Finding Peace of Mind

This is the third installment in a Psychology Today series, The Quests: The first was on finding a good job. The second was on finding and deepening a relationship.

Today, I turn to the quest for peace of mind.

Finding and Deepening a Long-Term Relationship

This is the second installment in a series, The Quests: The first was on finding a good job. 

My Psychology Today article today turns to the quest for a good long-term relationship.

Finding a Good Job: A composite case study that embeds eight key principles and practices

My Psychology Today article today offers a first-person report that's a composite of my clients' experiences that embeds eight key principles, practical and psychological, for landing a good job. After, I call those out.

Mutual Respect: Why it's key to the good relationship, and how to build yours

Mutual respect, obviously key to a relationship is often forgotten. My Psychology Today article today makes clear why it's so central and how to increase you and your partner's mutual respect.

Beware the Temptation to Indoctrinate Your Children

We care so much about our children that we want to give them our very best. That can include trying to inculcate our most deeply held beliefs. But that can poorly serve them. My Psychology Today article today explains why and how to educate rather than inculcate, so they become better and more independent thinkers.

The Wisdom Project: Yes-ands and yes-buts to 13 luminaries' quotations

I reviewed literally thousands of quotes and identified 17 that are particularly potent for living wisely. My Medium.com article today lists them plus my yes-ands and yes-buts.

Pursue Excellence Not for External Reward But for Its Own Sake

My Psychology Today article today makes the case that most people should strive for excellence but do so not mainly in hopes of getting rewards but for its own sake. The article goes only to explain how to become more excellent, at least in one domain.

Remote Work: Version 2.0

Some fresh ideas on working at home. That's my Medium.com article today: https://medium.com/@mnemko/the-wisdom-project-4af09ec768f0

Suggestions for the Worried Gen Z'er

My Psychology Today article today addresses common worries of Generation Z, people ready to start out in adulthood.

How to Avoid Irrationally Low or High Risk Tolerance

Financial advisors and apps ask clients to rate their risk tolerance, usually accept the answer, and find appropriate investments.

But why might someone's risk tolerance might be irrationally high or low. To become more rational, My Psychology Today article today offers 11 causes of and suggestions for irrationally high or low risk tolerance.

How to Reduce Social Anxiety

Everyone gets nervous in some social situations, perhaps a first date, an important meeting, or giving a presentation. But when the fear extends to avoiding or being too quiet with other people and it’s lasted for months or longer, it’s often termed social anxiety disorder or social phobia disorder.

But "social anxiety” is like a headache: The cure depends on the cause.  I offer some cause-specific suggestions in my Psychology Today article today.

8 Ways to Become a Better Thinker

Thinking ability is the holy grail for improving your professional and personal life. My Psychology Today article today offers eight practical ways to improve yours.

The Wisdom Project: Yes-ands and yes-buts in response to 13 luminaries' advice.

As I reflect on what writing has most helped my clients, friends, and me, I’ve become enamored of the short form. The quotation may be the shortest incarnation of wisdom.

So I reviewed literally thousands of quotations from respected luminaries to identify not-obvious but helpful quotes

My Psychology Today article today offers 17 quotes of particular value, adding my yes-ands and yes-buts.

Advice for the Worried Teenager

My Psychology Today article today offers advice for the teen worried about college, relationship, career, and money. 

How Well Does Your Love Life Match Iconic Love Song Lyrics?

My Psychology Today article today presents iconic lyrics from love songs can encourage you to reflect on your love life. Within each of four categories of lyrics, I offer some less poetic thoughts and questions about love life.

"They Say I'm Too Intense:" Suggestions that don't require a personality transplant

A client today is at risk of getting fired because despite being competent at his job, his boss said that she and others find him too intense. We developed a number of suggestions that he's enthusiastic about and may be of help to you. I describe them in my Psychology Today article today.

Should You Be More Ambitious....or Less So?

We’re often told to be ambitious, but the argument against being ambitious is less often presented. My Psychology Today article today may help you gain clarity on how ambitious you’d like to be.

How to Rebound from Disappointment

My Psychology Today article today offers ideas for how to rebound, not just from an individual disappointment but a life of disappointment.

The Power of the Right Present

As Valentine's Day approaches, avoid the cliche candy or flowers. My Psychology Today article today offers advice on what to get and what to write.

How Even Bad Conversationalists Can Have Good Conversations

My Psychology Today article today offers six steps to good conversation.

How to Become Special

Few people want to be like everyone else. Everyone wants to be at least a little special. My Psychology Today article today offers five ways to do so.

7 Escapes from Stress

Sometimes it's wise to escape feelings of anxiety, but other times it's not. But it's unquestionably wise to consciously decide whether, how, and how much to escape.

To that end, my Psychology Today article today asks if you want to maintain, increase, decrease, or not use 7 escapes?

Lies We Tell Ourselves

Sometimes it’s healthy to delude ourselves. Facing all our fears head-on could yield more unhappiness than benefit. And sometimes, a little excess optimism fuels us to bigger accomplishment than clear-eyed rationality would allow.

But certainly, it can help to be aware of whether you want to curb, indulge, or even increase your “irrational exuberance."¹

To that end,  my Psychology Today article today offers a necessarily incomplete list of possible lies we tell ourselves.

Honoring the Serious Person

Most people prefer upbeat types. But we'd be wise to spend time with those with a serious demeanor. My Psychology Today article today makes the case as well as offers suggestions for how to make the most of interacting with serious types.

Honoring a Playful Nature

People vary from the serious to the playful. With playful friends, customers, coworkers, etc., it helps to adapt to their style My Psychology Today article today describes, (ahem) play-by-play, what happened in a client session today.

Living While Ugly

"Ugly" Duckling

Veneer matters more than it should. My Psychology Today article today offers ideas for improving one's looks, self-acceptance, and even the under-considered advantages of being conventionally unattractive.

Communicating with a Prospect: with implications for communicating in general

My Psychology Today article today offers samples of how to communicate with a prospective client or customer. It has implications for communication in general.