Finding Your Voice

Insights into creative expression, for everyone on the stage of life.

by Jennifer Hamady

Finding Your Passion

Stop worrying about what job will bring you passion. What hobby. Or even what person. Be passionate about life and its spirit will call itself out. Read More

Let the anti-gay marriage movement claim that religion declares marriage to be between a man and a woman. Thanks to freedom of speech, that is certainly their right. Just as it is the right, and the responsibility, of all American citizens to demand a legal institution that honors equality for all couples and families. Read More

Fame and Happiness

We have a cultural notion that personal worth and value are the result of one’s accomplishments. Thus, the obsession with what we should do when we grow up. Rather than who we are now, and how we would like to express ourselves in the world. As well as what we want to contribute to it. Read More

The Great Discovery

When we realize that in our power of individual observation lies the same power for collective transformation, we will be able to start solving the big problems that currently, alone in the routines of our minds, seem insurmountable. Read More

Dealing With Criticism

Certainly we all need critics. But while on stage, let prior, future, and even current opinions fade- including your own. They no longer and do not yet exist. All that is present is the moment. Read More

Finding Your Talent

In our culture, it is so easy to think that being talented—or popular, or famous, or rich—is an end goal. We are conditioned to believe that they are destinations to which all roads hopefully lead; that their achievement is what makes a person interesting, influential, and special. That is not the case. Read More

A Lesson in Love

We all know what will bring joy to the people in our lives. We know the heart songs of those we love. All we have to do is sing them. What could be more important? Read More

Learning From Jealousy

Every situation is an opportunity to learn if you're willing to see it as such. Dealing with jealousy—whether directed at someone else or at you—is no exception. Read More

Honoring Whitney Houston

For me, the passing of Whitney Houston is certainly an opportunity to remember and say farewell to a true musical icon. Yet it is also—and more importantly—a reminder to cherish and love the people in our lives while they are still alive. Read More

Love and Sex

Many of us walk into the world—into our relationships, our marriages, and the bedroom—determined to maintain a level of autonomy and self-protection, convincing ourselves that this is wise to do so. That only a fool would truly surrender. But it never works. Read More

You Are Not Your Talent

Our culture does a wonderful—and unfortunate—job of blurring the lines between having a talent and being talented. We celebrate people for what they do, not who they are, reinforcing the notion that "it" is more important—and more valuable—than them. Read More

The Downside of a Great Idea

There is simply nothing like the rush of inspiration; the revelation of the big ‘aha' moment. It's what brings us to life. It's what keeps us going. And it's our biggest downfall. We're so excited to finally hold these gems in our hands that we forget that a closed fist is still a closed fist, whether or not something wonderful is inside. Read More

The Importance of Planned Parenthood

No matter your views on abortion, Planned Parenthood is doing very important–and indeed, lifesaving–work. I encourage everyone to remember that the issue of womens' reproductive health–and rights–is not black and white. In the gray areas, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of lives at stake. Read More

Hooray for Technology!

Technology isn't inherently bad or problematic. Like most things, it is merely a tool which we are able to use and incorporate according to our needs and desires. Unfortunately, we don't always choose empowering and balanced ways to integrate technology into our lives, the result being that it ends up running, rather than serving us. Read More

Safety versus Bravery

We're all good at doing what we do, staying inside of the lines. That's why we do it; that's why we stay there. But that's not where the real fun is, no matter your passion, no matter your dreams and goals. Read More

Conan O'Brien and the Perils of Cynicism

Cynicism is a mindset, and—like happiness—it's generally not specifically situational. I've worked with many wealthy, famous people riddled with cynicism, as well as foster kids in the Bronx who inspire me with their determination to suck the marrow out of life. Read More

To Eat or Not to Eat...

Earlier this week, I wrote about Kelly Ripa's transition to the helm of the "Live!" enterprise. In sum, I was impressed with the way she handled the shift; her willingness to share her experience and vulnerability with viewers. Apparently, others were and are not so impressed. Particularly by her weight. Read More

Live! With Kelly Ripa

In a few months, we won't be thinking much about Regis. On television, a lot of effort is put into making sure transitions are smooth and for the most part, unnoticeable. For better or worse, life- and certainly the media- work that way. Which is why it was so great that Kelly allowed us a glimpse of the opposite. Read More

A Cure for Anxiety

It would be easy to dismiss the Eastern psychotherapy practice of Naikan as some Zen, optimistic ideal if it hadn't been proven in a series of studies to be as effective if not more than our own Western psychotherapies. Which means that the roots of our Western anxiety may in fact be culturally created and empowered. Read More

Lessons from a Marathon

With the New York City Marathon coming up this weekend, I am reminded of an experience two years ago that not only changed my view of the annual event. It changed my life. Read More

The Gift of Being Present

Technology can facilitate our ability to connect with one another, but not the nature of how we do so. That's still up to us. The next time you're on a call, stop or put down what you're doing and give your full attention to the person on the other end of the line. They- and your relationship- are worth it. Read More

Wheat and Weight Loss in Argentina

I've never been much of a 'weigh myself' kind of person. I have only been on a scale twice in the past 5 years... once on a dare and the other in a doctor's office.

While I don't think much about weight, I do think about the foods I eat. I've had to, given a rather intense reaction to wheat. Even small amounts of flour added to soups or sauces result in large and immediate effects. Read More

The Eternal Honeymoon

Standing on the edge of our great adventure, I've been thinking about this tradition that our culture bestows. And I've concluded that this 'period of great sweetness' is available to every one of us, at any time, regardless of our marital status. Read More

Lifelong Learning and Living

One of the greatest benefits of being an adult is that we finally have the say in how we want our lives to go. It's time to implement our own benchmarks to get us there, including having a say in what aging... and living... mean. Read More

Double Take

On Friday, John and I were at the New York City courthouse applying for our marriage license. What could have been another item on our wedding to-do list became far more as we watched men and women gather together to celebrate their unions. Weddings are always special. But what made this particular day truly magical was to whom those men and women were getting married. Read More

Just Do It! Part 2

In my last article, I shared 4 steps for getting unstuck in your creative endeavors, based upon my own struggles to get ideas out of my mind and onto the page. Here are a few more tips I have found helpful as I've continued to work on my projects... Read More

Just Do It!

Four steps for getting unstuck in your creative endeavors. Read More

Wild Resistance

Why do we- in life, in relationships, and in creativity- so often cling to self-consciousness, when joy and self-expression are so freeing and freely available? Read More

Crafting Communication

On the surface, communication seems obvious. One person speaks and another listens. Switch, then repeat. Yet there's much more to it than that. Each of us brings two entities to the table whenever we talk. And when we're learning, we bring three. Read More

Learning from Children

Recently, one of our lovely PT editors posed the question: 'what habit of kids should all adults adopt?' She went on to inquire, "what smart move comes naturally to kids, but not so much to grown-ups? Anything having to do with play, or mindfulness, or activity, or learning, or social skills? Or something different altogether?" Read More

Jennifer Hamady specializes in emotional issues that interfere with optimal self-expression and is the author of The Art of Singing, heralded as a breakthrough in the psychology of musical and personal performance.

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