Anxiety is caused by worrying about the future. Worrying can be helpful if it encourages us to make wise preparations. But, too often, anxiety spirals out of control, and we fixate on catastrophes that probably won’t occur. This goes hand-in-hand with a desire to both know and control what’s going to happen. Both are impossible. We can’t know what’s going to happen, and we can’t control what’s going to happen.… Read More »We Need to Embrace Uncertainty
When you feel a craving for something – a cookie, a beer, Instagram – what does the craving say? It says, “You need this. Right now.” And our default response is to believe what the craving says. But it turns out that both the need and the now are lies. In fact, cravings aren’t just lies, they’re illusions. Cravings are Externally Triggered I recently did this jigsaw puzzle: Although I… Read More »Your Cravings Are Illusions
The most important skill we can develop is the capacity to make good choices. The choices we make about food and exercise influence our physical health. The choices we make about how to respond to life’s adversities affect our success and psychological wellbeing. And the choices we make about self-improvement direct the very course of our lives. One of the best ways I’ve found to make better choices is to… Read More »The Power of Choice
Imagine walking up a muddy hill wearing flip flops. Sure, you should focus on where you’re putting your feet, making a conscious effort to maintain balance and not slip. Certainly, you should not let your eyes or mind wander away from this difficult task. But really, you should swap your flip flops for hiking boots and use trekking poles. That will make far more of a difference. Tools and tactics… Read More »The Secret to Overcoming Distractions