Relaxed yet? (photo by ONETERRY)
Mental relaxation is elusive. Even during physical relaxation, the mind can stress out.
Some ailments like muscle tension are often caused by a mind that can’t stop (perhaps because of anxiety). It’s best to relax the mind directly because the mind controls the body. If you are able to relax the mind, the body will follow.
Here are some ways to directly relax your mind.Read More
I’m familiar with “not feeling it” when it comes to doing productive and healthy behaviors. I’m familiar with the struggle that takes place inside of the mind, when part of you wants to do what’s best for you, but another part of you feels like doing nothing or something more fun.
This internal battle causes frustration and leads us to seek answers, but then comes another frustration—there are so many answers! Some say the key is time management, some say it’s motivation, I tend to say it’s setting small targets you can meet. So this first problem actually creates a second problem (or challenge) of:
Success is simplifying your thinking into a single objective, but it’s not easy. If you try to absorb and apply multiple pieces of advice you read, your splintered mind won’t know what to do. Read More
Caption: Cats are the key to happiness, but if you’re allergic or something, try developing a positivity bias.1
The other day I saw a murder case TV special about a psychopath killing a nice woman. Ugh. After it was over, I felt angry and sad and wondered, “Why did I just watch that? What benefit did that provide me?” And then I wondered why murder-centric stories—fiction and nonfiction—were so popular on TV.
Why do I never see any TV specials about a happy family that has had dinner together for 20 years?
We think a happy and conflict-free scenario is too boring to watch, but something as terrible as murder is fascinating. Why? WHY?!Read More
What makes a winner a winner? (photo by ronWLS)
It’s hard not to see it the wrong way.
Sports teams hoist the trophy after they win the big game, and not a moment sooner. Only one team is named champion, even if the teams are similarly skilled and equally deserving of victory. This distorts our view of success.
The losing team sulks because they lost, but they may still be winners.
We feel validated by winning, but winners are made well before they win. In other words, victory is nice, but it doesn’t make someone a winner. Victory is something that happens to someone who has already won.
Read More
I recently visited San Antonio, TX to see if I wanted to live there. It looked just about perfect on paper.
I paid for roundtrip airfare, car rental, and a hotel for several days. Shortly after arriving, I realized that San Antonio has somewhat high population density and a road system that resembled a pile of worms. I like simplicity and dislike chaos, so I knew it was not for me. Since I had some more time, I visited a smaller city nearby called New Braunfels.
I liked New Braunfels. It was simpler, less crowded, and had some of the amenities I look for. I began telling some people that I would likely move there. It would have been a mistake if I did.