19 Ways to Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet

I’m not much for making resolutions. I never seem to keep them and just feel discouraged when I break them. Perhaps it’s because I’ve set goals that are too lofty. Or maybe resolutions are often too restrictive. Usually we try to give something up or promise to stop a certain behavior. It’s often what we think we should do and not what we really would like to do. These days, instead of making resolutions, I make a list of things I’d like to do or explore in the new year. It’s feels less prohibitive and more positive to me. I’ve Read More

10 Best Ted Talks About Happiness

Have you watched a TED Talk before? You can find them on YouTube or on the Ted Talk website. They are usually 10-20 minutes long and can be on a huge variety of subjects. I like to watch them because most of the topics are uplifting, interesting, and overwhelmingly positive. That’s not always the case with information you find online these days. Lately, I’ve been watching a lot of Ted Talks about happiness. In doing research for various topics, I often find myself listening to Ted Talks. Want to hear about some of the latest research on gratitude? There’s a Read More

Recommending: A Little Book About Happiness Research

I just finished reading The Little Book of Lykke: Secrets of the World’s Happiest People by Meik Wiking. I won’t hold you in suspense. It was a really great read. For those of us who don’t speak Danish, lykke means happiness and is pronounced loo-ka.  Wiking is the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute (yes, people actually research happiness and that alone makes me happy). Danes are known as some of the happiest people on the planet, so it should come as no surprise that the Happiness Research Institute is located in Copenhagen, Denmark.. This little book contains tons of happiness related Read More

Focusing On What Matters

I often have to remind myself to pick my battles. This has been especially true in parenting teenagers. One of life’s biggest lessons for me has been realizing that I have control over very little. And when I try to control things, it rarely goes well.  In fact, keeping too tight a grip on things usually breaks them. So how do I keep my focus on what matters? Practice, patience, and giving up on perfection. I started this post inspired, in part by the quote: Life is short. Focus on what matters and let go of what doesn’t. Now that I Read More