In order to make changes that stick, I take my big goals and break them down into small pieces. Then I focus on one at a time until it becomes a habit. The goal of safer driving is a good one, but it's one of those big, non-specific goals that…
This is a guest post by Julie Singer, who teaches us, among other things, something we've discussed before: one of the great sources of happiness is helping others. As a college student, at times you can feel like you have no control over anything. It may be your emotions, your…
When I was a kid, I was a speed eater. My dad would tell me and my siblings to chew our food 30 times before swallowing, but we ignored his advice and his good example (he is the slowest eater I have ever met). I did learn to eat more…
I’ve been biting my nails since I was a kid. I have no idea how young I was when I started. I also have no idea how many times I’ve tried to quit. It’s a quite a few. What I know is I finally kicked the habit when I finally…
This is a guest post by Jane Sheeba Implementing tips is a great way to manage or deal with life situations in a quick manner. But I’m more of a strategic person. What’s the difference between implementing a strategy and practicing a tip? Tips are quickie solutions—you face a problem,…
One of my friends participated in a training program and told me what he heard in a lesson on listening reminded him of some of what I said in my book, in “Be Nice,” the second of my Six Simple Rules for a Better Life. Listening is an important "Be…
Like so many people, my smartphone has become a seemingly indispensable part of my life. I love much about it. I love looking up stuff on google, checking the weather, and accessing various social media. It's gotten me back into taking pictures, which I hadn't done (other than pics of…
Last summer I went whitewater rafting with my wife and a couple of wonderful friends who had very graciously invited us to stay with them at their upstate New York time share. We departed the lodge at 7:30am and arrived at the rafting place around 9:00am. It was a long…
The following is a guest post by Vincent Clarke. Last week, I wrote about contentment. Many of us might imagine living in Hawaii to be a dream come true, but no place is immune from being taken for granted as Vincent explains in this piece. ------- The key to happiness…
Listening well is an important skill in our lives—personally and professionally. In this guest post by Kevin Clarke, we hear about a dad and the hard work of really hearing what his son is saying to him. Kevin is a writer for America Magazine and this piece is reprinted with…
This is a guest post by John Gerhardt. As I’m sure we know, it’s impossible to completely avoid conflict, unfortunate circumstances, or making some tough decisions. Life is not always going to be nice to you, but it’s not healthy, and won't help your happiness, to let that turmoil build…
This is a guest post by Joyce Del Rosario Work and stress – the two seem to go together whether we like it or not. Although some jobs are more stressful than others, everyone experiences work related stress at some point in their lives, which means that the ability to…