Positive Psychology Articles

Are you struggling with whether or not to do something? Sometimes it can feel like you are at a crossroad. You might feel: • Confused about what you are feeling and why. • Stuck in a work situation or relationship. • Overwhelmed and stressed by recent events. You may have blind spots that prevent you from knowing what direction to take and setting realistic goals. To get clarity, it is important for you to identify your values because they make your life more meaningful.

Most people think that just by repeating some affirmations or telling themselves how they want things to be that they are being positive thinkers. Well, that may be true to an extent. But then they wonder why they aren't getting the results they want. Now this can get really complicated very quickly since there are so many variables to consider when trying to pinpoint why exactly positive thinking hasn't done much for you. Here's the catch - positive thinking isn't doing squa

December is a time of celebrations, traditions, and festivities. It is a time to express love and generosity to those around us. It is a time of selfless giving and focusing on those in need. It can also be a time of spiritual renewal and deep personal reflection. This December try adding ...

Control your anger or it will control you. Control your anger as it can cloud your ability to make good decisions and find creative solutions to problems. It can negatively affect your work performance. With insight about the real reasons for your anger and learning anger management techniques, you will be able to control your anger and keep your temper from hijacking your life. Control you anger, don’t let your anger control you. The emotion of anger is not always a negati

We spend our whole life in search of love from others. We wish that true love will find us and that special love will change our life. If you don’t find the love then you fall into the valley of emptiness and feel lost. We always tell our mind that if I get true love then, I will be the happiest person on the earth. Actually it works the other way round. You need to love yourself to get love from others and you need to love yourself to give love to others. How can we give something to others which we do not have.

When I was little I was very busy--as I imagine most little girls are. At six years of age I had my toys, my fire station with a real bell, my fire trucks and other cars, my paper dolls, my coloring books and large box of Crayola assorted crayons, my picture books and stuffed animals. One of ...

In the East, the prayer gesture of two palms pressed together is called Namaste and is commonly used as a greeting that translates to mean: the Divine part of my self recognizes the Divine part of yourself. We each identify with different parts of ourselves at different times. Sometimes we identify with our fear, sometimes with our Higher or Divine self.

My Dad built houses and I worked for him as I grew up. I learned a valuable lesson watching someone’s dreams manifest; you have to build on a strong foundation for the dream to become a reality. We too often have a goal and forget that how we relate to that goal is an essential ingredient. How we connect to our inner resources is what I call relating to your goal in a conscious way. When you can relate utilizing powerful inner resources, you have a strong foundation. There ar

In this Article, I want to talk about the significance of labeling what we experience on a moment-to-moment basis. In thinking about this, I called to mind the statement: "The Map is Not the Territory." This statement comes from General Semantics, which Alfred Korzybski created in, I believe, around the mid-'90's. The basis of Korzybski's approach to understanding human behavior is that we are enslaved by our language; as I recall, he was a mathematician.

We have so much influence over the next generation! Lots of times we forget how much influence, as our children or grandchildren can appear to ignore us, forget us or even worse--run from us in one way or another. Sometimes, we must just accept the fact that lots of times positive actions happen ...

"Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into." Wayne Dyer Do you believe that The Universe conspires for us and wants us to succeed? Do you see the universe as an infinite supply of love, wisdom, health and wealth and miracles for everyone? I hope so. Believing in an abundant universe means believing there are no limits on what we can do and being fearless about what tomorrow will bring. It is knowing that having everything you want will never deprive anyone of anything they want.

She was crying and complaining, “Woe is me.” Yes, that is me whining some days and perhaps you, too. Many of us think that if we didn’t have hardship, we would be truly happy. Not so. Your life is meant to be rewarding, happy, meaningful and challenging. A meaningful life isn’t just handed to you all at once. It comes as you develop resilience. Resilience refers to your ability to cope with, adapt to and rise above hardship and crisis.

We all are aging every second of every day that sounds depressing doesn’t? It does not have to, you can age like a super star and below are 11 ways you can do that and it won’t cost you a cent.

I think it is safe to say that there is not one person on this planet that would choose to be born into an abusive situation, whether it is any of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or sexual abuse. As human beings, we are programmed to not like pain or suffering, however, at the hands of people who do not understand how their actions affect the lives of others, we have suffered.r

Honesty is not something we flirt with. We must be married to it” As we go about our daily lives, tending to jobs, families and obligations of one sort or another, how many of us stop to examine the path we’re on and whether or not it is truly the one we want to take, or are even meant to take right now? Are we Living Miraculously? Or “are we living from Inspiration, Obligation, or Desperation?”

A recent study conducted by the American Psychological Association found that 75 percent of adults have experienced moderate to high levels of stress in the previous month. Almost half of the group reported that their stress had increased in the previous year. Unfortunately, only half of the participants said they were doing enough to manage their stress. Does that sound like you? It is acknowledged that the high unemployment rate has caused difficulties for many individuals and families. It certainly has created more stress for individuals, marriages, businesses, and schools.

I love to see the sparkle in a person's eyes when they realize that anything is possible--when they finally get in touch with the potential inside themselves, and they begin to imagine what they'd love to enjoy in their life.

The idea of facing a challenge and feeling as though you are given a second chance develops because of your perspective. Too often, we look for exte al situations to be the reason we have a second chance, but what happens within your brain creates the feeling as though you can deal with this challenge again from a better part of you. If that is true; you have the power to create second chances independent of any exte al change. For instance, relating to some people you love c

You are driving home from work and you suddenly get the urge to go a different route. You follow the urge only later to hear on the radio that there was a major accident on your usual route. You think to yourself, “what good luck!” You wake up in the morning and remember that you dreamed ...

Are you interested in making your life better in ways that you cannot imagine? You can do that. You don't need a self-help book, and you don't need hours of therapy (not that there's anything wrong with either of these). All you need is five dollars to invest in a notebook and a set of pens, and a personal commitment to spend a fixed amount of time writing in your new journal.

It's been over six months since New Year's Resolutions were made. How are you doing with your commitment to take better care of yourself this year or are you "over it" because they don't work out anyway? If your heart is in the right place, but you are simply not managing to make the changes necessary once and for all, here are a few ways to keep yourself on track.

Meditation has been found to have a positive influence on the body, mind, and spirit. Successful management of chronic pain, decrease in blood pressure, and reduction in stress hormones are a few of the physiological benefits of meditative practices. Meditation is also known to produce a ...

During the boom we scrambled and harried ourselves through deadlines and endless demands for more—more of anything that was shiny, comforting or electronic. Now on top of the deadlines, we worry about salary freezes and layoffs. Challenges don’t go away; they only vary with different economic times. Many of us think that if we didn’t have hardship, we would be truly happy. Not so. Our lives are meant to be rewarding, happy, meaningful and challenging. Work often provides the arena to face adversity.

THE MAGIC OF BUMBLEBEES AND JOY by Irene Becker, Chief Success Officer, Just Coach It www.justcoachit.com nnScience tells us that there is no logical reason to explain how a bumblebee can fly. No way to understand the bumblebee’s aerodynamic capability. And yet this small, winged insect has made flight a priority and defies logic every minute, every day flying from flower to flower. nnWhat does the unexplained flight of a bumblebee have to do with joy? Absolutely everything

Sometimes it is helpful to review several of the basic components of THE ENCHANTED SELF as it is a positive psychology system designed to help overcome adversity, experience more positive emotions, think more positively and succeed in living a life worth living that is rich in happiness, purpose ...

“You cannot change your destination ove ight, but you can change your direction ove ight.” Jim Rohn. When everything is going smoothly, being resilient is probably not on your radar. Yet when the proverbial sh*&t hits the fan, we assume our resilient toolbox will be available and full. Taking the time to hone resilience skills is similar to practicing driving, before you actually take the driving test.

What value is there in keeping your past alive, especially when it wasn’t so great the first time around? This may seem a ridiculous question but it is very true. When we allow ourselves to run in victim mode, we are keeping our past alive and prevent a future of happiness and fulfillment. How do we run in victim mode?

In this article I want to ruminate around the power of our thoughts, as well as the words we use, to create our reality, which is what the Law of Attraction is about. It doesn't matter it we believe in it, or not, we are all living the Law of Attraction.

Your absence of self-esteem probably comes from the attitudes of other people towards you. Your parents, brothers and sisters, etc. are all contributors of how your self-esteem is formed during your early years. If you come from a loving and caring family, have lots of friends and you did well at school your self-esteem will most likely be at a great level. On the other hand if you have only encountered negativity throughout your formative years your self-worth is very likely

Who's in charge? You or your beliefs? This is a question that has intrigued me and many other self development buffs for many years. If you listen to most people explaining their life situations, one must take the stance that it is the beliefs that are in charge. I have to do this or I can't do that...

Esoteric Educational Psychology: Emission of Cosmic Pheromones Not all things can be explained even with the most advanced technology and scientific procedures, but with enough time, research, experience and esoteric wisdom we will see more than we see now. In this rapidly changing society, the ‘raising of consciousness’ is at hand. We are all part of the miraculous unfolding.

Ever since Title IX guaranteed equal funding for girls' sports programs 40 years ago, we've seen the results in school, the workplace and women's self-confidence. Studies have shown that girls who play sports in high school are more likely to do better in science classes, complete college, avoid substance abuse and join the workforce. And the more time they spend participating in team sports, the higher their self-esteem. Naturally, there's also an effect on the playing field

A healthy level of self confidence and self image is not only necessary, it is essential for any kind of success we seek achieve. Only when you’re comfortable with who you are and confident in what you can do, will other people believe in you and your abilities. This applies both to your ...

Those of you who have been around here for a while and know how I roll, know that part of my life is exploring how deep the rabbit hole goes. It’s “crazy” to tell a “normal” person that you do meditation and hypnosis a couple of hours a day because you perceive that world to be deeper than this one, but that’s the truth of how I live. I’m not into wasting time reading the news or Facebook or some other crap that people waste their time on. I avoid their programming. I’m in

The current advice being given to, "think outside the box" has not noticeably changed the way the vast majority of people think, as far as I can determine. The primary reason for this is that the puzzle presented by the injunction to, "think outside the box" cannot be solved without understanding that, The Box is made up our personal Belief System.

Despite a few false alarms, including a recent snow incident, spring has finally sprung. And therein is the illusion. I am not implying that it could snow again (although stranger things have happened). Rather, I am noting that spring starts springing way before most of us notice.r

“I mean the whole thing about meditation is about connecting to the higher part of yourself, and then seeing that every living thing is connected in some way.” Gillian Anderson Meditation can be a life changing experience. It can give you peace of mind, which you are searching from long time. It helps in connecting with your inner self. It also has lots of health benefits like lower blood pressure, controlled blood sugar, better sleep, etc. Meditation has many benefits and it can be done without cost, but still lots of people have misunderstood it.r

One slice of the pie of life feels relaxed and contented. And then there is that other slice, in which we feel driven and stressed. Trying to get pleasures, avoid pains, pile up accomplishments and recognitions, be loved by more people. Lose more weight, try to fill the hole in the heart. Slake the thirst, satisfy the hunger. Strive, strain, press. This other slice is the conventional strategy for happiness. We pursue it for four reasons.

"I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” Robert McCloskey

When Enough is EnoughrnDespite my pseudo-tough exterior, I’m normally pretty patient and tolerant when it comes to listening to people’s stuff. At times, I’m even kind, sympathetic and generous. Surprising, I know. Who knew? However, in recent times, I’ve had my limits tested. Maybe I’ve reached my pointless-conversation threshold? Or, perhaps I’m done with people complicating the simple, wanting sympathy not solutions and making easy, hard? It’s fair to say tha

Becoming Open Minded and A Growing Individual - The Journey What is the difference between being open minded and close minded? Taking you back to that time you were in that seminar or in that class, focusing only on what you already know. At times just standing by waiting to hear knowledge you were already aware of. The minute that the speaker or teacher repeats knowledge or fact you already know, it seems to be an instant ego boost! You obtain so much knowledge it doesn't c

MODE Of Cosmic Therapy: Our Moralistic Duty To Mankind A broken society of forgotten children is banging its way up the ladder of their demoralizing childhood while very few people are aware of the devastating lives they are being forced to live. The unfortunate circumstances imposed on them are due to no fault of their own. Surprising as this may seem to some, this particular segment of population, abandoned and neglected, (children) has grown beyond imaginable leaps and bounds in the last few years.

The statement, "We only use approximately ten percent of our abilities" is familiar to many of us who came of age, or lived through, the '60s. This idea was attributed to William James. William James, the older brother of Henry James, the writer, is considered, by some, to be the father of American Philosophy. Other than that, "tip of the hat," he has been, for all practical purposes, ignored. My personal opinion is that this is because his ideas go counter to what we are supposed to believe about ourselves and our abilities.

We were all excited to have signed on for Yes, You Can! an empowerment program developed by Dr. Charlotte Kasl, the creator of The 16 Steps. Her concept of empowerment is aligned with resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity. Kasl’s empowerment model is designed to support individuals in asserting their competence by taking action on their own behalf. It’s about creating internal stability both physically and mentally, acting with self care, developing supportive relationships and experiencing gratitude and wonder.

The limits to what we can achieve are mostly the product of our thinking. Limits are often self imposed because we either think we cannot do a thing, or because someone told us we cannot do a thing and we chose to believe it. How many people do you know who could truly tell you what your ...

Headline—“White supremacists, anti-racism protestors clash in Calgary” Good Friday, March 21, 2008 Regrettably discrimination continues in our communities, organizations and workplaces. When I was a career counselor assisting those on unemployment insurance ...

No matter how much we want to gain muscles, the truth is that our bodies will always be trying to do exercises in the most efficient way possible. This is the true regardless if you’re a Hardgainer or not or whatever your fitness goals may be. What does this mean? In order to gain healthy weight and bigger muscles, you have to keep your body guessing. Lifting the same weight with the same amount of reps won’t change your body into a Hardgainer body, because it acclimates to the exercises to perform them with the least amount of effort possible.

The world is changing at lightning speed. We know this and since everything is our mirror, I wonder how many of us are reflecting this change internally? Are we embracing new ways of doing, seeing and being in our world or is it the same old, same old? Are we waiting for our lives to change and does the word “when” show up frequently in our vocabulary? Most importantly, are we simply behaving as if we are a bystander of our own life?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if war was declared and no one showed up? There is much discussion around the world about creating lasting peace… and yet there is more fighting going on globally than any other time in our history. Why? I believe that it is because of our belief that we have to fight to have peace! Fighting for Peace! Sounds like an oxymoron in my books! The questio I put forth is this: Why do we need to fight for something we already have?r

Creative thinking is a skill we can learn and practice in the course of daily life and here is the best reason to try: simply "changing set" or shifting attention can mitigate stress. Taking every opportunity to experiment with a new approach or attitude in familiar, predictable or routine situations trains the brain and mind to be more creative and adaptive in the face of sudden change or the high-stress curves life can throw in our path. Because there is so much about life