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.
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
A few weeks ago, I wrote about gratitude journaling – the practice of writing down things you’re grateful for each night. Today, I’d like to offer an additional practice you can combine with gratitude journaling: pride journaling. Pride journaling is, you guessed it, writing down things you’re proud of yourself for. I typically record one or two things I’m proud of myself for doing at the end of each gratitude… Read More »Pride Journaling
The word “confidence” comes from the Latin con fidere, which means “with trust.” It’s the same etymology as the word “confide;” you confide in those whom you trust. To have confidence in yourself is to trust yourself – trust yourself to handle life’s challenges, trust yourself to get things done, and trust in your ability to learn and improve. But it’s important to distinguish between false confidence, overconfidence, and true… Read More »True Confidence is Self-Efficacy
We’ve all been there: Having a third helping of dessert at a party Telling yourself you’ll just watch one episode and then binge-watching an entire season Skipping your workout Hitting the snooze alarm seven times Losing your cool over a minor setback Dropping your new meditation habit after just three days When self-control collapses in the face of temptation, or when self-discipline is overpowered by the urge to be lazy,… Read More »4 Ways to Deal with Willpower Failures Well