Your Will Seems Stronger in the Future

For decades, psychologists have repeatedly documented the basic human tendency to display unwarranted overconfidence. People attempting to lose weight believe that on this next attempt they will succeed despite numerous failed attempts in the past. Gamblers remain optimistic that this time they will beat the house, despite a history of evidence to the contrary. All of us experience the “planning fallacy,” or the tendency to…

How To Spot A Liar In 20 Seconds Flat

A little snap judgment goes a long way toward making friends: Marc Salem, Ph.D., a behavioral psychologist says , all it takes is 20 seconds to decide whether or not a stranger is trustworthy. 1. Inconsistent behavior If normally someone is very still, and suddenly they become very animated, or vice versa, that change-up is a red flag. The same goes if a person is speaking…

Talking to Yourself: Not So Crazy After All

Self-talk, the act of giving ourselves mental messages can help us learn and perform at our best. Self-talk isn’t just motivational messages like “You can do it!” or “Almost there,” although this internal cheering section can give us confidence. There’s another kind of mental message that is even more useful, called “instructional self-talk.” This is the kind of running commentary we engage in when we’re…

What is Boredom?

We have all experienced boredom.  Sitting in a class where the teacher is droning on about a topic you don’t care about, you may find yourself daydreaming or staring at a clock that doesn’t seem to be moving.  Waiting for a delayed flight to take off at the airport, you may search in vain for something to distract you.  What is boredom? Boredom is unpleasant…

How Your Cell Phone Hurts Your Relationships

Do you find yourself constantly checking your cellphone while you’re out with others? Most of us are no stranger to this scenario:  A group of friends sits down to a meal together, laughing, swapping stories, and catching up on the news – but not necessarily with the people in front of them!  Nowadays, it’s not unusual to have one’s phone handy on the table, easily within reach…

10 Non-Secrets To Happiness

Happiness is not an exit off the freeway. The only way to reach this destination is to look within yourself. Here are a few tools that may help you find your way. Think of them as a Happiness GPS. 1.    Be easily amused. People who laugh and smile are happier and usually live longer than people who lack a sense of humor. 2.    Don’t dwell on the negative.  If…

Traits of the ‘Get It Done’ Personality: Laser Focus, Resilience, and True Grit

Traits of the ‘Get It Done’ Personality: Laser Focus, Resilience, and True Grit Angela L. Duckworth (left) of the U. of Pennsylvania studies personality traits, including grit, that help people succeed. The Successful Academic People who get things done and accomplish their goals often share these traits: Resilience The ability to recover from setbacks and cope effectively with stress Grit Perseverance and passion for challenging long-term…

What Colour Best Represents Who You are

THOUGHT EXPERIMENT Imagine you are an artist. You are asked to paint the dress of the girl in the illustration.     You have before you an array of colors: 1.            RED 2.            PINK 3.            YELLOW 4.            ORANGE 5.            BLUE 6.            PURPLE 7.            GREEN 8.            BROWN 9.            BLACK 10.         WHITE   You are asked to use a color to convey an emotion or feeling.  (Write…

How to Overcome Being Anxious About Being Anxious

Anxiety sensitivity is “the tendency to respond fearfully to bodily sensations associated with fear and anxiety.” Put simply, it’s “the fear of fear.” People who are prone to anxiety sensitivity tend to catastrophize, or automatically assume that the worst will happen. According to authors and clinical psychologists Margo C. Watt, Ph.D, and Sherry H. Stewart, Ph.D, in their excellent book Overcoming the Fear of Fear: How…