Motivation

Can you believe we are almost in May? Winter was busy for me with lots of travel, work and fun.  In the past month, though, a topic has come up multiple times with very different people. Several of my clients have bumped up against the “worth issue,” which has got me thinking (yup,it happens occasionally). […]

What do you think is the most common mistake even smart women (and men) make that leaves them struggling with stress and worry about their futures… or their child’s? What did you come up with? I’d love to hear your thoughts: share them on Facebook and see below for the single biggest mistake I see […]

Happy Golden Retriever

This year I discovered I could put a new twist on an old resolution: Originally I wrote this with my kids in mind. This year, though it occurred to me that much of what I’ve been working on for myself and with clients is about the (misguided) notion we’ve been given that others cause us […]

Book Cover Photo

What would you guess are the four strengths found in people with the highest life satisfaction?  One is enthusiasm, according to research by Chris Peterson and Marty Seligman, and colleagues. This was inspiring news to me because “Enthusiasm Makes the Difference” is the book I read at 17 that sparked my lifelong passion for positive psychology.  With all the hype and stress about […]

Hot Air Balloons

  Is summer a playful, fun, adventurous time for you and your family?  Fun might not seem all that important, but playing and joy and experimenting is great for well-being– at any age. As renowned expert, Dr. George Vaillant, says, “Real sophistication…is epitomized by knowing how to play.” Wouldn’t it be great if you could […]

Photo of wrought iron fence with heart shape between posts

“I am optimistic about some things in my life, but you also have to be realistic,” writes an astute reader in response to Saturday’s Love Notes.  This belief in a trade-off between being optimistic and being realistic is something I hear often. In the “real” world of investments, most are aware of the psychological factors […]

Now, it seems that “how to be happier” is everywhere. And here’s the irony: it dawned on me today that now when I read about happiness, I sometimes think, “Am I happy enough? Are my kids happy enough? Are my clients happy enough? Am I doing enough of the right things to make us as happy as we should be?”

Suddenly, I get it. I see why people can feel worse when they see and hear all this happy talk. [Click title to read full post].

Joy Photo

How often do you do something for the joy of it?  Because you love what you’re doing?  In “Flow,” I kept trying (and crashing) because I loved the idea of it.  The 100-mile runners in  Born to Run race for the love of it, says Christopher McDougall.  And if you’ve ever loved the feel of […]

Remember when you so loved the idea of something– your next job… a new project… your future wife– that nothing could stop you from pursuing it (her… him)?  The best motivation is when you love the idea of it so much that you don’t really care how you’re doing at this moment: you’re having so […]

Standing amid the trees

People — students, recent graduates, parents, adults– are always talking to me about finding their “path.”  The notion being that if they can just figure out all the elements of what they’re good at, what careers they’re suited to, and where they can earn the living they want, they’ll discover  the path they should walk […]