, even physical fitness and finances, leading-edge transformational coaches know that optimistic, ...
Views: 791(1 vote) - Are some things getting better? - by Submitted on Aug 10, 2015 from Rick HansonThere are always things that are getting worse. For example, over the past year, you probably know someone who has become unemployed or ill or both, and there's more carbon in the atmosphere inexorably heating up the planet. But if you don't recognize what's improving in your own life, then ...
Views: 652 - What's Your Heart Saying? - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2015 from Rick HansonOne Christmas I hiked down into the Grand Canyon, whose bottom lay a vertical mile below the rim. Its walls were layered like a cake, and a foot-high stripe of red or gray rock indicated a million-plus years of erosion by the Colorado river. Think of water - so soft and gentle - gradually ...
Views: 516 - Why do we have cheerleaders? - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2015 from Rick HansonLet's say you've had an interesting idea or moment of inspiration, or thought of a new project, or felt some enthusiasm bubbling up inside you. Your notions are not fully formed and you're not really committed to them yet, but they have promise and you like them and are trying them on for size. ...
Views: 553 - Problem vs. Stuff - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2015 from Patricia NollProblem vs. Stuff What is the difference between a problem and stuff? Do you remember when the bumper sticker “Shit Happens” was popular? Do you remember how you reacted to that statement? Or how do you suppose you might have reacted to that statement? Would you be part of the majority ...
Views: 567 - What makes you feel threatened? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2015 from Rick HansonOn a previous blog at the Huffington Post, I used the example of Stephen Colbert's satirical "March to Keep Fear Alive" as a timely illustration of a larger point: humans evolved to be fearful - since that helped keep our ancestors alive - so we are very vulnerable to being frightened and even ...
Views: 600 - What's The Most Important Thing? - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2015 from Rick HansonHave you heard this saying? The most important thing is to remember the most important thing. What are the most important things to you? In your life as a whole? During a particular interaction with someone? Right this minute? The most important things often get pushed to the sidelines. ...
Views: 586 - Are You Holding Onto Feeling Wronged? - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2015 from Rick HansonFirst, it has two distinct meanings: * To give up resentment or anger * To pardon an offense; to stop seeking punishment or recompense Here, I am going to focus on the first meaning, which is broad enough to include situations where you have not let someone off the hook morally or ...
Views: 655(1 vote) - What is an open heart? - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2015 from Rick HansonWe all know people who are, ah, . . . challenging. It could be a critical parent, a bossy supervisor, a relative who has you walking on eggshells, a nice but flaky friend, a co-worker who just doesn't like you, a partner who won't keep his or her agreements, or a politician you dislike. Right ...
Views: 529 - The Most Harmful Word in Your Vocabulary - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2015 from Michael MantellSure, you may be thinking that word might be “hate,” “poverty,” “illness,” or “death.” No, these words are mild compared to the life-sucking, contentment-robbing, depression-boosting, anxiety-causing and anger-building word I’m thinking of. That word is “should.” In the wonderful words of my ...
Views: 878(1 vote) - Making the Choice: Do you have a Busy (Monkey) Mind or a Centered (Calm) Mind? - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2015 from Judith HolderOur mind is always processing information at some level within us. The mind gathers information, sorts and stores experiences. We use our library of experiences to filter information, structure how we will think about and approach future experiences, and make decisions. Our mind is fascinating ...
Views: 786 - How Do You Talk to People? - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2015 from Rick HansonWhen our kids were little, I'd come home from work wanting some peace after the daily roller-coaster and often walk into a living room full of stuff - toy trucks, tennis shoes, bags of chips, etc. Irritated, the first words out of my mouth to my wife would be: "How come there's all this mess?" ...
Views: 583 - Overcoming Legal Battles: How To Stay Mentally Strong When You Are Faced With Charges - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2015 from Anita GinsburgFighting a legal battle is challenging. Often, it can be very difficult to stay strong and positive both in and out of court. To arm yourself for the conflict, prepare mentally in advance to mount an effective defense for the best chance of success. Organize the facts Sometimes a criminal ...
Views: 915 - Friend or Foe? - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2015 from Rick HansonFriendliness is a down-to-earth approach to others that is welcoming and positive. Think about a time when someone was friendly to you - maybe drawing you into a gathering, saying hello on the sidewalk, or smiling from across the room. How did that make you feel? Probably more included, ...
Views: 614 - What Are You Learning? - by Submitted on May 25, 2015 from Rick HansonMy dad grew up on a ranch in North Dakota. He has a saying from his childhood - you may have heard it elsewhere - that's: "You learn more by listening than by talking." Sure, we often gain by thinking out loud, including discovering our truth by speaking it. But on the whole, listening brings ...
Views: 561 - 4 Steps to Help You Overcome Your Mid-Life Happiness Slump - by Submitted on May 24, 2015 from Peggy SealfonYou don't need to turn back the clock to be happy. These tips will help you navigate mid-life. Every time I wish my 96-year-old Uncle to have a fabulous day, he answers enthusiastically with, "every day is a great day." Attitude is a major factor in one's outlook on life, but economic and ...
Views: 5664(1 vote) - How Does Self-Confidence Affect Your Overall Health? - by Submitted on May 20, 2015 from Anita GinsburgThe link between emotional and physical well being has been established for quite some time. However, many people believe that this correlation is merely spiritual or somehow not quantifiable. They might be surprised to learn that confidence affects one's health in several objective ...
Views: 658 - Don't Take Things Personally... - by Submitted on May 19, 2015 from Vishal PandeyLearning how to not take things personally is something we can all benefit from. I mean, who doesn’t want to be more centered & resistant to all the meaningless criticism (constructive ones are good). Here we will look at the general attitude & behavior of your critics and ways to deal with ...
Views: 728 - Coping with Pain - a Personal Journey - by Submitted on May 19, 2015 from Clement McGrathRecently I went through a period of intense physical pain which lasted several weeks and caused some interesting effects. It reminded me of these words by the poet Emily Dickinson: Pain has an Element of Blank – It cannot recollect When it begun – of if there was A time when it was ...
Views: 856 - Healing From Our Fear of Selfishness - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2016 from Bethany RosselitA client recently asked me what the difference was, between healing and loving yourself and being selfish. To that person, they appeared to be the same thing. Learning to love ourselves is an important step on our journey to grow in our emotional intelligence. Yet, fear of being selfish is ...
Views: 2475 - 5 Decluttering Mini-Missions - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2016 from Bethany RosselitThe past few weeks, we have been examining the benefits of decluttering and simple living. The studies make it clear that living a less cluttered life is beneficial not only for your mental health, but also for your family. The problem is that so many of us have so much clutter. Where can ...
Views: 689 - Michael Mantell's Exercise For The 14 Muscles for Joy - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2016 from Michael MantellDr. Michael Mantell coaches people to stir their healing power in the medicine of laughter and play. Living with stress, feeling uptight, being worried, not sleeping, and thinking limiting thoughts, kill the joy in your life—as well as your health and wellbeing. One of the best anti-stress ...
Views: 1017(1 vote) - When Have People Been Caring? - by Submitted on May 18, 2015 from Rick HansonEveryone knows what it's like to care about someone. Remember being with a friend, a mate, a pet: you feel warmly connected, and want him or her not to suffer and to be happy. On the other hand, you've probably had the sense, one time or another, of not being cared about. That you didn't ...
Views: 587 - Reasons Why You Should Start Thinking More Positive About Your Health And Well-Being - by Submitted on May 15, 2015 from Anita GinsburgYour health is one of the most important things that you truly need to maintain well into old age. When you are young, it seems difficult to imagine that you will not always retain optimal health. In fact, most young people imagine that they are virtually invincible. When your health starts to ...
Views: 644 - What Are They Feeling? - by Submitted on May 13, 2015 from Rick HansonImagine a world in which people interacted with each other like ants or fish. Imagine a day at work like this, or in your family, aware of the surface behavior of the people around you but oblivious to their inner life while they remain unmoved by your own. That's a world without empathy. To ...
Views: 556 - Accusations of Sexism: And the many who would Gladly Trade Places! - by Submitted on May 11, 2015 from Christopher Evans23-year-old Poppy Smart of Worcester UK, grew so tired of being the recipient of wolf-whistling builders as she made her way to work each day that she saw no option but to report this to the police. Describing their behaviour as disrespectful and sexist she simply refused to tolerate it any ...
Views: 581 - Defeat-Proof Your Mind - by Submitted on May 05, 2015 from Michael MantellIt took quite awhile to earn that degree, to go on for graduate studies, to land that impressive job. And somehow, it’s still leaving you with thoughts of defeat, of fear and worry. Or perhaps that degree and job hasn’t happened for you, it’s not where you put your skills to work. Perhaps ...
Views: 897(2 votes) - The Four Links to Positivity - by Submitted on May 01, 2015 from Michael MantellThe self-help blogs and media are filled with useful information about positive psychology, becoming your best self, leading the good life, and the value and benefits of being optimistic, positive and hopeful. It’s next to impossible--from more than 3000 years of Judaism’s wisdom on happiness to ...
Views: 1477 - Do You Care? - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2015 from Rick HansonCompassion is essentially the wish that beings not suffer - from subtle physical and emotional discomfort to agony and anguish - combined with feelings of sympathetic concern. You could have compassion for an individual (a friend in the hospital, a co-worker passed over for a promotion), ...
Views: 637 - Deliberate Joyful Activities - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2015 from Karen EllerAwhile back when I was doing an appreciation list, I realized that, although thoughts and feelings are of utmost importance (which the appreciation list comprises), we are physical beings living in a physical world and our activities cannot be dismissed. So, along with appreciating, I have ...
Views: 598 - Why a "C" is better than an "A" - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2015 from Michael Mantell“Mrs. Mantell, your son Michael is not college material. He should definitely consider a vocational high school path.” That’s what Mrs. McCaffery, my 8th grade teacher at Chancellor Ave. Elementary School in Newark, N.J., told my mother with me sitting there…trembling, My mother, then ...
Views: 832 - Your lbs May Prevent Stress and Negativity - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2015 from Michael MantellDid you know that most of the people you know, including yourself very likely, find it easier to work than to enjoy free time? Becoming successful, it seems, trumps developing happiness. This is what Shawn Achor relies on when he writes about the “Happiness Myth,” namely the myth that hard work ...
Views: 877 - How Can You Develop Traits To Think More Positive And Stay Optimistic? - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2015 from Anita GinsburgIn order to experience true happiness, you must develop a positive outlook on life. Although everyone will have an occasional bad day, it is important to maintain a strong sense of hope. Here are six tips to help stay optimistic. Avoid associating with negative people Negativity tends to ...
Views: 615 - The WAY to Life's Success - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2015 from Michael MantellA few weeks ago, I wrote a column about my WAM program for personal success, what about me? I wrote about three steps to “me,” self-compassion, including 1) welcoming yourself as a friend, 2) Acknowledging your strengths and successes, and recognizing that, 3) Mindfulness promotes it all. ...
Views: 997(1 vote) - The Not-Enough Consideration: How To Overcome - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2015 from Susanna KearneyThis blog is part 2 of "The Mother Connection" blogpiece, and is a part of Susanna’s book. It’s impossible today for any of us to not be triggered around our own “enough-ness,” given how much our culture uses this very concept to demonstrate and than sell to us what we need to feel ...
Views: 1457 - What Millennials Can Teach Us About Positivity - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2015 from Michael MantellHow can a group of 80 million young Americans suffering from mind-bogglingly high unemployment rates still be positive, buoyant and survive? Leave it to Millennials to do exactly that. With $200 billion in buying power, they are optimistic, confident, self-expressive, liberal, upbeat and ...
Views: 733 - Five Ways to Empower Your Thoughts - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2015 from Tony Fahkry“What the mind can conceive and believe, and the heart desire, you can achieve.” - Norman Vincent Peale “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it,” remarked the Greek philosopher Aristotle. If you were to read no further than that line, ...
Views: 984(3 votes) - Stress Public Health Enemy #1 Or Is It? - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2015 from Gail GentrySTRESS – PUBLIC HEALTH ENEMY #1 OR IS IT? March 12, 2015 • 0 Responses • Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 41 seconds Share this post and help spread the love! Share on FacebookShare on Google+Pin on PinterestTweet about this on Twitter Stress!! Such a killer. Stress has been deemed a ...
Views: 544 - Beware: This mental attitude that could be undermining your health and happiness - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2015 from Clement McGrathThere is no such thing as a vacuum in nature and the same is true of most peoples’ minds. They are full of beliefs, opinions and knowledge that they depend on to give them some identity and meaning. However, the more you fill your mind with beliefs and knowledge the more closed and fixed you ...
Views: 879 - Mindfulness for Busy People - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2015 from Pat LaDouceurElizabeth knew that something was wrong at work. She was being interrupted during discussions, ignored in conversations, and excluded from meetings. She didn’t have a clue what it was about, but the stress of not knowing was undermining her confidence. Elizabeth felt confused, ...
Views: 975 - The Wonderful Benefits of Playing on Adults - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2015 from Maisie BlairAs an adult, you are probably leading a very busy lifestyle. You have kids to take care of, you have a research paper that needs to be finished, or you have a quota at work that you need to accomplish. And because you are so pre-occupied with a lot of things, you may not have enough time for ...
Views: 549(2 votes) - Supercharge Your Relationships: Do Not Take Anything Personally!! - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2015 from Sandra MiniereAs you learn NOT to take anything personally, you will bring harmony into your relationships. For example, someone may say or do something that feels like an attack on your self-worth, wellbeing or your beliefs. If you retaliate by defending or protecting yourself, you disrupt the connection ...
Views: 941 - From No to Low, What You Can Do to Improve Self-Esteem - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2015 from Jason MagillHere are two universal truths about self-esteem: Building your self-esteem is essential for confidence and success, and it all begins with you. People with a healthy self-esteem are able to define their worth, value and achievements. Many people suffer from low self-esteem. This is ...
Views: 1041 - Common Sense is a Lie. - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2015 from Lucas ThomasCommon Sense is a lie. A lie that has frustrated me for a long long time as it is the cause of most misunderstandings and hatreds in the world. Why is Common Sense a lie? Well let’s define it first: Common Sense as defined from thee Merriam-Webster Dictionary. • COMMON SENSE: ...
Views: 1033 - Permanence : The Story of Who We Are - by Submitted on Feb 25, 2015 from Linda HellerPERMANENCE OUR STORY OF WHO WE ARE THE ILLUSION Yesterday opportunities came to visit- opportunities to embrace the ways in which I was introduced to my own assumptions of what would always be? Intellectually, should I be asked-does anything last forever, I would have said no. ...
Views: 716 - To Develop Gratitude Be a Thermostat Not a Thermometer - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2015 from Michael MantellHere’s the wisest elixir of happiness—gratitude. That’s right, gratitude will fill your storehouse of happiness. What’s this have to do with health and fitness? Plenty. You see the study of positive psychology, specifically the work of Sonja Lyubomirsky in her book, “The How of Happiness,” ...
Views: 1055 - You Don't Have To Be Brilliant In Order ToSucceed Greatly - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2015 from John Carinci“You don’t have to be brilliant to have brilliant ideas and outcomes” At the age of nineteen, a Russian, Igor Sikorsky, almost had a working model of the first helicopter. By the age of forty-nine in 1940, Sikorsky’s successful VS-300 became a model that others based theirs on, and Sikorsky ...
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