Recent Posts

When Disappointment Feels Like Betrayal

Share your core emotions like fear, shame, or sadness—not coping mechanisms of blame, denial, or avoidance. Coping tactics drive us apart; core emotions bring us together.

Share your core emotions like fear, shame, or sadness—not coping mechanisms of blame, denial, or avoidance. Coping tactics drive us apart; core emotions bring us together.

10 Ways People Can Manipulate You and How to Recognize It

Manipulation can be difficult to recognize while you're in the middle of it. Here are some subtle signs to look for.

Manipulation can be difficult to recognize while you're in the middle of it. Here are some subtle signs to look for.

5 Ways to Reconnect With Yourself and Others Beyond Screens

Technology can serve us well, but what might we need more of? Here are five ways to make room for what helps us feel well, reconnect with ourselves, and show up for those we love.

Technology can serve us well, but what might we need more of? Here are five ways to make room for what helps us feel well, reconnect with ourselves, and show up for those we love.

Will AI Replace In-Person Therapy?

In an age of AI, therapy patients probably won’t be lying on a couch in a doctor’s office. But there are limits to artificial assistance.

In an age of AI, therapy patients probably won’t be lying on a couch in a doctor’s office. But there are limits to artificial assistance.

A Confusing Prescription

The most important goal of the very sophisticated unconscious mind is to bring the interior discussion called a dream outside to waking life, where feedback lives.

The most important goal of the very sophisticated unconscious mind is to bring the interior discussion called a dream outside to waking life, where feedback lives.

The Hidden Problem With Positive Thinking

Manifestation can boost your confidence—but positive fantasies alone could cut down on your motivation. Here's how mental contrasting can turn your optimism into practical action.

Manifestation can boost your confidence—but positive fantasies alone could cut down on your motivation. Here's how mental contrasting can turn your optimism into practical action.

Foraging for Purpose

A robust body of longitudinal research ties a strong sense of purpose to a longer, healthier life. Purpose is a skill you can practice and strengthen at any age.

A robust body of longitudinal research ties a strong sense of purpose to a longer, healthier life. Purpose is a skill you can practice and strengthen at any age.

The "Better" Trap

After years of measuring gender parity, the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Gender Gap Report finds that the gender gap has indeed narrowed—by 5.2 percent in 20 years.

After years of measuring gender parity, the World Economic Forum's 2026 Global Gender Gap Report finds that the gender gap has indeed narrowed—by 5.2 percent in 20 years.

Making Friends as We Age

Friendships change as we age, and that is normal. It takes courage to reach out and make new friends, but the rewards outweigh the risks.

Friendships change as we age, and that is normal. It takes courage to reach out and make new friends, but the rewards outweigh the risks.

Why a "Quiet Ego" Brings You Lasting Happiness

Living by the values of the quiet ego can yield profound benefits in psychological flourishing, social relationships, and personal growth.

Living by the values of the quiet ego can yield profound benefits in psychological flourishing, social relationships, and personal growth.

What Imposter Syndrome Has Been Trying to Tell You All Along

The tension right before a big leap can feel like proof you don't belong. Here's why it actually means you have an opportunity to grow.

The tension right before a big leap can feel like proof you don't belong. Here's why it actually means you have an opportunity to grow.

How to Make Your September "Fresh Start" Last

New routines are easier to sustain when you understand what your resistance is protecting.

New routines are easier to sustain when you understand what your resistance is protecting.

Can We Really Learn to Slow Down Time?

Our brains filter reality through our senses, beliefs, and expectations. With attention, training, and meditation, we can change what we perceive, including our sense of time.

Our brains filter reality through our senses, beliefs, and expectations. With attention, training, and meditation, we can change what we perceive, including our sense of time.

How Self-Compassion Changes the Way We Experience Failure

When something doesn’t go the way we hoped, it’s easy to make it about who we are. A small shift can help us see the experience more clearly.

When something doesn’t go the way we hoped, it’s easy to make it about who we are. A small shift can help us see the experience more clearly.

6 Essential Communication Skills You Need to Learn

Good communication is clear, focused, and doesn't trigger anger or defensiveness. Here are six foundational skills to make the most of conversations.

Good communication is clear, focused, and doesn't trigger anger or defensiveness. Here are six foundational skills to make the most of conversations.

We Listen with Four Ears, with a Whole Inner Team

Two communication psychology models that have helped millions better understand themselves and others: The communication square and the inner team.

Two communication psychology models that have helped millions better understand themselves and others: The communication square and the inner team.

The Tricky Business of Calculating Risks and Rewards

Why are teenagers and 40-somethings risk averse?

Why are teenagers and 40-somethings risk averse?

Safety-Seeking and Chronic Illness

Staying safe is an important goal in chronic illness management, but are there times when safety-seeking impedes a fuller life?

Staying safe is an important goal in chronic illness management, but are there times when safety-seeking impedes a fuller life?

What Authenticity Is, and What It Isn’t

The straw-man version of authenticity is easy to mock, but so are any complicated ideas that are not readily understood.

The straw-man version of authenticity is easy to mock, but so are any complicated ideas that are not readily understood.

4 Keys to Managing Endings

Endings and losses—whether they are about relationships, a job, or even a treasured lost object—stir a grief reaction. How to navigate and move forward.

Endings and losses—whether they are about relationships, a job, or even a treasured lost object—stir a grief reaction. How to navigate and move forward.

Sadness, Value, and Meaning

To transcend sadness/sorrow, we merely have to experience them, without indulging them. Let them run their course, and they will turn into interest, compassion, and kindness.

To transcend sadness/sorrow, we merely have to experience them, without indulging them. Let them run their course, and they will turn into interest, compassion, and kindness.

'Musterbation' Makes Us Miserable

Changing one little word can make a big difference in your life.

Changing one little word can make a big difference in your life.

Who Is Training Your Character?

Confucius taught that repeated conduct makes the person. But now, your feed pays you for the first draft, and your AI agrees with everything you say. Here is how to train yourself.

Confucius taught that repeated conduct makes the person. But now, your feed pays you for the first draft, and your AI agrees with everything you say. Here is how to train yourself.

Managing Caregiver Grief

Caregivers can struggle with complex, hidden grief that leads to overwhelming feelings. Processing the feelings helps them to feel better and closer to their care receiver.

Caregivers can struggle with complex, hidden grief that leads to overwhelming feelings. Processing the feelings helps them to feel better and closer to their care receiver.

The Power of Empathy in Medicine and Self-Care

Treating yourself with care is critical when navigating the isolation of chronic illness.

Treating yourself with care is critical when navigating the isolation of chronic illness.

The Hidden Cost of Being the “Good” Partner

Personal Perspective: I thought kindness meant keeping the peace. It took years to see how easily love, sacrifice, and compromise can become losing yourself.

Personal Perspective: I thought kindness meant keeping the peace. It took years to see how easily love, sacrifice, and compromise can become losing yourself.

Honoring Thy Self: The Unsung Virtues of Selfishness

Sometimes we need to be more selfish, not less.

Sometimes we need to be more selfish, not less.

Can We Make Social Media Feel a Little Quieter?

Last week, I went on social media for the first time in three months. Here is what I learned and five ways I'm protecting my peace online.

Last week, I went on social media for the first time in three months. Here is what I learned and five ways I'm protecting my peace online.

"I Made a Mistake" Is Not "I Am a Mistake"

When a small mistake follows you around for hours, the problem may not be the mistake. It may be a feeling you were never taught to notice.

When a small mistake follows you around for hours, the problem may not be the mistake. It may be a feeling you were never taught to notice.

4 Ways to Use Imagery to Become More Successful

What are simple ways we can tap into our innate capacity for the use of imagery, which can help us move toward the futures we imagine for ourselves?

What are simple ways we can tap into our innate capacity for the use of imagery, which can help us move toward the futures we imagine for ourselves?