If happiness is all that matters at the end of the day, then why obsess over money and success when everything you need to be happy is already within your control? This is the premise of what I call the “Dirty Dozen” of Happiness: 12 key attributes, circumstances, and personal qualities that are better predictors […]
depression
How To Encourage an “Upward Spiral” When You’re Feeling Down
When you’re stuck in a rut of negative thinking and feel like you’re headed in a downward spiral, making a conscious effort to redirect your depressive tendencies into an upward spiral can make all the difference. When you’re feeling down, self-care and conscious, effortful, mindful action become all the more essential. But you probably already […]
A Prayer For When You’ve Hit Rock Bottom
So– you’ve hit rock bottom, you’re feeling scared and lonely, and this is what you consider to be your lowest point. Maybe you’re sick, maybe you’ve experienced massive loss, maybe your worst fear or greatest terror in life has been realized: now what? Even if you’re not religious, you can still use mindful self-talk– which […]
Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Brownie Recipe (Dopamine Booster!)
Let me just cut right to the chase: these delicious gluten-free peanut butter brownies are fudgy and decadent, made with serotonin-boosting bittersweet chocolate and happiness-inducing mucuna bean powder. (And if you don’t want to add the superfoods, leave ‘um out. The recipe holds up either way. These are still the best brownies ever! 🙂 ) […]
Why We Grieve People We’ve Never Met
The death of a beloved celebrity or public figure often brings with it intimate outpourings of grief— often from people who never met the departed. This begs interesting questions about the psychological impact of idol worship, public figures and relationships writ large, as well as our personal sense of wellbeing in the world. In the […]
5 Depression Hacks That Can Ease Doldrums (We Promise)
These simple depression hacks are the product of extensive research into pop psychology, wellness, neuroscience, and various life coaching resources for therapeutic treatments of depression. Whether you’re struggling with depression or merely a case of the doldrums, we’ve explained each hack in simple language with practical examples that are easy to apply to your lifestyle. […]
Vegan Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread (Energy Booster)
This vegan double chocolate zucchini bread recipe is one our favorite nutritionist-designed desserts of all time! This super moist quick bread is luxuriously decadent and fluffy as a cloud. Chocolate, flax seed, and green veggies combine to make a surprisingly rich crumb that is the ultimate powerhouse treat, as these ingredients can also help ease […]
Michelle Obama Is Dealing with “Low Grade Depression,” Too
In the latest episode of the new Michelle Obama Podcast, the former First Lady said she is currently battling “some form of low-grade depression.” “Not just because of quarantine, but because of the racial strife, and just seeing this administration, watching the hypocrisy of it, day in and day out, is dispiriting,” she said on […]
Depression, Anxiety Rising Among “Chronically Perfectionist” Millennials
According to research conducted through Northwestern University’s Family Institute, Millennials’ collective tendency to create unrealistic expectations for themselves is leading the group to experience anxiety and depression at unprecedented levels. The inferences that can be drawn here aren’t exactly rocket science, but according to new reporting in the Chicago Tribune and elsewhere, they should at […]
A Healing Way to Think About Grief
The following idea isn’t super helpful when you’re newly dealing with grief– when the pain is fresh, and you can still feel yourself sinking. This idea is too abstract for those difficult moments. But, once the dust settles, when you are reflecting back and still struggling to pull yourself up out of the weeds, it […]