Year: 2011

What Is an Archetype?

What Is an Archetype?

Few now accept the tabula rasa view of human psychology. Within each infant is a life force, innate aspects, that guide motives and meaning making. Carl Jung called our innate guiding systems archetypes. Archetypes influence the unfolding of develop

Pain is a Part of Joy

Pain is a Part of Joy

To live a rich and meaningful life, we must allow ourselves a full range of emotions. Otherwise life is just a struggle against reality

Awake Mind

Awake Mind

Feeling cared for, accepted and having a sense of belonging and affiliation with others is fundamental to our well-being. Unfortunately, not everyone was raised in such an environment.

Learning to Stay

Learning to Stay

When attention is strong, we can simply do what we are doing, moment to moment. If we are peeling an orange, we may notice the stickiness of the juice, the smell of the orange oil, and a host of other sensations

Happiness is Other People

Happiness is Other People

The best piece of advice to come out of the field of positive psychology is to make strong personal relationships your priority. Good relationships are buffers against the damaging effects of all of life’s inevitable letdowns and setbacks.

Mindfulness Brings Happiness

Mindfulness Brings Happiness

Mindfulness, a mental state of relaxed awareness of the present moment, marked by openness and curiosity toward your feelings rather than judgments of them, is a powerful tool for experiencing happiness when practiced regularly. (See “Ten Deep Breaths“) If you can bring mindfulness to bear…

Ten Deep Breaths

Ten Deep Breaths

You don’t have to dedicate a huge chunk of time to meditation. You can get stress relief with just ten deep breaths. To do it, sit down in a quiet place, close your eyes and breathe in slowly. Picture the air coming in through the…

Defining Happiness

Defining Happiness

Happiness encompasses living a meaningful life, utilizing your gifts and your time, living with thought and purpose.

Make Creativity Dates

Make Creativity Dates

Instead of waiting and waiting for flashes of inspiration, schedule a weekly date to exercise your own creativity, whether it’s a sewing class, a craft night with friends, or just an hour to pursue a hobby. The goal isn’t to produce a work of art, but…

Happiness 101

Happiness 101

Have you noticed the happiness craze? Last year alone 4,000 books were published on happiness, thanks in large part to the positive psychology movement.