Bob picks apples for a living. The thing is, Bob hates picking apples. But he decides to be the best possible apple-picker he can be, hopefully earning him a promotion one day. And one day, Bob does get that promotion. Now he’s no longer picking apples. Now he’s managing other people who pick apples. Now he… CONTINUE
Using “Then What” Thinking to Overcome Anxiety
What’s the worst that could possibly happen? You either avoid this question or you tackle it head-on. When you’re feeling anxious about some life change or new undertaking, it can be useful to consciously consider the Worst Case Scenario. Suppose you fear certain social situations, such as business meetings. Regarding your next business meeting, what… CONTINUE
Take the Home Tour . . . or Don’t
You buy a new home and fill it with stuff. Then what? Then you invite over everyone you know and force them to “take the tour,” which requires them to comment on how clever and shiny the various objects you have accumulated are. The downside is you’re required to return the favor when that person… CONTINUE
Is Time Really Money?
Suppose you worked half as much as you currently do, and made half what you currently make. Where would you cut back? Would you downsize your house, your car? Would you eat out less, save less, get rid of cable? Whatever the case, think of all the free time you would suddenly have. What kind… CONTINUE
Is Email Really Worth It?
Email represents a major step forward in human communication, and has made all of our lives much more convenient and efficient. Right? Twenty years or so ago when email started to take over the world, it seemed to promise a new era of time-saving correspondence. If you wanted to communicate with someone on the other side of… CONTINUE
You Are Not Your Stuff
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC What does the stuff you own say about you? Not much. Imagine if everyone wore exactly the same standard-issue jumpsuit. Everyone was given the exact same car to drive, an identical copy of the same home to live in. You couldn’t “express yourself” via these objects. You couldn’t display your social status or… CONTINUE
More Money, More Problems?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC As a therapist, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with clients from all over the world, and from a very wide variety of economic backgrounds. These days, a lot of my clients are what I call 3 percenters. Who are the 3 percenters? Individuals who make 100k or more annually are… CONTINUE
Are Your Values Genuine?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC What personal value is most important to you? Love, money, health, kindness, career, spirituality, honesty, family? Now consider this: Does your current life reflect this value? Do your daily behaviors, your daily thoughts and feelings, strongly align with this value? If you spend hours daily thinking about money, worrying… CONTINUE
Will You Ever Get Ahead?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC You want more money, but things never work out right. Until one day they do. For the first time in your adult life, you can look at your bank account without your stomach twisting into knots. Now what? Now that you have more resources, you’ve taken on a bigger mortgage,… CONTINUE
Why Are Some Questions Off-Limits?
by James Robbins, M.A., LPC There are very few humans in your life that you would ask either of the following questions: How much do you weigh? How much money is in your bank account? These concrete, straightforward questions are socially taboo. But why? Sure, these questions are personal, but people ask way more personal… CONTINUE