You’ve probably heard the expression, “Holding on to anger is like drinking a cup of poison and expecting the other person to die.” By that same token, Holding on to stress is like eating a bacon-cheeseburger with a side of donuts and waiting on cardiovascular disease. Fight or Flight In our distant evolutionary past, we […]
Does Having Children Increase Marital Satisfaction?
Not usually. The majority of studies indicate that marital satisfaction significantly declines for most couples after having children. This is truer for women than men. In Dr. John Gottman’s well-known research at the University of Washington, 67% of women reported declining satisfaction with their marriage after having children (Journal of Family Psychology, 14, 59-70). Although […]
Are You a Difficult Person?
You know THAT guy at the company Christmas party? By definition, he doesn’t realize he’s THAT guy. Or the rude woman in line at the grocery store? She doesn’t think she’s being rude. The thing all “difficult” people struggle with is a lack of self-awareness. The more honestly you recognize your shortcomings, the more likely […]
Recurring Dreams and Why We Dream Them
A few times a year, I dream this dream: For reasons unknown, I’ve decided to get the old rock band back together for a reunion concert. I’m standing there on stage and the house is packed to the gills, the crowd is giddy with expectation at the amazing musical heroics they are about to witness. […]
How to Meditate and the Medical Benefits
The Medical Benefits of Meditation In addition to calming and focusing the mind, meditating for only ten minutes a day also benefits the body. A recent article in Esquire magazine entitled “A Useful Guide to Chilling the F**k Out” (September 2013), summarized several studies by the Western medical community. According to these studies, regular meditation […]