Polly Campbell
Dr. Laura Trice talks about why we need to give and receive thanks
Gratitude is a an essential component to our well-being. We are happier and healthier when we are grateful people, but we also need to know that others are grateful and appreciative of us. It’s a primal need. It’s validating. It’s energizing. And, it’s o.k. to ask for it. But we don’t, and there are some [...]
Appreciation and novelty keys to long-lasting happiness
There’s a lot of talk about happiness — how to find it, feel it, hang on to it. We covet happiness as though it is an ultimate goal or objective rather than a state we can choose and influence throughout each of the moment of our lives. While each of us comes equipped with a [...]
Three ways to create a better-feeling life
In Monday’s post I wrote about the 10:1 ratio. It takes 10 positive comments to offset one negative. Think about this with your kids. Every time you say something negative or critical, it takes 10 more positives to buffer their psyche, according to educators. It’s just as important to find the pros in the workplace [...]
Finding the good is the key to managing the bad
10:1 That’s the ratio required for positive statements to counter balance the negative when it comes to parenting and educating children, say teachers. Ten positives to offset the devastating impact of one negative or critical statement. Relationship expert John Gottman says that we need to have at least five positive statements to every one negative [...]
Five ways to cope with a major life transition
It’s never easy to lose – anything. We are a people that become attached and clingy to our bodies and our titles and our money and our stuff. Part of becoming enlightened then, is to detach from those things. Even if enlightenment isn’t your ultimate goal, letting go of your need to control and manage [...]
Change is easier if you stay curious
My grandmother died Wednesday. She was 95 and brilliant. She traveled the world and brought back ideas – instead of souvenirs – for the kids she taught in her English and Social Studies classes in the 432-person farm-town where she lived and worked. I’m already missing her. But, she was always so curious and interested [...]
Build psychological courage to get through tough times
I heard a guy talking about how he lifted a burning plank of wood and carried it outside so the whole house wouldn’t burn down. He caught fire and was seriously injured in the process but he saved the house and others inside. Now that, takes courage, I thought. I’d be more likely to run [...]
Be Brave: 3 Ways to Practice Courage
Deciding to have a child took about all the courage I could muster and even then I was afraid. Even then I didn’t think I had enough. Even then, I did it anyhow. It’s the same with writing this blog, being honest and vulnerable, it’s scary. It has required me to face some of my [...]
Three ways to power up your self- control
The more self-control you have the better able you will be to avoid eating an entire pizza in one sitting. The less likely you’ll be to pop off in frustration, or to buy the $200 shoes that you don’t really need. Decisions get easier and you’ll be calmer and less reactive. Still, we are [...]
A little self-control eases edginess and aggression
Last night we had pizza for dinner and I wanted to eat the whole thing. This is no exaggeration. I wanted to power down every single slice. But, I exercised a little self-control, settled on a second slice and a big serving of salad and felt filled up rather than guilty. It doesn’t always go [...]
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