In the book “Ruling Your World” Sakyong Mipham describes ancient strategies to help the reader achieve mastery over their mind and over their life. Although the strategies and metaphors he describes are very old, they are surprisingly relevant and useful in today’s society. The author of the book is Buddhist, and many of the metaphors …Read More
Can Having More Money Lead to Greater Unhappiness?
Sep 12, 2010
We’ve all heard the adage that “money can’t buy happiness,” and yet, within our culture, it seems that we are constantly being told that it can. Whether we receive these messages from advertisers, movie stars, pop divas, it is undeniable that these messages abound. Indeed, we are swimming in them. The messages that we receive …Read More
The Survival of the Kindest
Aug 13, 2010
When I was training at the Austin Child Guidance Center last year, my supervisors shared with me an article from Science Daily called “Social Scientists Build Case for ‘Survival of the Kindest’”. Evolution theory poses that species survive and evolve through the process of natural selection. This has often been translated as the “survival of …Read More
Looking for Something? Get “Lost”!
Jun 1, 2010
Perhaps this seems odd to give a plug to my favorite TV show, ABC’s Lost, on this website . What on earth does this have to do with psychology & well-being, you ask? Well, let me explain myself. First, I have to say that I’m pretty bummed that Lost has concluded. I loved the finale. I’m …Read More
You Matter…Here’s Proof
Apr 13, 2010
I recently finished the audiobook Connected: The Surprising Power of Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives by Nicholas A. Christakis and James H. Fowler. As the name implies, the professors (Christakis a professor of medicine, sociology, and health care policy at Harvard and Fowler a professor of political science at UC San Diego) …Read More
The Bucket List, Surfing, and Zen
Mar 27, 2010
I recently returned from my first trip to Hawaii…Aloha! I went with my family and had a wonderful time. It is truly magical there…I can see why everyone I’ve ever talked to who has visited there touts her beauty. We stayed in Waikiki on Ohau for about a week…it was too difficult to make an adventure vacation …Read More
“The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World” by The Dalai Lama (Book Recommendation)
Mar 5, 2010
I have read the original The Art of Happiness by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and psychiatrist Howard Cutler, M.D. three times and count it among my short list of favorite and influential books. They have worked on a series of books that include The Art of Happiness at Work (I got about 1/2 through …Read More
Internet Addiction & Depression
Feb 13, 2010
As cited in a recent Reuters news article on MSNBC, a study by British scientists published in the journal Psychopathology found that people who spend a lot of time on the Internet are more depressed than those who don’t. In this study, the researches analyzed the Internet use of 1,319 Britons between the ages of …Read More
The Ultimate Happiness Prescription by Deepak Chopra (book recommendation)
Jan 31, 2010
Just about everyone nowadays has at least a passing familiarity with Deepak Chopra. He’s an M.D., but has specialized in alternative medicine for about 2 decades. He’s been a consultant on countless news programs, been on Oprah Winfrey many times, etc. He definitely has his critics out there, and I’d say I’m a bit skeptical …Read More
Mindfulness for Beginners by Jon Kabat-Zinn (audiobook recommendation)
Jan 23, 2010
I’ve read and listened to a number of books and presentations by Jon Kabat-Zinn. He earned a Ph.D. from MIT in molecular biology in 1971. He is a Professor of Medicine Emeritus and founding director of the Stress Reduction Clinic and the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical …Read More