Life Is a Trip

Sport and Competition

Tips From a Psychologist Who Trains Olympic Athletes

Judith Fein on February 17, 2026

You may wonder how Olympians deal with fear, failure, focus, and self-confidence. A psychologist explains how those lessons can help in your own life.

You may wonder how Olympians deal with fear, failure, focus, and self-confidence. A psychologist explains how those lessons can help in your own life.

Creativity

How Creativity Can Light Up the Darkness

Judith Fein on December 18, 2025

A Personal Perspective: A source of joy and creativity is all around you, and all you have to do is look for it.

A Personal Perspective: A source of joy and creativity is all around you, and all you have to do is look for it.

Happiness

Why Mexico City Was Good for My Mental Health

Judith Fein on December 8, 2025

A Personal Perspective: Travel can be transformative, and travel to Mexico City can be both transformative and healing.

A Personal Perspective: Travel can be transformative, and travel to Mexico City can be both transformative and healing.

Self-Talk

What's Your Self-Talk About Aging?

Judith Fein on October 6, 2025

A Personal Perspective: Does what others say about aging affect you? If your self-talk is positive, you can have a different experience of getting older.

A Personal Perspective: Does what others say about aging affect you? If your self-talk is positive, you can have a different experience of getting older.

Media

Opera and Psychological Horror

Judith Fein on August 15, 2025

A Personal Perspective: My friend said seeing "Turn of the Screw" wasn't scary. I was terrified by the psychological horror.

A Personal Perspective: My friend said seeing "Turn of the Screw" wasn't scary. I was terrified by the psychological horror.

Relationships

"Rigoletto" and the Laws of Karma

Judith Fein on July 18, 2025

Do your actions determine your destiny? The wheel of karma is always turning.

Do your actions determine your destiny? The wheel of karma is always turning.

Relationships

Lessons From the Opera on Who Has Power in Relationships

Judith Fein on July 8, 2025

A Personal Perspective: Who dominates in social, sexual, and marital relationships? It may be different than how it appears.

A Personal Perspective: Who dominates in social, sexual, and marital relationships? It may be different than how it appears.

Personal Perspectives

Fleeing or Facing Reality in the Opera "La Bohème"

Judith Fein on June 30, 2025

A Personal Perspective: What happens when you have to choose between two conflicting realities?

A Personal Perspective: What happens when you have to choose between two conflicting realities?

Identity

How to Psychologically Prepare to Write a Book

Judith Fein on June 13, 2025

The questions to ask yourself before writing about yourself and your identity.

The questions to ask yourself before writing about yourself and your identity.

Trust

How Do You Know If You Can Trust Someone?

Judith Fein on May 20, 2025

A Personal Perspective: 10 characteristics of trustworthy people.

A Personal Perspective: 10 characteristics of trustworthy people.

Personal Perspectives

What I Learned From a Guatemalan Shaman

Judith Fein on March 17, 2025

A Personal Perspective: An experienced that changed how I think about decision-making.

A Personal Perspective: An experienced that changed how I think about decision-making.

Personal Perspectives

Redefining Friendship: How to Know If It's Worth Preserving a Friendship

Judith Fein on February 25, 2025

A Personal Perspective: When you need your friends, are they there for you? Are you there for them?

A Personal Perspective: When you need your friends, are they there for you? Are you there for them?

Personal Perspectives

Are Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem the Same Thing?

Judith Fein on January 21, 2025

A Personal Perspective: You may think that self-esteem and self-confidence are the same thing, but it's possible to have one without the other.

A Personal Perspective: You may think that self-esteem and self-confidence are the same thing, but it's possible to have one without the other.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

What People Say After Someone Dies

Judith Fein on December 13, 2024

A Personal Perspective: What people say at a funeral or memorial service may or may not be the whole truth.

A Personal Perspective: What people say at a funeral or memorial service may or may not be the whole truth.

Relationships

How Some Choose to Move Forward When Their Partner Lies or Cheats

Judith Fein on December 6, 2024

A Personal Perspective: What some people do to heal after they discover they have been cheated or lied to in a relationship.

A Personal Perspective: What some people do to heal after they discover they have been cheated or lied to in a relationship.

Personal Perspectives

Do You Sometimes Feel Alienated From the Culture Around You?

Judith Fein on November 8, 2024

A Personal Perspective: Do you ever feel that you don't seem to fit into mainstream behavior, like you come from another planet?

A Personal Perspective: Do you ever feel that you don't seem to fit into mainstream behavior, like you come from another planet?

Relationships

Sometimes, Love Is Just What We Do

Judith Fein on August 29, 2024

How to accept someone's love for you even when you don't think you deserve it.

How to accept someone's love for you even when you don't think you deserve it.

Narcissism

Two Narcissists Reveal Themselves at the Santa Fe Opera

Judith Fein on August 19, 2024

What happens to women who are sucked into an unhealthy relationship with a narcissist? Two operas depict the outcomes.

What happens to women who are sucked into an unhealthy relationship with a narcissist? Two operas depict the outcomes.

Relationships

2 Operas Explore Different Ways of Loving

Judith Fein on August 2, 2024

Two famous operas deal with styles of love. Are both of them excessive?

Two famous operas deal with styles of love. Are both of them excessive?

Self-Help

What to Do When You Have a Major Setback

Judith Fein on June 19, 2024

A Personal Perspective: One woman’s way of getting through a setback.

A Personal Perspective: One woman’s way of getting through a setback.