Imagine that you have just been diagnosed with cancer, and that your prognosis is uncertain. Now picture sharing this information with a handful of close and trusted people, and telling them you are scared. Which one of the comments below would feel comforting to hear? “You can beat this, I know you can.” “Do you […]
Of the many lessons life teaches, here are the ones I am most sure of: If you don’t try and try again, you are way less likely to succeed. Perseverance has everything to do with success. You will be far more likely to succeed if you don’t give up. If you give up, don’t try or […]
Here are the skills and attitudes that are components of maturity. If I am mature: I exercise considered judgment before acting on something important. I control my emotions and impulses (anger, revenge, lust, vindictiveness, hopefulness, etc.) in order to make the wisest choice. I use my experience and knowledge to guide me in making prudent […]
As we approach father’s day, it might be useful for you to look at how your relationship with your father has affected your life. Although mothers get much of the credit for raising and nurturing kids, don’t fool yourself about the importance of your father. Whether he’s alive or dead, his influence has been extremely […]
Whether you are approaching age 50, 60, 80 or beyond, growing older requires us to deal with loss in one form or another. Many people face the prospect of living on less money as they grow older, their body parts have more limitations (and some have simply worn out), and you are likely to experience […]
Resilience is about bouncing back from failure, defeat or disappointment, and learning how to make the most of your setbacks or losses. Here are 8 things emotionally resilient people do differently that the rest of us can learn from. If you wish to be more emotionally resilient, hold yourself accountable to: Rise to the challenge. […]
The beginning of a new year is a great time to look at the big picture of our lives. Where are you in the big picture of your life vs. where are you wanting to be? Are there any changes you are wanting (or needing) to make in order for the next year to be […]
Dear Neil: I was once in a relationship with a guy and it ended badly. Now, the moment guys start getting serious with me, I pull away and cut off my feelings for them. I’m in a romance right now where this guy and I recently decided to give a relationship between us a shot. […]
Dear Neil: Is there a way to measure how resilient a person is? My girlfriend walked out on me the same week I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I’m handling things okay, but it got me to wondering if being resilient is something I could cultivate or develop. Any ideas? Holding On In San Francisco […]
Note: This is the second of a two-part series. Click here for part one Here are questions designed to assist you in getting to know yourself better. I urge you to do this exercise in writing, because you’ll forget your answers if you don’t write them down. After you’ve answered a question, challenge yourself to […]