Recent Posts

A Dream Deferred

Personal Perspective: You've been putting it off for years. Here's what finally happens when you stop waiting and choose your life on purpose.

Personal Perspective: You've been putting it off for years. Here's what finally happens when you stop waiting and choose your life on purpose.

What Education's 250-Year Problem Is Costing Every One of Us

Personal Perspective: Every major institution has been transformed by technology and culture, except the one that's supposed to prepare us for both.

Personal Perspective: Every major institution has been transformed by technology and culture, except the one that's supposed to prepare us for both.

Life Crafting: How Writing Helps You Get the Life You Want

Stop letting daily distractions derail your focus and learn how targeted writing can help you get what you want out of life.

Stop letting daily distractions derail your focus and learn how targeted writing can help you get what you want out of life.

Why Wait? Wear the Shoes Now

Personal Perspective: Sometimes I get comments that I look too fancy when I go to the market. If I don’t wear special items today, when I want to, when will I?

Personal Perspective: Sometimes I get comments that I look too fancy when I go to the market. If I don’t wear special items today, when I want to, when will I?

What a Nightmare's Spectrum of Fear Can Reveal

Escalating nighttime terror can motivate the dreamer and help de-escalate a difficult problem in waking life.

Escalating nighttime terror can motivate the dreamer and help de-escalate a difficult problem in waking life.

Why the Most Dangerous Words Might Be Your Own

When it comes to success and personal growth, the stories you tell yourself may matter more than talent or luck.

When it comes to success and personal growth, the stories you tell yourself may matter more than talent or luck.

How to Stop Saving Your Life for Later

An album will still be there in 10 years. The people you keep meaning to call won't. I learned that from a library of 10,000 songs I've barely heard.

An album will still be there in 10 years. The people you keep meaning to call won't. I learned that from a library of 10,000 songs I've barely heard.

Ikigai and the Science of Personality Change

A sense of purpose can improve well-being, but fulfillment requires more than clarity. It also requires the traits needed to act on what matters.

A sense of purpose can improve well-being, but fulfillment requires more than clarity. It also requires the traits needed to act on what matters.

The Long Tail of Disadvantage

We imagine disadvantage as a well-defined hurdle that appears, is overcome, and is swiftly forgotten. In reality, it's more like a shadow that stretches far beyond its creation.

We imagine disadvantage as a well-defined hurdle that appears, is overcome, and is swiftly forgotten. In reality, it's more like a shadow that stretches far beyond its creation.

The Hidden Reason You Struggle With Discipline

Struggling with self-discipline is not a character flaw. It may trace back to what you did not receive growing up and what you can begin to build now.

Struggling with self-discipline is not a character flaw. It may trace back to what you did not receive growing up and what you can begin to build now.

How to Locate Your Own Hero’s Journey Narrative

Reflecting on your own "hero's journey" narrative can boost your resilience and sense of meaning in life.

Reflecting on your own "hero's journey" narrative can boost your resilience and sense of meaning in life.

Life, Liberty, and the Search for Meaning

Here's a reminder for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence that true happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue from the pursuit of meaning.

Here's a reminder for the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence that true happiness cannot be pursued; it must ensue from the pursuit of meaning.

The Lie Your Brain Keeps Telling You About Happiness

Why does happiness fade so quickly after we achieve our biggest goals? The answer lies in a powerful brain process—and hope may be the key to breaking the cycle.

Why does happiness fade so quickly after we achieve our biggest goals? The answer lies in a powerful brain process—and hope may be the key to breaking the cycle.

Pausing for Effectiveness

Take time daily, inside and outside the workplace, to intentionally pause with introspection and reflection.

Take time daily, inside and outside the workplace, to intentionally pause with introspection and reflection.

Why Adults Still Like Stickers

Why do tiny rewards still motivate grown-ups? Because they make effort visible, immediate, and meaningful.

Why do tiny rewards still motivate grown-ups? Because they make effort visible, immediate, and meaningful.

Identity and the Allure of Certainty

True psychological freedom begins when we loosen our attachment to fixed identities and courageously enter the uncertain process of becoming.

True psychological freedom begins when we loosen our attachment to fixed identities and courageously enter the uncertain process of becoming.

Why Your Brain Assumes the Worst

Your brain fills in the blanks when information is missing, but it often fills them with fear. Learn the simple strategy that can help you rewrite the story.

Your brain fills in the blanks when information is missing, but it often fills them with fear. Learn the simple strategy that can help you rewrite the story.

When Teachers Are Kind, Students Notice

Students notice that their teachers are kind. Surprisingly, it's not about field trips, treats, and special activities.

Students notice that their teachers are kind. Surprisingly, it's not about field trips, treats, and special activities.

Why People in Pain Still Don't Change

Most people want to change. They stay stuck because one of three equations hasn't lined up. Here is the relational math of deep, systemic change.

Most people want to change. They stay stuck because one of three equations hasn't lined up. Here is the relational math of deep, systemic change.

2 'Stubborn' Habits That Actually Predict Success

Success accumulates in the moments when most other people would give up.

Success accumulates in the moments when most other people would give up.

Why Your Brain Keeps Replaying Conversations at 2 A.M.

The conversation you can't stop replaying at 2 a.m. isn't random. Psychology reveals why your brain won't let it go—and what to do about it.

The conversation you can't stop replaying at 2 a.m. isn't random. Psychology reveals why your brain won't let it go—and what to do about it.

The Psychology of Borrowed Hope

The belief that changes your life may not begin with you. Discover the surprising psychology behind borrowed hope and how to cultivate more of it every day.

The belief that changes your life may not begin with you. Discover the surprising psychology behind borrowed hope and how to cultivate more of it every day.

2 Habits That Make Productivity Feel Easier

These productivity hacks can help reduce the need for discipline and willpower.

These productivity hacks can help reduce the need for discipline and willpower.

Why It’s So Hard to Know If You’re Really Making Progress

It can be tough to tell if you're moving toward your goals. This isn't a character flaw. The answer lies in behavioral science.

It can be tough to tell if you're moving toward your goals. This isn't a character flaw. The answer lies in behavioral science.

Why More Effort Doesn't Always Equal Better Results

Try to sleep, and you stay awake. Try to be charming, and you become awkward. Some goals seem to punish the very effort meant to achieve them.

Try to sleep, and you stay awake. Try to be charming, and you become awkward. Some goals seem to punish the very effort meant to achieve them.

How Death Shapes What We Buy

Death anxiety can unexpectedly shape how we spend, save, insure, and plan—sometimes helping us protect what matters, sometimes helping us avoid it.

Death anxiety can unexpectedly shape how we spend, save, insure, and plan—sometimes helping us protect what matters, sometimes helping us avoid it.

A Psychological Technique Every Nurse Needs in Their Toolbox

Traditional advice-giving can backfire with patients who are “on the fence” about changing behaviors. Nurses can use this technique to motivate patients and reduce defensiveness.

Traditional advice-giving can backfire with patients who are “on the fence” about changing behaviors. Nurses can use this technique to motivate patients and reduce defensiveness.

Accessing the Genius of Procrastination

Procrastination is an essential part of rest, motivation, and creativity. Here is a surprisingly simple way to access its gifts.

Procrastination is an essential part of rest, motivation, and creativity. Here is a surprisingly simple way to access its gifts.

What Does It Mean to Be Human?

If humans prefer the writing of AI to that of humans, will they stop writing? If AI does most of our writing, will we stop thinking and go into cognitive decline?

If humans prefer the writing of AI to that of humans, will they stop writing? If AI does most of our writing, will we stop thinking and go into cognitive decline?

Which of the Five Motivational Profiles Best Describes You?

Learn which of the five hidden motive patterns best fits your personality from new research taking a whole person approach to understanding the psychology of motivation.

Learn which of the five hidden motive patterns best fits your personality from new research taking a whole person approach to understanding the psychology of motivation.