I have always been fascinated by how we become happy. Happiness can seem so automatic at times and at other times it deserts us. One thing for sure, we are not in a constant stage of happiness. We definitely have to work at it. When we are children we don’t really think about working to […]
Category Archives: Recipe For Happiness
Some Thoughts for Having Mental and Emotional Fun!
My dear friend and mentor, Mr. Del Sylvester used to say that if you become interested in anything, it will become interesting. I knew Mr Sylvester when I was a teenager. I don’t think I fully understood this concept then. Now I do. I see that if we bother to get interested in an activity […]
Positive Action Always Matters The Angel Elijah is Always Near.
In the Jewish tradition we talk a lot about Elijah. He is a very special angel who has all sorts of mystical duties. It is traditional to leave a wine glass for Elijah at our Passover Table and to even open the door for Elijah so he can enter and drink, along with all the […]
OUR SOCIETY DOESN’T HELP US TO FEEL POSITIVE ENOUGH ABOUT OURSELVES, SAYS DR. BARBARA BECKER HOLSTEIN, POSITIVE PSYCOLOGIST
After doing case study research on women outside of my practice I became certain that women, and I am sure most men, have greater capacities to restore themselves and enjoy themselves, than previously documented. I also realized we are not given enough signals in our society to help us feel positive about ourselves, or to recognize […]
Seven Secrets to Living a Miserable Life!
Seven Secrets to Living a Miserable Life! You know that I usually talk about the secrets to living a great life. After all, I am a positive psychologist and originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF. But I’ll talk negatively also, if I think I have a chance at convincing my audience to start to look at […]
New Year Resolution: Be True to Yourself and Help Your Daughter to Be True to Herself
My wish for you on New Year’s Eve is that the one resolution you will really keep this year, even more than your diet, is to be true to yourself. And if you have a daughter, help and encourage her to be true to herself. I wrote The Truth (I’m a girl, I’m smart and […]
The Pleasures of Making Grandma’s Memories My Own
Each season requires special behaviors and activities on our part to optimize for ourselves living a purposeful and happy life. We actually have to practice our positive emotions, just as the champion tennis player practices her swing. We have to try to use our mental capacities as fully as possible, our cognitive capacities for thought, […]
Wow, Goats in Los Angeles-This is Enchantment
Last night I saw on TV that a 100 goats are busily eating brush and grass in Los Angeles. They are not adding any smog to the air and they cost much less than all the lawn mowing equipment that would be necessary to do the job. And they are friendly and happy! I love […]