Rejoining Joy

Ways of living

by Gerald Young, Ph.D.

WikiWaysofLiving

Knowledge keeps growing and a major source of learning how to live comes from our searches on the web. However, there is too much for any one person to absorb, and the hits for any one question that we might ask in a search numbers in the millions. Moreover, the web does not include one site dedicated solely to improving our ways of living. Read More

From Automaticity to Authenticity

Automaticity in behavior protects you from (a) past problems that are too difficult to face, (b) stresses in the present that are overwhelming, and (c) the need for too many changes in your usual behaviors because of changing contexts or times. Read More

Lighting and Lightening

Trianna felt a lifeless burden on the inside pulling her down. It felt like a dark region in the middle of her self that stopped her from being herself. She was sure people noticed and that they wondered what was wrong with her. She wanted to change and become happier, but did not know where to begin. Her husband and child would be happier too, she thought, if she could only start. Read More

Automaticity and Authenticity

No matter what she tried to do to change, Tricia lapsed into her bad habits. They were deeply anchored in her, having developed in her childhood when she was abused. She began drinking in her early teens and never could stop, no matter which professional she consulted or which advice she followed. Read More

Spiritualities

Having a sense of spirituality is different from being religious, although often the two overlap. Having a sense of spirituality belongs to everyone. It is not a property of external sources such as religions that bestow it on us or need to teach it to us. Read More

Bad Times Are the Start of New Beginnings

Here are more sayings for your consideration and living. They reflect the cognitive-behavioral and positive psychology approaches. You can change for the better using ways that fit your personality and context. For more of my sayings, check my website, rejoiningjoy.com.

Good effort and good will are the best practices. Read More

The Gift of Giving

In the following, I give you the gift of sayings that I have made. They reflect the cognitive-behavioral and positive psychology approaches, in that they suggest that you can change for the better, but in realistic ways. For more of my sayings, check my website, rejoiningjoy.com.

You are never more than your potential, but your potential is always more than you. Read More

Nature Sayings II

Humans have a way with words and wars.

Animal Daily News headline—Animals convene to sanction humans.

Isaac Animalov's new book about humans—War and Pieces.

Animal's don't understand us. Greed Sloth Wanton destruction.

Science and art are opposite ways—of saving the world.

We are not alone in the universe—the animals are watching. Read More

Nature Sayings I

Nature is to humans as humans are to nature.

Human nature means being human with nature.

Birds sing - nature's plight.

The human merry-go-round - Round and round she goes and where she stops everyone knows.

Nurture nature naturally.

Helping nature is in your nature.

Go organic's way; or go away organics. You decide. Read More

Intranet Your Mind

Connection is everything, or at least its quantity, quality, and humanity. We have become the social media society, where we face-book as much if not more than face the books, and text messages as much if not more than finding messages in texts. Read More

Internal World Wars

In the following, some of the language is shocking, but it is meant to help each of you improve some of your worst negative thoughts about other people, from children to romantic partner, to groups such as minorities. In improving this way, you will be improving yourself psychologically. Read More

Empowering the Psychological Core

Jordan could not believe what he had heard. His work supervisor had told him that you can feel confident in most any situation, even if it is new and anxious for you. You can even prepare for new and anxious situations so that when they come up, you feel in control. Read More

The Diabolical and the Dialogical

The elephant in the room is the evil in the world that is all around you. You try to live through the stresses of the day, and have little room to deal with the stresses of your family, let alone those of the community, country, and world. Read More

Leaks and Landmines, Landfills and Landslides

Your stream of consciousness is proceeding in its usual direction, giving you a rambling narrative of the day's events and ongoing tasks, perhaps with your concerns added about what is happening as the day unfolds. Read More

Stepping Up and Acting On

Vinny was not sure about anything. Everything was a question mark for him. He struggled to make the most basic decisions. He did not see where his life was going. He had a humdrum job and also went from one date to another. He began to hit the bottle. Read More

Changing Stresses, Blockages, Insecurities, and Imbalances

The start of a new year can be a start of a new you, even if you begin small and slow. If you make realistic promises to yourself, they will be easier to realize. Moreover, you can always add others to fill them out along the way. You should treat each day as a new beginning, or start on that path. Read More

The Smallest of Lights Can Cast the Largest of Shadows

How often have you heard the expression that she is a real light onto the world or he is such a bright light in the family? Being a light for other people does not mean that you are an outgoing, happy person but that you are a sensitive, caring person. You have a sensitive, caring side, but the stresses and the strains of the day could mask it. Read More

Be a BEMER

Be A BEMER. The influences on yourself are not only part environment and part genes, but also part you.

So let your "you" play its part in deciding who you are, what you feel, what you do, and how you are with other people. Read More

Past, Presence, Future

What did Doctor Young mean? "Past, Presence, Future?" I think he said that it means that I should live more in the present and worry less about the future. Also, I should not have so many regrets about the past. My friend is worse than me, because she is worrying all the time. Read More

Keeping Control in Chaos

Chloe lashed out whenever she had any stress and even when she did not. Her father was like that, and she thought that she could never change. Moreover, it did give her space and respect, she thought, or was it that people were drawing back from her and were afraid to socialize with her? Her mind was a constant maelstrom of wild thoughts that came from nowhere and went everywhere. Read More

Powering Personal Change

Sarah wanted to change right away, and change everything at that. She sought advice from everyone, describing her problems endlessly. She tried many solutions, but her problems did not diminish. She was told to have patience and plan, but she could not even take that first step. Read More

Positive Society Psychology III

The year is 2050. Belinda feels that she is in a straight-jacket, both at home and at work. She works hard in both and feels that she is getting no rest. Her husband has little interest in helping out at home, except to take the children to the playground where he can have fun with them. Her co-workers pile the work on her desk, knowing that they get along with the supervisor but she does not. Read More

Positive Society Psychology II

In the previous blog entry, I argued for the extension of positive psychology into the area of positive society psychology. In this second blog entry on the topic, I become more specific. (a) First, what are some practical ways that this new approach could be put into effect? Read More

Positive Society Psychology I

You are living in most troubling times. On the economic level, worldwide market crises threaten your way of life and governments across the globe are incapable of quick fixes. At the political level, various regions are marked by discord and by wars large and small. At the climate and geographical levels, catastrophes surge and the struggle for daily survival is a constant theme for many. Read More

By Teenagers

We have a different concept of time than my parents. They say "Soon," but mean "Now;" and we say "Later," but mean "Never," or so it seems to them. What we are really saying is "Chill," because what they are asking us to do will get done once it matters. We've got a lot to worry about like, "Will she like me this way? Read More

How to Raise Your Children Naturally

George just couldn't. No matter how hard he tried, he could not sit still at the dinner table. The more he moved, the more his parents told him to sit still. The more they told him, the more he moved. Finally, they got so exasperated, they angrily told him to go to his room. He stayed there hours playing his video games. Read More

“It’s Cancer!” I Was Told

I remember perfectly when the hematologist told me "you have cancer".My first response was to ask, "How long do I have?" He answered that most likely I won't need chemotherapy for a few years because it is a slow growth one. After the shock, I continued with my life as best I could. Read More

Pockets of Joy, Caverns of Purpose, Mountains of Hope

Shauna's and Dave's accident was so serious that the police had wondered how they could be alive. A tractor-trailer truck had been too close behind them when they had to stop suddenly to avoid an accident that was taking place in front of them on the highway. The huge vehicle rammed into them, going over the back seat of the car. Read More

Psychological Injury

Karen felt so depressed and traumatized. "Oh my, I do not know where to turn. I can't smile anymore. My co-workers are concerned. My daughter worries and tries to cheer me up. I cry for no reason. I wasn't this way before the accident. Why did that kid run in front of my car? I keep dreaming about it, how they tried to save him. Read More

The Self and the Other: Finding Balance

Jennie had had it with her parents. They wanted her to stay home, not go out with her friends because they were not like young people back home. She was 21 and wanted more freedom. She wanted her parents to trust her. Junior had too much to do at home, as his parents were so busy. He longed for the time he could do just what he wanted. Read More