Posted on September 26, 2012 in Worry Wise
None of us like to be told what we've done wrong, and yet, this is often a great way to learn and grow. How do we handle criticism best? Here are some ideas from my conversation with Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner on her program, A Better You.
Posted on September 25, 2012 in Worry Wise
Posted on September 25, 2012 in Worry Wise
Posted on September 25, 2012 in Worry Wise
Posted on September 24, 2012 in Worry Wise
Change is the one constant in life, and yet, when we face it, we feel totally unprepared and want to run the other way. Why is that and what can we do about it (especially considering that changes-- even the ones that aren't so good-- tend to turn out pretty well in the end)? Here's a piece I wrote on Huffington Post about mastering transitions, the bottom line:: trust that you'll adjust, it will help the adjustment happen faster.
Posted on September 24, 2012 in Worry Wise
Could a toilet seat lid start a revolution or a romance in a marriage? Both are possible. The choice is yours. Learning how to work together in a relationship will take you where you want to go. Sometimes you've got to complain that the lid is up, if you want it down, but there are "best practices" in complaining which will help the work, work. Here's a piece I wrote for Huffington Post that takes your relationship beyond toilet seat lids, toothpaste tube squeezing practices and beds (made or unmade)-- to the real deal: honoring and respecting each other's preferences.
Posted on August 21, 2012 in Worry Wise
Please join me this Friday August 24th at 11 am Pacific/2 pm Eastern to get your back to school questions answered when I chat with The Mother Company on Twitter #MOCOChat
Hope to see you there!
Posted on August 16, 2012 in Worry Wise
I was in my favorite coffee shop recently (I would walk very far for the best iced Americano in town) and the barista was dumping out a latte that just wasn't up to snuff for her. I joked that perfectionism is only important when it comes to making coffee. She laughed and said, no, perfectionism is important everywhere. We got into a whole discussion about whether perfectionism was really sustainable, how it is different from striving for excellence. In the end we agreed to disagree (I think it's just a matter of time, she's young) and I enjoyed my delicious drink. But it got me thinking about how destructive perfectionism can be to a person's well-being, not to mention productivity, so I am reposting this piece I wrote on the topic a bit ago. Here's to striving for excellence (not perfection)!
Posted on August 16, 2012 in Worry Wise
Life is stressful enough. Worry really is optional. Check out this piece I wrote for Huffington Post on how to not let your amygdala (your worry brain) ruin your day.
Posted on August 16, 2012 in Worry Wise
Ever had a bad morning that stays with you? I did, and I learned a lot from it-- about myself. Check out this piece I wrote on Huffington Post about patience, kindness, love and driveway etiquette.
Posted on August 16, 2012 in Worry Wise
I want it! I need it! I have to have it! If I don't, I'm gonna... If you want to prevent disappointment, add some give and flexibility in your expectations. This piece that I wrote for Huffington Post tells you how.
Posted on June 22, 2012 in Worry Wise
Given our propensity for hurting each other -- usually inadvertently through our clumsiness or our being inconsiderate -- getting good at apologizing should be standard-issue emotional equipment for membership in the human race. And it is. Any one can do it. Here are six strategies for letting those two most powerful words: I'm sorry, come out of your mouth.
Posted on May 12, 2012 in Inspiration
Who is afraid of public speaking? We all are, at least some of the time. Here's a piece I wrote on Huffington Post about overcoming performance anxiety. Hint: It's about connecting not perfecting.
Posted on May 10, 2012 in Worry Wise
It's National Children's Mental Health Awareness Week. Let's all keep an eye out for the good of our children. They are our future.
Posted on April 30, 2012 in Worry Wise
I had a great conversation with Connecticut Public Radio host, Faith Middleton, on April 27th, click here to listen to the program.
Posted on April 27, 2012 in Inspiration
Forgiveness. What a load it lifts-- from our own shoulders. Here is a piece about forgiveness on www.lifetimemoms.com for which I was interviewed.
Posted on April 18, 2012 in Worry Wise
I love Curled Up With a Good Book (curledup.com). And I'm so grateful to them for a lovely review for Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: Four Simple Steps to Overcome Worry and Create the Life You Want. Thank you so much!
Posted on April 17, 2012 in Worry Wise
College can be stressful enough, add in exams and this can tip the scales for students. Now, there is a national initiative to change all of that. This week is National Stress Øut Week-- a week of fun activities and education about mental health to keep college students in balance despite the weight of exams. Here's a piece I wrote on Huffington Post.
Posted on April 10, 2012 in Inspiration
Photo credit: Mait Jüriado / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
Posted on March 29, 2012 in Worry Wise
Following up on my recent blog post on handling college admission stress, in this post, I get right down to the tough, but necessary business of handling rejection. No one likes it, but given the sharp increase in the number of college applications, and the fact that most, especially the elite, highly competitive schools, have not increased their class size, it's a statistical fact of life: rejection letters will happen. But it's what happens after the rejection that matters most. Here are tips for parents and students to stay on track and not get derailed by misinterpreting the meaning when a college says no.
Posted on March 22, 2012 in Inspiration
Vacations are great in theory, I just don't have time to take one! We all want to get away, but it's a challenge to get away from our work when our work is holding on tight (and maybe we just need to see this one project through, but we'll take a break when it's done, promise!). Here are the do's and don'ts of making vacations work so you don't have to.
Posted on March 19, 2012 in Worry Wise
It's that time of year, the daffodils are blooming, the lilacs and cherry trees are preparing to bud, and families with high school seniors are trying hard to not lose their minds. Does the college admission process have to be like this? Here are some ideas for keeping your cool (and helping your child do the same) until all decisions are in.
Posted on February 22, 2012 in Worry Wise
Freeing Yourself from Anxiety: The Video is here!
Posted on February 15, 2012 in Worry Wise
Yes, there is a holiday for everything. February 16th is National Do a Favor for a Grouch Day. What? The last thing we think to do when we've been hit in the gut by inadvertently walking through some one else's emotional target practice, is, "wow, what can I do for that person?" But, we may just find that the favor we do for a prickly person, is really a favor we are doing for ourselves. Here is a piece I wrote for the Philadelphia Inquirer about compassion meditation.
Posted on February 14, 2012 in Worry Wise
Happy Valentine's Day! Nothing gets in the way of love like worry does. But you don't have to let worry wreak havoc in your relationship. Here's a piece I wrote for Huffington Post: Make Love, Not Worry.
