“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. … Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs, Stanford University commencement address, June 2005.
posted on 09-26-11 at 7:08 am in Happiness 101
You can increase positive feelings by incorporating a few proven practices into your routine. Try expressing your gratitude toward someone in a letter or in a weekly journal, visualize the best possible future for yourself once a week, and perform acts of kindness for others on a regular basis to lift your mood in the [Read More...]
tags: gratitude 
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posted on 09-09-11 at 7:16 am in Relationships
In a study of more than 100 American couples, those who reported “being in a rut” during their seventh year of marriage also showed low satisfaction in year sixteen. Those who were not bored in year seven were still going strong nine years later. Researchers said the couples who pursued exciting activities together were more [Read More...]
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posted on 08-29-11 at 10:00 am in Mindfulness
The body is a great intelligence that has a story to tell. In listening to it, we gain a wise consul to guide us on our healing journey. Mindfulness helps us slow down to hear what the body has to say. In mindfulness-based therapy, there is an inward focus to notice what is happening. This is listening to the body. Sounds [Read More...]
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posted on 08-29-11 at 7:02 am in Happiness 101
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.
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posted on 08-23-11 at 7:35 am in Relationships
Couples who celebrated holiday traditions together were happier in their unions, a 2001 study reported. Researchers found that the shared emotional investment in the ritual made the couples feel a closer bond.
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posted on 08-15-11 at 7:00 am in Happiness 101
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 blog “Ten Deep Breaths”) If you can bring mindfulness to bear on negative feelings, they lose their impact. Just let them [Read More...]
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posted on 08-08-11 at 7:41 am in Inspirational
“One can’t believe impossible things,” Alice said. “I daresay you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did if for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.” – Lewis Carrol, Alice in Wonderland
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posted on 07-30-11 at 12:04 pm in Inspirational
“Human, divine, human, divine. Why do we conceive there is a difference?” – Jai Uttal
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posted on 07-04-11 at 7:14 am in Meditation
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 nose and circling to the back of your throat. Exhale [Read More...]
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