PODCAST & BLOG

Disappointment is a part of life. From being let down by relatively inconsequential things like a series finale or the outcome of the latest football game to major pain points like finding out your person isn't who you thought they were, the sting of disappointment is familiar. Whichever...

Our perception of the world is not objective. Rather, it is influenced by the way our brains process information. 

Think of it like algorithms that filter available content, distilling everything down to what's available in your news feed on whichever app you're into. Your feed and my...

My phone rang. 

"Why is Mackie calling?" I thought. He's one of my brunch friends. We usually catch up over biscuits or beignets. Sometimes we exchange sassy comments in our group chat. Occasionally, we text or hop on a phone call when there's something specific to talk about. But he'd...

For the most part, people want to help. Mother Nature designed us to be cooperative - it enabled our survival as a species. I think that has to be why it feels good to do good. 

But have you ever noticed how much friction and hurt feelings sometimes arise from efforts to help? 

If...

 I am many things, but stupid is not one of them. 

Yet, I've been treated as though I am on more than one occasion, typically by airline staff. 

There was the woman who stared at me incredulously and pointed to the little indicator on the bathroom door when I asked if the restroom...

They weren't trying to annoy me, but they were doing a fantastic job.

I was at Village Inn with my two closest grad school friends, talking about my thesis proposal. I was studying the links between happiness, optimism, and social anxiety in teenagers. After I walked them through my research...

It's back to school...and back to chaos and stress for so many. I'm not a parent myself, but as a psychologist specializing in anxiety, this is one of the busiest times of year for my practice. Already, just a few days in, I've had parents and teens alike in tears as they face an untenable...

We've all heard the saying "patience is a virtue." I'll be honest, though, it's not a sexy, snazzy one. It doesn't conjure up strong, powerful images like courage or wisdom do. It doesn't seem big like creativity or boldness. Instead, patience calls to mind slowness or tranquility. It...

I am fascinated by people who seem to beat the odds. The ones who play life by their own rules, tackle big hairy audacious goals, the kind of people who are truly, fully living.

It's easy to look at them and think, "I could never do that." We chalk their success or good fortune up to luck or...

Last night, I went to watch a small local production of Rock of Ages. A friend of a friend was in the show, and a big group went to support her. The plan afterwards was to go karaoke in honor of the performer's birthday. While I generally love any excuse to have a mic in my hand, it was nearly...

You've probably heard of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey. It's one of the most popular personal development books of all-time, and it has stood up well over the decades since its initial release. One of Covey's recommendations is to write and routinely review your Personal...

"I acquired my disability in 2012," he began. 

I was speaking with Wesley Hamilton, the Executive Director and Founder of the non-profit Disabled But Not Really. I found out about DBNR a couple weeks ago and reached out to explore possibilities for getting involved. Wes and I met by zoom on...