Music to Improve Your Mood

Music has been said to soothe the savage beast and to uplift the soul. In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer 11 music videos that are picker-uppers and 11 that are calmer-downers.

The Smart-Shopping Gardener

Gardening can be expensive but, without sacrificing pleasure, gardeners can save much money just by following the tips I offer in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

In Search of a Religion

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering tells of one person's attempt to find a religion.

She Wanted to be In Charge: A Short-Short Story

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering is about a long-time assistant who thought it was time to be in charge.

Whom to Hire, Promote, and Terminate

A leader or manager must wisely hire, promote, and terminate. I offer guidelines on how to do that in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Choosing a Career: Quick takes on 21 good careers

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I pretend I'm asked to give a very quick reaction to each of 21 careers that have significant pluses.

Choosing a College Major

Of course, there are rigorous ways to choose a major, for example, the College Board's major-matcher but a more anecdotal approach might be a useful complement. 


I offer one in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Should You Be More of Less Planful?

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, in my PsychologyToday.com articles, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering addresses the issue of how planful to be.

The Making of a Mass Shooter

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering hypothesizes how a not-psychopath could come to commit the unthinkable crime of a mass shooting. 

The President Apologizes: A Short-Short Story About How to Win and Whether To

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, in my PsychologyToday.com articles, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories. 

Today's offering is about a person who did what it takes to become president and his epiphany on his final chauffeured ride from the White House.

'Should I Join the Mainstream?" An Internal Debate

Some people naturally fit into the mainstream but others, from childhood, are unconventional, outliers, oddballs. Alas, in adulthood, the consequences of that may grow.

Perhaps this internal debate that I posted as my PsychologyToday.com article today will help a person decide whether to continue to march to a different drummer or to step in line.

Remaining Relevant

Even some young people worry they're growing irrelevant. 

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer a short-short story about a man's attempts to stay relevant.

Writing and Speaking to Effect Change

Like most counselors and how-to writers, my goal is to help people improve their lives.
In recent months, I've revised my approach to writing my Psychology Today articles. 

I recognize that these changes may reduce my credibility but I hope the articles are more helpful.

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I explain the thinking behind the changes in hopes that it will help you to be a more effective change agent, whether you're thinking or speaking. 

How Productive Are You Really?

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer a brief self-appraisal inventory to help you assess how productive you are. That may help you decide if and how you want to be more or even less productive.

How Benevolent Are You, Really?

Most people think of themselves as benevolent but how benevolent are you, really? In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer seven questions that may help you self-assess.

Of course, no one's perfect but it can't hurt to take a look at yourself if only to pat yourself on the back for the good you do.

Behaviors That Make You Appear Stupid

Of course, many intelligent people do  some of the things I list in my PsychologyToday.com article today, but the more of them you do, the more likely you'll be perceived as, well, not the brightest crayon in the box.

So You Think You Have a Bad Boss

A number of my clients said they have a bad boss. Upon probing, it's clear that some of them were right. But often, it's more complicated.

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I explore what may be going on with five kinds of "bad bosses."

ASocial Security: A short-short story about government

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering is about someone who thinks government is a net negative.

Alienated

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in  short-short stories.

Today's offering is about a person who suffered from following his father's advice.

Average Jane: A Short-Short Story About the Plight of Being Unexceptional

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, in my PsychologyToday.com articles, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in  short-short stories.

Today's offering is about a person who suffered from being average.

What is Your Reaction to These 50 Emotionally Powerful Words?

As one of my attempts to provide simple but not simplistic approaches to understanding one's self, in my PsychologyToday.com article today, I list 50 emotionally changed words. Next to each word, I invite you to write a word that reveals something important about you.

The Balloon: A Short-Short Story About an Obese Person with a Career Problem

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, in my PsychologyToday.com articles, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in  short-short stories.

Today's offering is about a midlifer with a career and health problem.

Should You Ask for More or Fewer Favors?

There are good reasons to ask for more or for fewer favors. I explore the pros and cons in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Would Society Be Better if Everyone Had to Wear a Truth Meter on Their Forehead?

I like thought experiments. So for today's PsychologyToday.com article, I explored the pros and cons of everyone having to wear a "truth meter" on their forehead.

Why You and Your Kids Should Get Involved in Theatre

I've come to believe that being involved in a school, college, or community theatre production is among the more rewarding experiences one can have. 

I make the case in my PsychologyToday.com article today.   

By the way, that photo is of me playing the villain in a melodrama. 

Reducing Stress in a High-Stress Occupation

My PsychologyToday.com article today offers a buffet of tactics for preventing and coping with stress. 

The Happy Slitting Party: A Short-Short Story about Depression

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in  short-short stories.

Today's offering looks at a person with depression.

The Optimist: A Short-Short Story

In an attempt to avoid the pontification and aridity of the how-to article, In some of my PsychologyToday.com articles, I've recently been embedding psychological and other how-to-do-life issues in short-short stories.

Today's offering looks at how a person faces the ultimate challenge to her preternatural optimism.

Is Psychotherapy Worth It?

It's difficult to conduct valid research on whether psychotherapy is worth the time and money. Indeed, an excellent Psychology Today article is entitled, Why Psychotherapy Efficacy Studies are Nearly Impossible. 

So it's worth taking a logical look at psychotherapy's pros and cons. To that end, in my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer a mock debate between an eclectically oriented psychotherapist and a person who doesn't believe in psychotherapy.

Letter from an Angry Reader

On PsychologyToday.com, I've been posting composite letters that embed issues my readers and listeners have queried me about. Today's is the angriest.

The Challenge of Being Honest In Looking for a Job

It is very tempting to be dishonest when looking for a job. In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I've tried to be as honest as I can be in discussing the issue.