The Power of Ambivalence
At any given time in the day, we feel more than two ways about something. Maybe you wanted eggs for breakfast, but didn’t want to take the time to make them, so you had the same old cereal you eat...
View ArticleLazy is a Four Letter Word: Compassionate ways to Increase Motivation
It is bad enough to want to accomplish things when we just don’t feel we have the time, energy or motivation. So why make yourself feel even worse by calling yourself lazy. When we accuse ourselves of...
View ArticleMotivation to Change…It’s Intrinsic! A Quick Look at SDT
This post provides a brief overview of Self-Determination Theory (SDT): Often times, when faced with the prospect of making changes in life it can be easy to say, “I just don’t have the motivation.”...
View ArticleCan Running Make You Happier and Smarter? Research on the Benefits of Exercise
We all know that exercise is important. But, for a lot of us, working out enough can be a challenge: only about half of us engage in the CDC’s recommended amount of aerobic activity (for healthy...
View ArticleThe Secret to Success? True Grit
What does it take to be successful? Innate talent? High IQ? Money? Good looks? Social IQ? Turns out, while all of those things can help contribute to success, there’s something else that plays an even...
View Article5 Ways to Find Your Momentum
When it comes to any goal directed activity, finding your momentum is key. Momentum, “the strength or force gained by motion or by a series of events” (Merriam-Webster), is like high-test fuel in your...
View ArticlePut a Positive Spin on Your Goals
What are some of your most important goals in life? Do you want to strengthen your relationships with others? Or do you want to prevent conflicts? Do you want to achieve success in your career? Or are...
View Article6 Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions
If you’re like the 40 to 50 percent of Americans who make New Year’s resolutions, this January you might be hitting the gym, giving up cigarettes, trying to develop better spending habits, or learning...
View ArticleHow to Combat Boredom? Start by Understanding It
All of us feel bored at times. Finding the inspiration to create something new, or the energy to complete a routine task, can be particularly difficult when we feel uninterested. Boredom can also lead...
View ArticleHow to Change Behavior: A Theoretical Overview
There are a variety of theories about how to make behavioral changes – either starting something new or eliminating something old. This post reviews some key models for changing behavior, including...
View ArticleFeeling Burnt Out? You Could Be Experiencing “Ego Depletion”
Think back to the last busy day you had. Maybe you felt like meetings and projects were piling up at work. Perhaps your coworkers or kids were testing your patience. Or it could have been that you...
View ArticleGo Ahead, Be a Nudge! An Exploration of Nudge Units and Theory
When we think of a nudge, we think of that person who prods us to stop procrastinating and do something we’re avoiding – pay a bill, clean out the garage. There are numerous theories that attempt to...
View Article21 Highly Successful, Inspiring People with Mental Health Challenges
While modern civilization has come a long way in terms of understanding and ameliorating mental health challenges, we still have much work to do! Despite the fact that over 25% of people in the US...
View Article5 Ways to be Awe-Inspired in Everyday Life
The Oxford English Dictionary defines inspiration as ‘the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative’. However, given the fact that inspiration is...
View ArticleThe Psychology of Hope: How to Build Hope and a Better Future
When thinking about large-scale challenges the world faces today—from coronavirus to systemic racism to climate change—it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, or to wonder how our individual actions can make a...
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