A Unified Theory of Happiness

An East meets West approach.

Andrea F. Polard Psy.D.

Why Halloween Strikes a Chord

You might not know it, but you most likely have a bit of a Celtic heart. We make up ghosts in our minds, ghosts that better come out, or else....

The Best-kept Secret of Love

Be tolerant of the other. Compromise. Be positive. All of these recommendations may work against you. Lasting love requires something completely different. 

What If the Buzz Says, "Don't Be a Victim"?

People are often afraid to out themselves as victims because the culture can quickly blame them for being weak.

7 Responses to People Who Want to Bring You Down

Your mere wish for a more fulfilled life can cause everything from envy to rudeness. It takes courage to be happy in an increasingly unhappy society. Be ready to respond.

Are You Too Agreeable?

To be agreeable or not to be agreeable, this is the question. Choose well and use six strategies to face conflict and stand up for your rights.

5 Ways to Overcome Loneliness in a Relationship

Loneliness is always a downer, but when we feel lonely in a relationship, it might feel like a life sentence. Here are five ways to overcome it.

How to Be Happy in a “Fix Me” Culture

Are you suffering from imperfections and feel something is wrong with you? Cultivate the one thing that works like magic.

The Nirvana of Sleep

When night falls, magic happens. We restore, detox and sort out memories. But how? Here are nine natural conditions for letting yourself fall and stay asleep.

Barely Cordial

Three tips to become bold and free to ward off people who take your energy. Kindness to others is good. Kindness to self and to others is better....

All You Need Is Love. Plus.

Happiness and psychological health are intertwined to such a degree, we can consider them to be almost congruent. Discover for yourself toxins that harm and nutrients you need.

Power, Sex, and What Else is New?

Apparently we've reached a tipping point at which enough women have enough power to speak up against sexual assault. But things are far from perfect. Here's what I wish for 2018...

How to Reach the Decision to Separate

Relationships are the source of great happiness — unless they become the greatest obstacle. How do we get to feel "enough is enough"? Feeling limits can be learned. Here is how.

The Meaning of Halloween

Why do we like to be scared on special occasions while we seek comfort on most others? Here are two ways to confront the darkness for the sake of a deeper and happier life.

Loving Myself

We are aching to love and to love ourselves. What stands in the way of self-love? It is essential to remove the obstacles, however arduous that might be....

How to Love Unconditionally

What does it actually mean to love someone, especially our kids, unconditionally? Don't fall into the pitfalls of modern times. Here are four ways to be....

Help, I Married My Father

Why do so many women end up unhappily in relationships with males who remind them of their father? How can we stop this painful habit?

Seven Agreeable Ways to Be Disagreeable

When we know how to use our defiance wisely, we can move mountains. Unhappiness can turn into happiness, failure into success....

Three Strategies to Overcome Disadvantages

Building on strengths is a great strategy. But what if you feel you don't have enough strengths? What do people do in order to overcome their greatest obstacles in life?

A Little Bit of Magic Please

If science were a man, I would marry him, even though I’d know of his imperfections. However, we all benefit from a bit of magic....

Are You Too Hard on Yourself?

How can we let go of subtle and not-so-subtle aggression against our own selves when we find ourselves flawed? In a world that suggests perfection exists, can we access peace?

Inviting Eros Into the Home

Sex is a gift from heaven, but we don't seem to open it much in long-term relationships. Here are 7 obstacles to sex and how to invite Eros back into the bedroom (or wherever...).

How to Survive Your Beloved Adolescent

Being a parent is the hardest job you ever love...and research shows that it's hardest during adolescence. Very few people offer good advice. So here is my master plan for you:

5 Ways to Cope With Ostracism

Ostracism hurts as loneliness kills. Understanding the origin of this primitive behavior can help.

Female Power And Why We Need It So Badly

“Wait, can a woman become president?” asked my young daughter. Male dominance is not only holding down our daughters, but our entire nation. Empower every single female now!

5 Ways to Deal With Someone Who Never Stops Bragging

Nobody likes a bragger, but what is the best way to stop one? Here are some creative ways to change what you can.

Listen to Me!

When we are ignored in relationships, we either despair or become angry. Here's how to work together to find a solution.

Go Wild and Grow Happy, Part 2

What went right in the hunter-gatherer life? We don't have to suffer from depression and anxiety. Here are some simple ways to live a more natural life and re-invite "being here."

Go Wild and Grow Happy, Part 1

Most agree, hunter-gatherers didn't suffer as we do today. While blessed with many gifts of civilization, we also suffer catastrophic consequences. Let's be wild and happy again...

Why Are We All So Worked Up in the US?

What's happening in America? Why are we so stressed out? Let's have an honest look into why we suffer from pessimism and anger out-bursts. The truth shall set us free...

5 Better Ways to Deal With Disappointment

After suffering a disappointment, it's important to let go of negative feelings. What's the best way to do this?

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