Solving Unsolvable Problems

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Beating the Coronavirus Stress

David Niven Ph.D. on March 16, 2020

As Great Britain faced the terror of World War II air raids, researchers found something remarkable. The people did not panic. There's a lesson here for dealing with coronavirus.

As Great Britain faced the terror of World War II air raids, researchers found something remarkable. The people did not panic. There's a lesson here for dealing with coronavirus.

Resilience

John Grisham Can't Be Stopped

David Niven Ph.D. on June 20, 2017

Struggling against the impulse to give up on something important to you? Take a lesson from John Grisham -- a writer even more persistent than his characters.

Struggling against the impulse to give up on something important to you? Take a lesson from John Grisham -- a writer even more persistent than his characters.

Motivation

Soccer Star Carli Lloyd on How to Kick Criticism to the Curb

David Niven Ph.D. on July 6, 2015

As the World Cup began, American soccer's Carli Lloyd faced stunning criticism from a former coach. Her response can teach us all how to keep destructive criticism from knocking us off our feet.

As the World Cup began, American soccer's Carli Lloyd faced stunning criticism from a former coach. Her response can teach us all how to keep destructive criticism from knocking us off our feet.

Smart effort is a good thing. It might well win Urban Meyer another national championship. But he learned the hard way that bottomless, pull-your-hair-out effort produces more stress than success.

Creativity

The Surprising Creativity Lesson from 'The Christmas Song'

David Niven Ph.D. on December 18, 2014

"The Christmas Song" teaches a surprising lesson on having a joyous holiday season. The key isn't picture postcard perfection. What you really need is a little distance and a fuzzy focus to enjoy your holidays more.

"The Christmas Song" teaches a surprising lesson on having a joyous holiday season. The key isn't picture postcard perfection. What you really need is a little distance and a fuzzy focus to enjoy your holidays more.

Career

Can You Find 20 Minutes to Be Extraordinary Today?

David Niven Ph.D. on November 24, 2014

Overcoming the tendency to spend nearly all our time doing ordinary things in the ordinary way is the first step to thriving in our careers.

Overcoming the tendency to spend nearly all our time doing ordinary things in the ordinary way is the first step to thriving in our careers.

Happiness

Which Matters More: Regular Days or Big Events?

David Niven Ph.D. on October 9, 2014

People think of fairy tale weddings, fairy tale vacations and the like, moments when extraordinary events subsume ordinary life and define everything that comes later. But the truth is that enjoying the ordinary events you experience today may be the surest path to living happily ever after.

People think of fairy tale weddings, fairy tale vacations and the like, moments when extraordinary events subsume ordinary life and define everything that comes later. But the truth is that enjoying the ordinary events you experience today may be the surest path to living happily ever after.

Career

I Want to Enjoy Work: Is That Possible?

David Niven Ph.D. on September 2, 2014

Being engaged in our work makes us better at what we do and contributes to our health and happiness. But are we doomed to feel disconnected from work if we lack good management and supportive coworkers? On the contrary, it turns out that much of what makes us engaged workers lies not in the job but in ourselves. You are only three challenges away from being more engaged.

Being engaged in our work makes us better at what we do and contributes to our health and happiness. But are we doomed to feel disconnected from work if we lack good management and supportive coworkers? On the contrary, it turns out that much of what makes us engaged workers lies not in the job but in ourselves. You are only three challenges away from being more engaged.

Procrastination

4 Steps to Stop Procrastinating

David Niven Ph.D. on August 18, 2014

Wasting time is as old as time itself. But as we learn more about the root causes of procrastination we are ultimately unlocking a formula to actually get stuff done - even when we don't particularly feel like it.

Wasting time is as old as time itself. But as we learn more about the root causes of procrastination we are ultimately unlocking a formula to actually get stuff done - even when we don't particularly feel like it.

Embarrassment

Dear Abby Goes Negative

David Niven Ph.D. on August 13, 2014

When Dear Abby attacked a woman for being overweight, she was doing more harm than she could imagine. Instead of being a great source of motivation, shame makes problems worse.

When Dear Abby attacked a woman for being overweight, she was doing more harm than she could imagine. Instead of being a great source of motivation, shame makes problems worse.

Cognition

Can You Be as Creative as a Seven-Year Old?

David Niven Ph.D. on August 5, 2014

Seeing a situation like a child does means seeing without limits, boundaries, or self-censure. It means seeing without having internalized a lifetime's worth of lessons on what cannot be done. In short, it means the ability to see old things in an entirely new way. The good news is that the power of child-like thinking is still in you.

Seeing a situation like a child does means seeing without limits, boundaries, or self-censure. It means seeing without having internalized a lifetime's worth of lessons on what cannot be done. In short, it means the ability to see old things in an entirely new way. The good news is that the power of child-like thinking is still in you.

Motivation

Got Big Plans? Here's How to Start

David Niven Ph.D. on July 29, 2014

Should you set a goal to run a 10K or to get in better shape? Should you set a goal of gaining more money at work or gaining more respect? A few words makes all the difference between goals that make us happier and goals that frustrate us.

Should you set a goal to run a 10K or to get in better shape? Should you set a goal of gaining more money at work or gaining more respect? A few words makes all the difference between goals that make us happier and goals that frustrate us.