Resilience

Confidence is our greatest personal resource. With it, we can face any situation knowing we can handle it. Without it, we are destined to suffer. Without confidence any situation has the potential to be a threat. Think about having to do anything from the smallest task to the most complex job without confidence. You question your ability and stress constantly. Fearing you will not be able to handle it, you may actually sabotage your ability to get it done. Instead of facing the task, you retreat, avoid, or procrastinate. Maybe you confront the task, but without believing in yourself you over-think it, over-do-it, or tremble through the process all the while doubting yourself. Read More

All advice is suspect. I'm not suggesting you break all the so-called rules of creativity you've collected. Only that every tip can be counteracted with its opposite. And some advice is just plain bad for you.  Here, then, are 11 types of advice to avoid: Read More

The serenity prayer is more than how they close AA meetings. That thing is deep and speaks to the fundamentals of the human condition, including everything that drives psychology and the behavioral sciences in general--the pursuit of wisdom whereby we can make better decisions, trekking the winding mountain ridge of life in the dark about the future without sliding down the slippery slopes on either side of the ridge top. Here are some new variations on that greatest of prayers. Read More

This chapter is both far from new while also one that's new everyday. Every morning I have the privilege of beginning another day in recovery.

My name is Adia and I am recovering from bulimia, bulimarexia, overeating, overexercising - in essence, a dysfunctional relationship with food and my weight. Here are the cliff notes and a few questions I've been asked before: Read More

Writes my pal Gene Weingarten in The Washington Post "Because women are attending grad schools in record numbers, and because male CEOs have screwed things up so publicly, Gina thinks women are soon going to dominate American business -- and feminize it." Read More

By trying to emulate the greats, you may find yourself blocked and your would-be publishers leery. So says Larry Beinhart, whose novel Wag the Dog was made into the popular movie starring Robert de Niro and Dustin Hoffman. My interview with Beinhart revealed details of his sales-oriented approach to writing, and why his latest, Salvation Boulevard, wasn't an easy sell. Read More

You know what it's like dealing with a loved one who's very sick?

It's like taking somebody to the train station where you're supposed to drop them off, say your fondest farewells, and wave goodbye from the platform as they head out on the next part of their journey.

You think you know what's going to happen.

But you don't. Read More

For those not familiar with the landscape of autism politics, fellow PT blogger Stanton Peele's recent post, "Why We Can't Solve Autism," provided an excellent snapshot.   The article which he references, "Growing Old With Autism," by Karl Greenfeld brings up yet another facet of the discussion - adults with autism.  Reading it drove home my own misgivings about the lack of information, programs and support for adults on the spectrum.  Read More