Conventional Wisdom About Emotions and Health Is Often Wrong

Misconceptions about stress-related aspects of physical disease are prevalent.

Misconceptions about stress-related aspects of physical disease are prevalent.

Doing the Impossible

In life, most people set goals that they know they can achieve. Setting the occasional impossible goal can help us push beyond our preconceived limits and accelerate our growth.

In life, most people set goals that they know they can achieve. Setting the occasional impossible goal can help us push beyond our preconceived limits and accelerate our growth.

The Most Accessible Place on Earth

Personal Perspective: At Disneyland, of all places, it was a pleasure to use my wheelchair. I didn’t feel different, I wasn’t a pain, and I wasn’t embarrassed.

Personal Perspective: At Disneyland, of all places, it was a pleasure to use my wheelchair. I didn’t feel different, I wasn’t a pain, and I wasn’t embarrassed.

Rational Optimism Across Life's Domains

In a world full of uncertainties, how can you stay positive without losing touch with reality? Enter rational optimism—a mindset that blends hope with practicality.

In a world full of uncertainties, how can you stay positive without losing touch with reality? Enter rational optimism—a mindset that blends hope with practicality.

How to Lovingly Discuss Finances With Your Partner

Want to talk about money with love? Here is how to approach economic stress with sensitivity.

Want to talk about money with love? Here is how to approach economic stress with sensitivity.

The Role of Mindset in Healing

If you were given a dire prognosis for a particular condition, would you simply accept it or adopt a positive, resilient mindset?

If you were given a dire prognosis for a particular condition, would you simply accept it or adopt a positive, resilient mindset?

How Can This Work? With Problem-Solving and Optimism

Personal Perspective: Problem-solving got me to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and I danced to great music under a literal rainbow like the happy ending in a children's book.

Personal Perspective: Problem-solving got me to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and I danced to great music under a literal rainbow like the happy ending in a children's book.

Non-Toxic Positivity

Difficult, distressing situations can sometimes be softened, at least temporarily, by pulling in personalized positives in a gentle, thoughtful, and balanced way.

Difficult, distressing situations can sometimes be softened, at least temporarily, by pulling in personalized positives in a gentle, thoughtful, and balanced way.

Hope or Happiness?

Hope or Happiness? Which one must we have to make life worth living?

Hope or Happiness? Which one must we have to make life worth living?

Retiring in the Spring

Personal Perspective: After more than 40 years in clinical work I loved, It was time to retire. Now I'd have time for everything else I'd always wanted to do! It hasn't turned out quite like that.

Personal Perspective: After more than 40 years in clinical work I loved, It was time to retire. Now I'd have time for everything else I'd always wanted to do! It hasn't turned out quite like that.

Being Average Can Be Good for You

Like almost anything else, hope can be good or bad. When excessive, hope is addictive, leading to decisions that don't elicit desirable outcomes.

Like almost anything else, hope can be good or bad. When excessive, hope is addictive, leading to decisions that don't elicit desirable outcomes.

The Power of Imagination in Achieving Your Goals

Research finds strong links between some aspects of goal setting and pursuit and well-being.

Research finds strong links between some aspects of goal setting and pursuit and well-being.

Cultivating a Lucky Mindset

Whenever you encounter challenges, make it a habit to finish the sentence with: “How lucky am I?" Watch how it transforms your perception and experience.

Whenever you encounter challenges, make it a habit to finish the sentence with: “How lucky am I?" Watch how it transforms your perception and experience.

Don't Let Your Comfort Zone Be a Barrier

Not only does stretching past your comfort zone allow you to grow, but people who burst through their comfort zone bubble are also happier in life.

Not only does stretching past your comfort zone allow you to grow, but people who burst through their comfort zone bubble are also happier in life.

9 Proven Ways to Become Happier

Be social and helpful and stop thinking about "better futures."

Be social and helpful and stop thinking about "better futures."

Winston Churchill: A Military Scene as a First Memory of Life

Winston Churchill's first memory of life involves a splendid opportunity for adventure and fulfillment.

Winston Churchill's first memory of life involves a splendid opportunity for adventure and fulfillment.

Dog-Eat-Dog or Civility? On the Road and in Life, You Choose

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Personal Perspective: Life can be more than continually grabbing as much as we can for ourselves. Let's fight back with courtesy and respect the needs of others.

Good Hope and Bad Hope

Personal Perspective: There must be a line between the good hope that gets me up in the morning and to physical therapy and the bad hope that is unrealistic and can break my heart.

Personal Perspective: There must be a line between the good hope that gets me up in the morning and to physical therapy and the bad hope that is unrealistic and can break my heart.

Are You a Positive or a Negative Optimist?

A positive optimist hopes for a better future to motivate people to strive for it. A negative optimist also hopes for a better future but attends to what keeps us from reaching it.

A positive optimist hopes for a better future to motivate people to strive for it. A negative optimist also hopes for a better future but attends to what keeps us from reaching it.

Addressing the 3 P’s of Pessimism

A pattern of cynical thinking can be shifted by examining these major negative factors of pessimism.

A pattern of cynical thinking can be shifted by examining these major negative factors of pessimism.

Are You a Realistic, Cruel, or Tragic Optimist?

Optimism offers numerous mental and physical health benefits. Consider three optimistic mindsets—realistic, cruel, and tragic optimism—and the uses of each.

Optimism offers numerous mental and physical health benefits. Consider three optimistic mindsets—realistic, cruel, and tragic optimism—and the uses of each.

Moments of Joy and Hope Fuel Perseverance

Personal Perspective: Brain injury turning life into a daily endurance marathon can wear us out. One way to persevere is to notice moments of joy.

Personal Perspective: Brain injury turning life into a daily endurance marathon can wear us out. One way to persevere is to notice moments of joy.

Is Positive Thinking a Mistake?

Two studies published last year cast doubt on the power of positive thinking and avoiding negative emotions. Why?

Two studies published last year cast doubt on the power of positive thinking and avoiding negative emotions. Why?

Facing Difficulties, Literally and Figuratively

Use metaphors to consider ways to face, rather than flee from, life difficulties.

Use metaphors to consider ways to face, rather than flee from, life difficulties.

6 Ways to Transform From Headcase to Shero

Your performance is more than cognitive and physical preparation. Your mental game—managing your self-talk and emotions—is just as important. Here's why.

Your performance is more than cognitive and physical preparation. Your mental game—managing your self-talk and emotions—is just as important. Here's why.

How to Ask for and Receive Help

Personal Perspective: Asking for help is hard, but instead of being ashamed or embarrassed, I feel insanely proud that I have built a community willing and ready to surround me.

Personal Perspective: Asking for help is hard, but instead of being ashamed or embarrassed, I feel insanely proud that I have built a community willing and ready to surround me.

How to Age Fearlessly

We can change our perspective on aging by being aware of our negative stereotypes and having powerful exceptions to them, as well as considering what we gain with age.

We can change our perspective on aging by being aware of our negative stereotypes and having powerful exceptions to them, as well as considering what we gain with age.

Hope Is a Choice to Make Things Better

Personal Perspective: Hope is different from optimism because hope involves believing that you can act in ways to bring about the positive outcome you optimistically hope for.

Personal Perspective: Hope is different from optimism because hope involves believing that you can act in ways to bring about the positive outcome you optimistically hope for.

A Note of Optimism for Health Care

Times are challenging in 2024. But they are also better in many ways than they have ever been.

Times are challenging in 2024. But they are also better in many ways than they have ever been.

Introducing Practical Optimism: A Model for Effective Change

How to live well, using science and clinical wisdom to implement a variety of tried-and-true practices.

How to live well, using science and clinical wisdom to implement a variety of tried-and-true practices.