Positive Thinking + Reality = Success
An interesting New York Times article debunks the power of positive thinking, to a point. The article describes research which found that people who simply think positively feel less energy, have less motivation, and accomplish less than those who don’t think positively (or negatively). The research indicates that a combination of positive thinking and thinking […]
Read MoreIs Emotional Openness the Key to Healthy Relationships?
Have you ever been at a social event, whether a hosted dinner, picnic, party, what-have-you, and you meet someone who is obviously intelligent, well educated, and successful? You fully expect an interesting conversation, yet it stumbles from the start. The conversation stays at a superficial level and, within a short time, you are actually struggling […]
Read MoreFrom Disabled to Super-Abled: Redefining Being Physically Challenged and Human
I recently was invited by the Huffington Post (for whom I blog weekly) to write a post about a TED talk by Aimee Mullins, a double-amputee who has received world-wide acclaim as an athlete, actress, model, inspirational speaker, and an innovator for the physically challenged. How we look at so-called disabled people is certainly changing […]
Read MoreThe Best Way to Motivate People is…
A fascinating article describes research that is both counterintuitive and has potentially important implications for the worlds of business, sports, education, and beyond. The basic finding, not surprising, is that internal motivation (drive from your values, meaning, passions) produces the best outcomes. What is surprising was the finding that when internal motivation was combined with […]
Read MoreThe Science of Making Decisions
Late last year, I wrote a blog post titled How Do You Make a Major Life Decision. In it, I describe my approach to making decisions and some of the potential obstacles to making good decisions. Here is an interesting article that explores some of the recent research on decision making and offers six science-based ways […]
Read MoreSo What Makes Malcolm Gladwell Such an Expert?
I have to admit that I used to be a fan of Malcolm Gladwell. I read his frequent articles in The New Yorker and several of his early books. I was initially seduced by his apparent breadth of knowledge, cerebral dexterity, and inviting writing style. But the more of his work I read, the more […]
Read MoreThe Biology of Risk
An interesting article on the physiology of risk taking. The basic premise is that people are more likely to take risks when calm and relaxed and they become risk averse when under stress. This finding has real implications on performance in sports, business, and life in general.
Read MoreUnified Model of Performance Psychology
A fundamental question I have been exploring in the 30 years that I have been working in the field of performance psychology is: What does it take to succeed? My life’s work has been devoted to answering this question so that anyone who is willing to pursue their dreams can find success. Yet, in recent years, I have […]
Read MoreWe’re All Disabled
The Huffington Post, for whom I blog weekly, asked me to write a post for the TEDWeekends edition of its website focusing on the TED talk by the wheelchair -bound performance artist, Sue Austin, titled, Deep Sea Diving…In a Wheelchair. The only instructions I was give was to consider the following themes: “How society views […]
Read MoreLife is Fragile: Say “I Love You” a Lot
I remember my life in my 20s and 30s when I was single. I felt invincible. Life was so carefree. I lived in the present, didn’t think much about the future, and didn’t worry too much about anything (except perhaps finding a wife). No longer. I’m well into middle age now (yikes!), married, and with […]
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