Earlier this month a took a week off. I went away for my previous vacation and didn’t particularly enjoy it, so this time I decided to make it a staycation. And I’m glad I did! I spent most of my week catching up with friends, watching DVDs, reading, and generally lounging around. It was wonderfully [...]

It’s the end of the first quarter of 2013, plus I’ve just run 7 Days To An Organized Home Office. Which makes it an excellent time to take a week off! I’ve recently learned that going away is not necessarily the best way to unwind, at least not for me. So I’ll be taking a staycation [...]

With a change of season upon us, now’s a great time for a spot of spring cleaning. But instead of focussing on the external environment, let’s start with ourselves. By tidying up mental habits and self-talk on the inside, we can make life a lot more happy and ordered on the outside too. Here are 7 simple but powerful ways to spring clean your mind. 1. [...]

The Um, Joy of Happiness Did you know that happiness is associated with all kinds of cool benefits? They include: Physical & mental health Coping skills Resilience Work satisfaction Good relationships – with colleagues, friends, and loved ones Long life Immune system strength Liking yourself Altruism Liking others Effective conflict management. That means happiness isn’t [...]

Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because your values become your destiny. ~ Gandhi If we want happier [...]

You know how things happen that hurt, disappoint, or frustrate you? And then later you look back and see that something good came out of the bad stuff? The sooner you can find that silver lining, that positive spin, the happier you’ll be. Lately I’ve been thinking about some of the things I’ve been upset by [...]

Earlier this week I shared an image and quote on Facebook about not letting others’ (nonconstructive) negative comments hurt you. It obviously struck a nerve, generating many hundreds of likes, shares and comments. So when I saw this video, I couldn’t wait to share it too. Because this girl embodies the attitude of that post [...]

When you’re about to leave this mortal coil, you want to have a sense of peace. To feel you’ve lived a good life, whatever you believe that to be. To look back and have no regrets. Presumably we all feel this way, yet many people seem to harbor the same concerns as they approach their [...]

For many years I worked in financial services. (Don’t worry, I’ve recovered. ) One investment strategy forever burned into my brain is to diversify your assets. You know: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. It makes sense – baskets get dropped, markets rise and fall. If you’ve put everything into one area, then [...]

Last September I turned 44. I was deeply relieved, as my year of being 43 was my. worst. ever. But for all the rich suckiness that those 12 months contained, there was lots to be thankful for. Thanksgiving seems like an apt occasion for reflecting on the good that comes out of the bad. So [...]