Embracing the Art of Doing Nothing — ‘Doing nothing is better than being busy doing nothing.’ — Lao Tzu A couple of weeks ago I went on a five-day silent retreat in the mountains of North Carolina. I was hoping to take some time alone with my thoughts to rest and recharge (which is the same advice…

If you spend it the right way — If money isn’t making you happy, you may not be spending it right. That was the conclusion of research published by the Society for Consumer Psychology, which found that money, when spent effectively, can make you happier. One of the most important conclusions in their research is that money offers…

Or at least four of them... — The Relationship Between Money and Happiness Money can’t buy happiness. Or can it? The idea that money can’t buy happiness is a popular societal belief. Those who firmly believe in the adage argue that happiness stems from intangible things like friendship, a sense of fulfillment, a flourishing social life, etc. …

Vegas, baby. I went to Vegas last weekend on a last-minute, three-night trip to celebrate my in-laws’ wedding anniversary. It was meant to be a redemption trip. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. Let me start by saying I used to be opposed to gambling. Before meeting my husband Brian 25 years…

Comfort is the final thief of happiness in our series. As a reminder, the Five Thieves of Happiness are five harmful thought patterns that prevent us from living a joyful life. …

Next in our series on the Five Thieves of Happiness is Consumption. As a reminder, The Five Thieves of Happiness are five harmful mental thought patterns that prevent us from living a joyful life. …

For the third thief of happiness in our series, we focus on comparison. A brief recap for those who are new: the five thieves of happiness are harmful mental thought patterns that prevent us from living a joyful life. …

This past Sunday*, my 22-year-old son sent a family What’s App message: ‘Kobe Bryant died. In a helicopter crash. I’m in disbelief.’ That text started an intermittent 2-hour family chat between my husband and me here in London, our son in Chicago, and our other son at school in Boulder…

In our first installment on the Five Thieves of Happiness, I introduced the five key thought patterns that prevent us from living a joyful life. These are destructive thought patterns that cause us to stand in the way of our own happiness and prevent us from leading a fulfilled life…