Many of our greatest minds understood this. Renowned painter Salvador Dali advised, "Have no fear of perfection, you'll never reach it." Philosopher Immanuel Kant noted, "Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made." If these great icons understood that perfection is not possible, why do …

Once his workout partner went on an extended business trip to Germany for several weeks.guess how many times John worked out. It was somewhere less than twice. Without a workout partner, his discipline isn't strong. There really is power in working out with other people: a friend, a family …

As a bonus, the fibers are very beneficial to prevent constipation, which can round your belly. There is a scientific explanation for the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets: large amounts of carbohydrate from white flour and added sugar can wreak havoc on your blood sugar level (the amount of sugar in …

The sixteenth-century political philosopher Thomas Hobbes says to treat others with the same dignity with which you would want to be treated. Hobbes puts his own spin on the golden rule: "Do not that to another which you would not have done to yourself" (Hobbes, 1939, 172). In disrespecting others …

At least I didn't have to call my wife for help. It's always a moral victory and a personal triumph when I can find something without needing my wife's help. Premature Invalidators can be protective in nature, keeping you from trying new things so you won't be disappointed. On the …

Not being able to see didn't help either. The vision problem has nothing to do with ADD, unless there's some brain damage affecting both, which I doubt. With no fine motor coordination nor ability to see, I couldn't play baseball or basketball, but I could play in the line, somewhat …

The only problem was, I couldn't do it. I couldn't decide what temperature the bouncing dial was reading. That flustered me and I couldn't keep up. We all got pretty frustrated, as well as hot. The engineers uneasily decided to let me try the driving while one of them did …

Yes, you do have a say in your life. Remember, No excuses. Find a way. Believe for a miracle. Press on till you win. Don't quit! What is your relationship with your health and money? Explain. What is your level of discipline over your health, and finances? Are you more …

That is, the participants have to be "blind" to the treatment they receive. Are these controls tight enough? Not yet! Studies have found that if the person giving out the pills knows who gets the drug and who gets the placebo, he can give subtle clues, even unknowingly, that tell …

This shame fed his discouragement and demoralization and they fed the shame, in a vicious cycle. The sense of shame fed his sneakiness and his evasions, and motivated his hiding the truth from himself as well as from others. Shame is not technically a part of ADD itself, but usually …

Given the enormous influence others have on our actions, how can we manage distraction around those with whom we want to spend uninterrupted quality time? How do we change our tendencies toward distraction when those around us haven't changed theirs? Essayist and investor Paul Graham writes that societies tend to …

Most of us do, and for good reason. The health benefits of massages are varied and well documented. For starters, studies have shown that massages reduce cortisol--the stress hormone--by 31 percent, while at the same time increasing mood-boosting hormones like dopamine and serotonin by as much as a third. The …

They would be either confrontational (playing a police officer interrogating a suspect) or collaborative. Before taking part in the role playing, the subjects chose which type of music they preferred to listen to for a given scenario--tunes aimed at making them feel angry, happy, or neutral. There are two levels …

This altered gene activity, in turn, affects the normal functioning of your brain. In summary, negative stimulation changes gene activity which results in dysfunction of the neural network in your brain. When that happens during a vulnerable period, the brain does not work well, and the result is depression. Depression …

The devil is in the details and the details accumulate to big problems if they're missed. Getting out of bed on time is a good decision, but you also have to decide to turn around and make your bed, pick up your clothes, etc. Making your bed is a good …

If, on the other hand, he contributed effort, or in some way assumed responsibility for the task, either of those options would probably go a long way towards insuring the outcome that the habitual procrastinator so desperately seeks. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an overall term describing a range of …

A contingency plan means thinking about what to do if things do not go according to plan. For example, if you wanted to write a report what could get in the way of your completing it? How many things could go wrong and how would you react to each of …

You may remember a lot from your childhood or not. Some memories may be fuzzier than others. You may feel as if you don't have enough "big" memories. But if they were significant somehow, please include them. Nothing should be discounted. Remember, you're using a lens of compassion. Remember that …

The common pitfall in relationships--when a couple experiences a hiccup, miscommunication or are at odds about something--is to act at war with one another, and fixate on the problem. The problem really isn't the problem, itself. It's the length of time that they focus on the problem. The longer they …

Skill-building groups that teach and practice interpersonal and communication skills provide participants with alternatives to "saying yes" to substances. They are similar in their approach to relapse prevention, and their provision is vital. Look for programs or services that deliver skill training and relapse prevention; ask about it--insist upon it …

In order to bridge this gulf, Buddhists over the centuries have devised an array of exercises aimed at smoothing the transition. They take that jump and break it down into little steps. Each step can be practiced by itself. Depression can be debilitating because some symptoms (like fatigue or low …

It's worth remembering that virtually all of the phenomena that paranormal researchers point to as evidence of supernatural or mystical occurrences can be replicated by magicians, most of whom readily admit they're illusionists and they're performing a trick. Doesn't that tell us something? And so, I have a little gremlin …

Did you feel the texture of your cereals? If your answer is no, you definitely need to get out of your head. Stop thinking and start feeling. Triggers can be blatant or they can be subtle. For example, if a tornado ripped through your childhood home, you're likely terrified of …

For example, you value family but currently are not able to see them as much as you would like. If you keep avoiding activities because they might be painful, you never have the chance to see how your body is changing. You are not able to learn when the activity …

After analyzing a recent series of experiments that were said to have found evidence of ESP, she stated, "These experiments, which looked so beautifully designed in print, were in fact open to fraud or error in several ways...the results could not be relied upon as evidence for psi."41 …

Your communication is stronger when the words you say and the way you say them send the same message. Sometimes assertive words don't come across clearly if the body language tells a different story. When the words you say and your body language disagree, the listener will tend to believe …

Finally, care about what people have to say. I don't mean "appear to care" about what they have to say, I mean literally care. This is the hardest step in the process because sometimes we just don't care. It sounds callous, but it's true. Someone else's problems are just that …

Not only are depressed people plagued with self-doubts but their self-esteem plummets as well. Hold onto hope and accept that what you're going through will pass eventually. And finally, and most importantly, seek help immediately if you are feeling suicidal or have difficulty controlling thoughts of self-harm. Continue taking care …

So, for psychotherapy to be a successful, you have to crave change, possess a curiosity of your inner world and an interest in understanding what motivates you, and tolerate a moderate degree of frustration. This is where the myth that only crazy people--or weak-minded individuals--go to therapy gets the boot …

The study looked at 311 unmarried participants who were separated from their partners by distances ranging from ninety miles to more than 10,000 miles, for periods ranging from about two weeks to more than ten years. Those who used webcams and phone calls--methods most similar to face-to-face communication--were more …

Do you fear growing old? If so, why? At what age were you when you first noticed signs of aging? What were the signs? And what were your reactions? What are your thoughts about maintaining a youthful appearance? For many of us who teach Yoga, it is not our only …

Do not get hung up in the estimate. When your mind is wild and agitated, you can often reestablish mindfulness with a few quick deep breaths. Pull the air in strongly and let it out the same way. This increases the sensation inside the nostrils and makes it easier to …

You know a lot more about you and what is likely to be creating problems for you to live the life you want. Having cleared some space, cleared the decks and programmed your sat nav, it is time to move forward in a new direction. One that will allow you …

This does not mean that you are giving up on a great idea. It means that you're not limiting your chance of success by focusing on just one way to accomplish it. Do you see a vision of a new healthier you yet? What do you see? Do you have …

Keep striving. In a lot of cases, the ride to the life you want sucks and it's ugly, but if you don't worry about it and just hold on, you'll make it there. It makes perfect sense that schools use behavior and habit tracking sheets as a learning tool for …

In order to succeed, individuals must be able to recognize their emotions and regulate how they are displayed to others. This idea may sound simple in theory, but it is more challenging in practice. A large part of successful emotional recognition and regulation is the identification of emotions, something with …

Second, we must seek to secure public space that can be used - a closed street works because there is no through traffic, but so does a common piece of green space. Third, one of the most powerful motivators is dreams. Martin Luther King Jr did not give an I have …

You are a rock in a stream bed and your thoughts are the current. As they pass over you, they become part of you, but only for a moment. The next moment, they are out of sight, beyond your concern as another one works its way toward you. So what …

Once you've taken care of your responsibilities, there's no reason why you shouldn't enjoy yourself. I am in charge of inspiring and empowering my team at work, and I accept the challenge. I need to give myself permission to celebrate my success and embrace the joy. A vacation is not …

What will happen?" If you're feeling pressured, do both: stop and organize, and also ask yourself, "What does it matter?" Look at the big picture. Then focus on one thing. Keeping working on this concept until you truly understand that these are simply states of mind and that you can …