Around this time in January of 2010, I had my first serious ski injury. I launched myself off an icy jump and did a 180, but I was going too fast, and I overshot the down-sloped landing and came down hard on flat, cement-like snow. Since I was landing backward, all of this impact had to be absorbed with my lower back, which simply couldn’t handle the force. Did I… Read More »The Best $10 I Ever Spent
There are really just two kinds of behavioral change: starting things and stopping things. And whether you’re trying to establish a good habit or quit a bad habit, your success will depend on the reason – the motivation – behind your effort. Get the why right, and you’ll figure out the how. With that in mind, here are two golden rules for changing your habits. 1. Reward Motivates Action Our… Read More »Two Golden Rules for Habit Change
We recently adopted an adorable black and white cat named Benny. Benny’s behavior rotates through a handful of distinct modes: exploring, playing, napping, cuddling, grooming, hunting, and begging for food. And his behavioral modes demonstrate a very important concept about the human mind: mental modules. The theory of mental modules asserts that your mind is composed of many distinct modules –programs that drive your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.1 Which program… Read More »Practical Applications of the Modular Theory of the Mind
You’re stuck in traffic. You dropped a glass on the floor and it shattered. You hurt your back moving a piece of furniture. It’s pouring rain and you forgot to bring a jacket. You have to clean the bathrooms, dust, and vacuum before company comes over. There’s a long line to check out at the grocery store, and the clerk is moving really slowly because they’re chatting with a customer.… Read More »5 Ways You Can Practice Acceptance