Psychologists describe worrying as a chain of negative thoughts and images which is largely uncontrollable. Fear, on the other hand, is an adaptive mechanism essential to survival that rallies many biological processes to help us prepare for a potentially threatening situation (Ornell et al., 2020). Here’s more…

While it's normal to feel stressed out and worried during a crisis, daily challenges can also push us beyond our ability to cope. During stressful times, we may feel helpless, sad, angry, irritable, hopeless, anxious, or afraid. We may even have trouble concentrating, feel unmotivated to do essential tasks, experience changes in appetite, have body aches or pains, and have difficulty sleeping. Here is what worry does to our brain…

With today’s news of rising prices, war, violence, illness, and more, worry seems to be at the top of the list. How do we manage it and even wipe it out? What to do when worry consumes you? Step One. Determine the source. Read more…

Research on happiness indicates that only 10% of happiness is accounted for by life circumstances, with genetic differences accounting for 50%, leaving us with 40% of happiness within our control. While a rewiring of our inner world may be much more daunting than cleaning our closets, it will be worth the effort. To help you get started on this critically important task, you can practice these four areas. Give them a try!