Self Improvement'
The wonders of altruism
The recent acts of heroism seen immediately following the Boston marathon explosions may have rekindled our public amazement at the courage of untrained strangers who put themselves at risk to aid others. What is the source [...]
Dealing with your, or your partner’s neuroticism
When we are unable to understand another person’s behavior, attitude or demeanor we may label it as ‘neurotic’. This term is synonymous with a self-defeating, inexplicable conduct stemming from internal dysfunction. We are usually perplexed about [...]
Avoid feelings of resentment during Holiday preparations
The Holiday preparations are often overwhelming. Attending to all the details for the festivities leaves some hosts feeling agitated, angry, stressed and even resentful about their unfair burdens and about those who carry less of the [...]
Cultivate friendships for your health
Current recommendations for better health implore us to: “Eat right, exercise, maintain normal weight, avoid smoking, drink in moderation, challenge your mind and keep an active social life.” The latter is often mentioned last – but [...]
Is it better to give than to receive?
This is the season of giving and sharing with others. Mark Twain advised us, “It is better to give than receive – especially advice.” It is probably true for most forms of help since the giver [...]
How to avoid falling prey to scammers
Scams and scammers have plagued society from its inception. Every era creates its brand of common schemes by fraudulent, conscienceless manipulators who prey on innocent, often kind and vulnerable souls. What makes some people more susceptible [...]
Does your overactive mind interfere with your sleep?
Many people experience sleep difficulties that are a source of emotional, social and marital difficulties. Learning how to improve your chances for a better night’s sleep may be helpful to your health and relationships. Insomnia, the [...]
What others think of you does not define you
How other people view us is important to our survival and well-being. Yet, we must consider these perceptions carefully and assess their merits prior to internalizing them, particularly if they could negatively impact our self-view. Humans [...]
Resolutions: New faces-no parking places
Regular athletic club members are well acquainted with the annual phenomenon of having new members and no parking places between January first and mid- March of each year. After that time, the parking spots are available [...]
How you can reduce the risk of being assaulted
Recent Santa Cruz groping incidents have raised the concerns about the safety of women in a certain areas of the city. Certainly, the police have taken all steps to catch the perpetrator and to restore security [...]
The courage to age gracefully
Watching oneself age may be a painful process. It is like observing an architectural masterpiece slowly eroding towards its collapse. Emotionally, the irreversible changes evoke sadness, grief, fear, shame, and even guarded panic. Yet, there are [...]
Overcoming the illusion of self-sufficiency
Autonomy and self-sufficiency are highly promoted values in our culture. Many people feel pride in achieving autonomy and shame or dread when they find themselves needing others. This idealized view of self-reliance is an indulgence of [...]
Men can benefit from close male friends
Today’s women are invested in cultivating and maintaining close friendships with other women, while men are less inclined to do so with their male counterparts. Women are puzzled about the absence of emotional and personal exchanges [...]
How to use hope to your advantage in relationship and life
During economic, personal or relationship difficulties, it is easy for observers to recommend that the discouraged individual stay hopeful and positive. Some label this person as innately negative or a depressed party in need of treatment. [...]
Complaining is both a beneficial and an annoying habit
Everyone complains sometimes, some do so frequently. It may be annoying to hear, yet soothing to express. Why do we complain and how can we continue to benefit from it while reducing its negative impact on [...]
Volunteering is helpful to the community – and the volunteer
It may seem counter-intuitive to advocate volunteering at a time of grave unemployment and economic crisis. Yet, the merits of this activity both to the community and the individual are unquestionable. Volunteers help various non-profit organizations [...]
How to spark your creative thinking
We all know some people whom we identify as thinking “outside the box”. Employers seek creative thinkers since they offer innovative solutions that seem to elude most other people. However, new research suggests that the capacity [...]
Managing your grief
Grief, a feeling of deep sorrow or sadness, is part of everyone’s experience. It spans the gamut from reactions to small day-to-day losses to major profound grief about the loss of a dear one’s life. The [...]
Training your brain may improve your life
For many years our understanding of brain function was that any injury, aberration, malfunctions or disease process that affected our brain was unchangeable. Fortunately, with ongoing and new technological advances of viewing and researching brain function, [...]
What can we learn from the egregious mistakes of our leaders?
Why do we watch our leaders in horror and some glee as they fail? We are aware of preachers who fiercely fought for moral conduct only to find themselves acting indecently, teachers who take advantage of [...]
