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“[P]eople spend at least half their waking hours simulating rather than paying attention to the world around them, and this pure simulation strongly drives their feelings.”

– Lisa Feldman Barrett, How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, p. 71.

How To Build Perspective

“[P]eople spend at least half their waking hours simulating rather than paying attention to the world around them, and this pure simulation strongly drives their feelings.” - Lisa Feldman Barrett, How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain, p. 71. The fact...

Worry About the 4% You Can Change (part. 1)

Chances are that you worry about things that are beyond your control. And, if you're like me, you're looking for ways to focus more on the areas you can change and less on what you cannot change. According to a U.S. National Institute of Health study (2001 - a big...

“In wrestling, girls have an advantage. The guys think less of you until you are face-to-face with them!”

– Rachel, age 11, quoted in Strong is the New Pretty.

Strong is the New Pretty: Rachel, Age 11

“In wrestling, girls have an advantage. The guys think less of you until you are face-to-face with them!” - Rachel, age 11, quoted in Strong is the New Pretty. That’s quite the quote, isn’t it? The longer I look at it the more complex it becomes. On the surface, it...

Headwinds/Tailwinds and The Science Behind Negativity

Do you generally remember more bad events than good ones? Are you a "Glass Half Empty" kind of person? If so, you're probably missing out on a lot of potential for success and gratitude in your life. It's what Dr. Gilovich and Dr. Davidai call the “Headwinds/Tailwinds...

Antifragility and Becoming a Wounded Healer

Humans are not fragile teacups. If you drop us, we might break, but we can heal, and become even smarter, wiser, and more loving because of the awareness and empathy that we gain from suffering. A teacup, on the other hand, does not grow from a challenge. If...

Is Your World Actually Less Safe Than It Was?

Do you lock your door at night? Do you lock your door if you head out to grab groceries? Do you lock your doors when you leave for work or school or jazzercize in the morning? I know I do. And why is that? Is it because I feel unsafe in my quiet suburban...

Let Your Values Go Viral, Part 2

This is the second in a series of blog posts about useful (and sometimes sneaky) ways to teach your kids awesome habits. That is, these are ways to make our Values go Viral. Values like Cooperation and Helpfulness can be natural parts of our children's...

Let Your Values Go Viral, Part 1

Raising empathic kids starts with being a values driven parent. It starts with being the "change you want to see in the world", as Ghandi put it. If you value compassion, hard work, and health, lead with those values. If you make those values happen in your life, you...