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Positive Psychology Articles
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- What's weighing you down? - by Submitted on Aug 17, 2015 from Rick HansonOn the path of life, most of us are hauling way too much weight. What's in your own backpack? If you're like most of us, you've got too many items on each day's To Do list and too much stuff in the closet. Too many entanglements with other people. And too many "shoulds," worries, guilts, and ...
Views: 995 - 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: 919 - What’s The One Thing You Won’t Hear In A Society Obsessed With Avoiding Responsibility? - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Craig HarperAm Not, You Are Is it just my cynical perspective and observation or have we actually become a society obsessed with avoiding all responsibility for our own bad behaviours? Kind of like five-year-olds denying we ate the chocolate cake when the remnants are plastered all over our chubby little ...
Views: 713 - What’s Your Deepest Nature? - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2017 from Rick HansonThroughout history, people have wondered about human nature. Deep down, are we basically good or bad? Recently, science is beginning to offer a persuasive answer. When the body is not disturbed by hunger, thirst, pain, or illness, and when the mind is not disturbed by threat, frustration, or ...
Views: 1157 - When Are You? - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2017 from Rick HansonThere’s a profound and miraculous mystery right under our noses: this instant of now has no duration at all, yet somehow it contains all the causes from the past that are creating the future. Everything arising to become this moment vanishes beneath our feet as the next moment wells up. Since ...
Views: 1013 - When Developing Your Self, Tackle One Thing at a Time Part I - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2011 from Nicki McCluskyLet’s go one more step into the territory of self development being “fun”: when you (1) want to reach a goal, (2) develop some particular aspect of your inner self, or (3) want to have a good time changing something you are eager to change, pick just one thing. Choose the one area or challenge ...
Views: 1274 - 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: 993 - When Helping Others Is Not Helping - by Submitted on Jun 26, 2013 from Jennifer McLeodI will approach this article from different perspectives as below: a) Helping people who do not want to be helped b) Helping people from the professionals own misdirected objectives c) Abandoning help for people too soon a) There are many young people who need our help for a variety of ...
Views: 1456 - When it’s Time to Shift Priorities - by Submitted on Aug 15, 2017 from Suzanne St. John SmithI’m a perfectionist. Always have been. And sometimes it drives me crazy. Like most ‘Type-A’ people, there isn’t enough time in the day to be a perfectionist about everything, so we often prioritize areas of our lives where our standards need to reach their highest, and those where we can ...
Views: 1101 - When the Opinions of Others Matter Too Much - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2016 from Suzanne St. John SmithFrom the moment we’re born until the day we die we are continually absorbing messages that tell us who we are, what we’re worth as human beings, what we should be doing at any given time, how we should look (and especially how we shouldn’t look), what we should eat, what we should buy, what ...
Views: 1308 - When you going alone...Slow But steady - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2019 from Ketan PIn life, you simply can not grow alone. Sooner or later you have to need a hand or others who support you in life. But sometimes, you came across a situation when no one is there to whom you can trust or ask for help, a moment of being alone. At that time you have to spend time with yourself and ...
Views: 772 - When you stopped expecting too much from life did you actually become happier? - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2020 from Dada BhagwanAt some point or the other in our life, we all must have experienced those times when nothing seems to be going right. No matter how huge amount of efforts we put in, no matter how good and best our intentions may be, we persistently continue to fail. Amidst such a scene, we get so angry and ...
Views: 413 - Where Are You Headed? - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2017 from Rick HansonThe Practice. I recently did a meditation retreat (at Spirit Rock, wonderful place, including for workshops). One evening as we walked out of the hall after the last sit, I was feeling rattled and discombobulated. (One of the benefits of a retreat - though it can be uncomfortable - is that it ...
Views: 987 - Where Complaints Come From - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2015 from Pat LaDouceurLet's start with what counts as a complaint. If you tell your doctor about your headache, for example, that's not a complaint. That's because there's a good chance your doctor can help. So here's the definition: a complaint is talking about something you don't like to someone who can't ...
Views: 1145 - Where Do You Live? - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2016 from Rick HansonAs a kid, I was really out of touch with my body. I hardly noticed it most of the time, and when I did, I prodded it like a mule to do a better job of hauling "me" - the head - around. This approach helped me soldier through some tough times. But there were costs. Many pleasures were numbed, ...
Views: 991 - Where Does It Hurt? - by Submitted on Oct 09, 2017 from Rick HansonWe're usually aware of our own suffering, which - broadly defined - includes the whole range of physical and mental discomfort, from mild headache or anxiety to the agony of bone cancer or the anguish of losing a child. (Certainly, there is more to life than suffering, including great joy and ...
Views: 914 - Which Wolf Do You Feed? - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2016 from Rick HansonI once heard a Native American teaching story in which an elder, a grandmother, was asked what she had done to become so happy, so wise, so loved and respected. She replied: "It's because I know that there are two wolves in my heart, a wolf of love and a wolf of hate. And I know that everything ...
Views: 951 - Who The Hell Do You Think You Are? Understanding Self Image - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2011 from Phil MéthotWho The Hell Do You Think You Are? No Really... ...who do you think you are? I ask because before we can talk about our self image, it would behoove us to know just what a self image is. My research over the years taught me that the problem even with the phrase self image, is that we ...
Views: 2372 - Who are you prosecuting? - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2015 from Rick HansonLately I've been thinking about a kind of "case" that's been running in my mind about someone in my extended family. The case is a combination of feeling hurt and mistreated, critique of the other person, irritation with others who haven't supported me, views about what should happen that ...
Views: 972 - Who Are You Resisting? - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2016 from Rick HansonI admit it: whether close to home or far away, I wish some people were different. Depending on who they are, I wish they'd stop doing things like leaving cabinet doors open in our kitchen, sending me spam emails, or turning a blind eye to global warming. And I wish they'd start doing things like ...
Views: 1216 - Who Are You, Deep Down? - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2016 from Rick HansonFor many of us, perhaps the hardest thing of all is to believe that "I am a good person." We can climb mountains, work hard, acquire many skills, act ethically - but truly feel that one is good deep down? Nah! We end up not feeling like a good person in a number of ways. For example, I once ...
Views: 930 - Who Do You Argue With? - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2015 from Rick HansonIt's one thing to stick up for yourself and others. But it's a different matter to get caught up in wrangles, contentiousness, squabbles . . . in a word: quarrels. Similarly, it's one thing to disagree with someone, even to the point of arguing - but it's a different matter to get so caught ...
Views: 888 - Who do you think you are? - by Submitted on Aug 18, 2011 from Scott Q MarcusI have a very unassuming, quick-thinking question. Don’t ponder the answer; just blurt it out. Ready? (Um, that’s not the question.) Here we go: “Who are you?” At first blush, it’s such an innocuous query and our replies come by rote. We provide our name. But, in reality, that’s not ...
Views: 1073 - Who Do You Trust? - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2017 from Rick HansonAs I grew up, at home and school it felt dangerous to be myself - my whole self, including the parts that made mistakes, got rebellious and angry, goofed around too loudly, or were awkward and vulnerable. Not dangers of violence, as many have faced, but risks of being punished in other ways, ...
Views: 867 - Who is Behind the Mask? - by Submitted on Aug 07, 2017 from Rick HansonMost of us wear a kind of mask, a persona that hides our deepest thoughts and feelings, and presents a polished, controlled face to the world. To be sure, a persona is a good thing to have. For example, meetings at work, holidays with the in-laws, or a first date are usually not the best time ...
Views: 891 - Who Me? Empowered? - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2010 from Patricia MorganWe were all excited to have signed on for Yes, You Can! an empowerment program developed by Dr. Charlotte Kasl, the creator of The 16 Steps. Her concept of empowerment is aligned with resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity. Kasl’s empowerment model is designed to support ...
Views: 1295 - Who Must Submit to Post-Accident Testing and When? - by Submitted on Apr 25, 2019 from Dustin ParksIn most cases, when a traffic citation is issued it becomes necessary to test all CDL holders involved, even if they were not the recipient of the citation. The reason the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires post-accident drug testing of drivers and others in ...
Views: 772 - Whose Feelings Are You Responsible For - Yours or Others? - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2018 from Margaret PaulDo you believe you are responsible for causing others' anger, hurt, sadness or anxiety? Is this causing you to feel guilty? "My wife is so upset that I have to travel more on my new job," Chuck told me in our phone counseling session. "She feels so alone and lost when I'm gone. When I talk ...
Views: 1231 - Who’s Left Off Your Gift List? - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2017 from Rick HansonCan you remember a time when you offered a gift to someone? Perhaps a holiday present, or a treat to a child, or taking time for a friend – or anything at all. How did this feel? Researchers have found that giving stimulates the same neural networks that light up when we feel physical pleasure, ...
Views: 902 - 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: 1241 - Why Are We Obsessed With Perfectionism? - by Submitted on May 31, 2018 from Irving SchattnerMerriam-Webster dictionary defines perfectionism as “the setting of unrealistically demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness. You may want to ask yourself if your goals are so unreachable as to cause ...
Views: 1033 - Why Being "Crazy" Is The Only Way To Evolve - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2017 from Geoff BladesThose of you who have been around here for a while and know how I roll, know that part of my life is exploring how deep the rabbit hole goes. It’s “crazy” to tell a “normal” person that you do meditation and hypnosis a couple of hours a day because you perceive that world to be deeper than ...
Views: 1342 - Why do I care about what others think? - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2011 from Teppie and Christina Chartomatsidis- Do you constantly need the praise of others to feel good? - Would you feel crushed if someone criticised you about the way you look? - Are you sick of constantly conforming to what others expect - only to ignore what you truly want? - Do you spend hours thinking and stressing over ...
Views: 1224 - Why do Negative Things come to my Mind? - by Submitted on Aug 03, 2019 from Dada BhagwanIn a garden, various types of people keep coming and going, at random. Some visit only once, while some come back repeatedly, some stay for a long time, while some make a fleeting appearance. Some enhance the beauty of the garden and bring in joy and happiness, whereas some bring with them ...
Views: 553 - 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: 983 - Why Dogs Make for Great Emotional Support Animals - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2020 from Julia RichardsDo you need to know emotional support animal letter sample? Many individuals look in a pet for companionship just as adoration and support. Many pet animals with their extraordinary qualities give the company to their pet guardians and the entire household, be it a dog, a cat, a little pony, and ...
Views: 1071 - Why is important the Self-Awareness? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2015 from Theresia ValoczyWhat is the Self-Awareness? „Self-awareness is the capacity for introspection and the ability to recognize oneself as an individual separate from the environment and other individuals. It is not to be confused with consciousness. While consciousness is being aware of one’s environment and body, ...
Views: 1394 - Why Is It So Difficult To Talk About Sex? - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2012 from Jay Tow, M. S. Counselor, Life Management and Relationship CoachDo you prefer your fish broiled, fried, or blackened? How about your steaks? Do you like them rare, medium, or well done? What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Are you an early riser or do you prefer to sleep in when you can? Do you tend to be attracted to slim people or someone with a ...
Views: 2002 - Why Is My Husband Always Cold, Quiet and Distant With Me? - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2019 from Paul W. Anderson, Ph.D.Here’s What Lonely Wives Can Do To Thaw Out Their Husbands. Husbands want to know why their wives are always angry with them and wives want to know why their husbands ignore them. There's an easy answer to that. Over time marriages develop a polarization. For example, the more she nags the ...
Views: 851 - Why is Personal Transformation From The Inside So Important? - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2018 from Tony DovaleTransformed (wo)man can now FLI…on his/her own!... or Engendering FLI (The Feel like It) factor @ work. Billions are spent annually on skills training in South Africa and 80% of it is wasted. Typically around 1%-3% of annual salary budgets are apparently invested in people development, and ...
Views: 2461 - Why Love Improves Mental Health 10x What You’d Expect - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2019 from Mary JamesDo you love your mental health problems? That’s a weird question probably. Of course not. You want to be free of them, why would you love them? You probably spend your days somewhat frustrated over these dumb mental health issues going on in your head. Maybe you’re constantly telling your ...
Views: 616 - Why Mental Illnesses Require Attention Even When You Feel Well - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2018 from Brooke ChaplanMany people suffer from mental illness at some point in their lives. For some people, the illness is relatively short-lived, but many people must receive some type of treatment for their mental illness for many long years or even for the rest of their lives. Some people may be inclined to stop ...
Views: 1012 - Why Not Leave Well Enough Alone? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2012 from Adriana HillEvery once in a while someone asks me how I got interested in this fierce quest for Growth and Healing. Why not leave well enough alone? What is all this talk of following your Destiny? Isn’t it hard enough just to keep our head above the water? Why not be grateful for being able to keep a roof ...
Views: 1316 - Why preparing for the worst doesn’t actually help - by Submitted on May 15, 2017 from Felicity MuscatThe way you react to a situation affects the outcome. Repeat this reaction again and again and eventually this creates a pattern for your whole life. Many people find themselves thinking about the worst case scenario for any situation they are in. As children we are taught to “expect the worst”. ...
Views: 1190 - Why the Pandemic Has Made Us Better Communicators - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2020 from Angela AshThere’s no denying that the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we communicate. Perhaps “change” is not the best choice of words. Rather than saying that we have turned into different communication-style beings, it would be more fitting to say we’re adapting our communication skills to the new ...
Views: 879 - Why to Stop Focusing on Competition, and Instead Focus on Your Circle of Brilliance - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2020 from Tim Brown"If you play your own game you'll win the championship." A friendly competitor told me this after I told him how in my head I was about another competitor of ours who had just made 90 sales at a tradeshow, and we didn't make one. It felt like a gut punch, but not because I wanted the ...
Views: 762 - Why We Need Yoga - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2015 from Chandra Yoga International“Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present. It is the essential need of today and the culture of tomorrow.” Swami Satyanada Saraswati We see it all around us. People are not well. High rates of depression, anxiety, and sleeplessness ...
Views: 960 - Why You Need A Strong Sense of Self And How To Boost It. - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2018 from Christiana StarWhen life is busy or challenging, most people get so caught up in what goes on in their head that they forget all about the rest of their body. But problems and difficulties are best addressed with the whole of you. If you focus on your issues with a strong sense of self - rather than only your ...
Views: 1017 - Why You Need to Cultivate Self-Love - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2018 from Christiana StarSelf-love - really? Isn’t it conceited, selfish, unpleasant, arrogant, narcissistic, vain and full of false pride? It is, if ego-based and full of self-importance. However, there is a different kind of self-love you really need. The right kind of Self-Love. Real self-love is a spiritually ...
Views: 995 - Winnie the Pooh - Mastering the Art of Transition - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2012 from Beth Tunis, M.A.“The fact is,” said Rabbit, “we’ve missed our way somehow.” They were having a rest in a small sand-pit on the top of the Forest. Pooh was getting rather tired of that sand-pit, and suspected it of following them about because, whichever direction they started in, they always ended up at it, ...
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