Chris Loper has been writing about self-improvement and helping busy adults with habit formation since 2017. He also writes an education blog for parents and students for Northwest Educational Services. Along with Greg Smith, Chris is the cocreator of Parenting for Academic Success, a series of transformative classes that create empowered parents, confident students, and harmonious families. His most recent endeavor combines his academic and habit-formation expertise to help students thrive in college. Visit SmartCollegeHabits.com to learn more. In 2021, Chris published a humorous memoir titled Wood Floats and Other Brilliant Observations, a book that blends crazy stories with practical life lessons. He lives in Issaquah, WA where he is the owner of South Cove Tutoring.
Your brain is like a bunch of clay. You can shape it and mold it through deliberate effort. You can do this because of neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to rewire in response to learning new ideas and engaging in new activities. Any change in your knowledge, abilities, or behavior produces physical changes in the brain.1 The choices you make determine how the clay is molded. But unlike a bunch… Read More »The Clay Never Dries
Last week the garage at my apartment building was broken into. I have a storage locker inside the garage, where I keep various athletic gear, which was also broken into. In that storage locker, there were two items of significant value that could have been stolen: my mountain bike and my skis. The thieves, probably for reasons of convenience, took my bike. The obvious reaction in this situation would be… Read More »An Example of Positive Thinking Done Right
Breathe. Breathe. Step. Breathe. Breathe. Step. Breathe. Breathe. Step. Vomit. “You okay?” called my father from above. Ugh. “I guess,” I replied feebly. I took a sip of slushy water. The insides of the bottle were coated in ice. Breathe. Breathe. Step. Breathe. Breathe. Step. The sun was up now, so at least I was getting warm. We had left Camp Sherman at midnight to begin our ascent, and I… Read More »Achievement Reminders
Muhammad Ali was once asked by a reporter, “How many pushups can you do?” “About eight or nine,” Ali replied. The dumfounded reporter looked at the heavyweight champion in disbelief. “Well, I only start counting when I can’t do anymore,” Ali explained.1 Such is the mindset of a person who really knows how to push himself. He worked to the point where he felt that he could do no more,… Read More »Mental Toughness