Perception is NOT Reality
We hear it all the time, in the business world, in the political arena, in marriages, anytime there is a disagreement or conflict: “Perception is reality.” This aphorism is often used to justify a perception that may be objectively unjustifiable or just plain out of touch with reality. It’s employed as a cudgel to beat […]
Read More
Four Rules Self-conscious People Should Live By
Is it just me or are people more self-consciousness than ever before? Thanks in no small part to the Internet, it does seem like everyone, at least celebrities such as actors, pop singers, and professional athletes, and just people who are famous for being famous seems to be “under the microscope” these days. They are […]
Read MorePositive Self-Talk Works!
What you say to yourself does matter, according to a series of research studies described in a recent article. Not only does self-talk work, but it also helps when you talk to yourself out loud and in the 3rd person (e.g., “Come on, Jim!). I encourage the athletes I work with to use self-talk to build […]
Read MorePerfectionism is REALLY Bad
New York magazine just published a really unsettling article on perfectionism, expanding on my own notions on the topic. Let me state this clearly: Perfectionism is REALLY BAD! It may appear to lead to great success, but, to the contrary, it often results in a lack of true success and, more importantly, it will make […]
Read MoreThe Myth of Birth Order
A fascinating article in The Huffington Post debunks the myth, so dearly held by so many, that birth order impacts personality. Two recent large-scale, international studies (here and here) found no relationship between birth order and five primary personality traits (openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness and neuroticism). In fact, the only known effect that birth order […]
Read MoreTaylor Interview about Creativity
I was recently interviewed by a new magazine and website devoted to the experience and expression of creativity in its many forms. If you’d like to take a look inside my head (however messy it may be) and see what creativity means to me and how it manifests itself in my work, this interview is a […]
Read MoreDon’t Waste Your Time (It’s Precious)
Please, don’t waste my time! If you do, don’t expect me to hang out for very long with you. And don’t expect me to spend time with you in the future. I confess, I discriminate against certain people. I don’t hate these people; most are quite decent and likable. Though I do avoid them as […]
Read MoreAn Even Darker Side of Perfectionism
I’ve written quite a bit about how unhealthy perfectionism is for both children and adults. Yes, it can drive you maniacally to become successful. But it can also create a powerful fear of failure that ultimately prevents you from being truly successful. Plus, I’ve never met a happy perfectionist (“What’s to be happy about, I’m not […]
Read More2,000,000 milestone reached on PsychologyToday.com
I’m excited to have just reached a new milestone of readership on my PsychologyToday.com blog: 2,000,000! It is really gratifying to know that so many people are reading (and, hopefully, benefiting from) my blog posts.
Read MoreTesters Needed for New Stress-Reduction iPhone App
I’m the co-founder of Beyond, a tech start-up that is using wearable technology (e.g., smartwatches) and biometric data (e.g., heart rate) to recognize and reduce stress in real-time (meaning in the moment when you experience the stress). We’re in the Alpha testing phase of product development (meaning early stage) and are looking for people who […]
Read More