Christine Carter

Burned out? Do you feel like your life is lacking meaning? Are you longing for fulfillment? Do you struggle with self-doubt or worry? Or just… Read more

Dear Christine, My brother and his family will be visiting us from out of town the week of Christmas, and I generally make myself too… Read more

If you don’t control your schedule, your schedule will control you. As we enter our third year in a pandemic, chronic stress rules the day. Widespread… Read more

My TED Talk was named one of the Top 10 TED Talks of 2021 on TED.com! I’m greatly humbled by this and thrilled to be… Read more

Jumpstart your annual goal-setting and daily planning with these customizable worksheets and planner pages. Download this free planner. Read more

At this time of year, I start receiving dozens of tearful calls and panicky emails from parents whose children are off at college for the… Read more

This morning I said goodbye to Tanner, who is driving to Boulder with his dad for his first year of college. Next week, I will… Read more

We’re all spending a lot more time online. That makes unplugging every once in a while even more beneficial! To get started,  download this free… Read more

What we measure, we improve. (Or, “what gets measured, gets done.”) An important aspect of successfully getting into a habit is measurement. For example, we… Read more

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” –Aristotle (via Will Durant) Perhaps you are setting some resolutions… Read more

Several years ago, I devised a system for quickly getting into the “zone” while I worked. Free from distractions and interruptions, I wrote quickly, joyfully,… Read more

Trying to get your co-parent to parent your way? Here’s what to do. Dear Christine, What should I do if my husband and I don’t… Read more

This Dear Christine column offers tips for structuring your family’s summer during the pandemic. Dear Christine, Since school ended, my whole family is floundering. We… Read more

What am I doing to be a better antiracist? Learning — both about myself and about the racist systems, policies, and beliefs that are driving our… Read more

I know many parents are feeling burned out on summer (already). I have a great resource for you! It’s a virtual masterclass called Parenting in… Read more

Here’s how to renegotiate the unfair burdens created by the coronavirus lockdown This Mother’s Day is going to be a doozy for a lotta moms… Read more

“I have so much to accomplish today that I must meditate for two hours instead of one.” ― Mahatma Gandhi This whole global pandemic thing… Read more

People keep asking me for “best practices” for sheltering-in-place. My honest answer: We don’t know what the best practices are. We’ve never been through this… Read more

Are you following along with our daily routine make-over? (In other words: Are you trying to keep everything from going to hell in a handbasket?)… Read more

Holy smokes, friends! Perhaps foolishly, I came outta the gates pretty hot last week. On Monday, I posted an article optimistically titled How School Closures Can… Read more

Here are three ways to cope while sheltering in place. As our kids figure out how to learn online, we can retool in our families,… Read more

Tonight, have dinner together. Shared meals deepen our connections with one another, and give us the sense that we are part of something larger than… Read more

Thank you Hallmark Home and Family for having me on last week. It was such a pleasure to meet you and share all that is… Read more

 Nagging doesn’t feel good to the person doing the nagging, and it certainly doesn’t feel good to be nagged. Moreover, when kids know we… Read more

Booklaunch highlight: Participating in the Forum last weekend at Grace Cathedral. I love Dean Malcolm Young; it was so fun to be with him again.… Read more

Let’s hang out in person! I would love to meet you!! ⁠ ⁠ Join me at the Hillside Club in Berkeley tomorrow, Thursday, 2/20/20 (how’s… Read more

“Wow. Ugh. That’s amazing!” This is the usual wide-eyed response when people hear that I have four teenagers. Sometimes people grimace, like the mere thought… Read more

Bossing them around won’t work forever; we need to help teens manage their own lives. Dear Christine, I have two teenagers, a boy who is… Read more

When we look at people who are at the top of their field, they all have grit: persistence and passion for their long-term goals. But this doesn’t… Read more

When we look at people who are at the top of their field, what do we know about how they got there? We used to… Read more

Three steps to victory in keeping your New Year’s Resolutions You want to lose weight. Learn to meditate. Get out of debt. Eat more leafy… Read more

Many lucky kids got new smartphones or tablets over this holiday season; these days more than two-thirds of kids own a smartphone by age 12.… Read more

Do you have a stressed-out teenager? You aren’t alone! A recent survey by the American Psychological Association found that fewer than half of teenagers today… Read more

On some level, our society has come to believe that our economy depends on a gift-giving extravaganza and that the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays… Read more

Like Lateefah Simon, I believe deeply in the sanctity of opportunity. I also believe in Tipping Point, and the opportunity that this amazing organization is… Read more

Dinnertime conversation, I’ve found, goes really well when it’s structured. I’ve posed planned questions for my kids at dinnertime since they were in preschool, starting… Read more

Dinnertime conversation, I’ve found, goes really well when it’s structured. I’ve posed planned questions for my kids at dinnertime since they were in preschool, starting… Read more

It starts by forgetting about perfect. We don’t have time for perfect. In any event, perfection is unachievable: It’s a myth and a trap and… Read more

There’s still time to join us at a rejuvenating weekend retreat from November 1 to 3, 2019 at 1440 Multiversity, a beautiful 75-acre campus nestled in the California redwoods… Read more

Dear Christine, One of my best friends was just diagnosed with a very aggressive cancer. She has two little kids, a loving husband, and a… Read more

Nearly 40 percent of US employees feel like they have too much work to take a vacation. But research suggests you’ll be happier, healthier, and… Read more

Dear Christine, My daughter has a chronic health problem that we’ve been dealing with since she was almost three years old. Until very recently, I… Read more

Hi Christine, I have a habit of going to bed later than I want and then being rushed in the morning and getting to work… Read more

“Everything is calmer if things feel predictable.” –Christine Carter from A Family Guide for Surviving the Summer   Read more

This week, my sweet Fiona graduates from high school. As longtime readers of my blog know, Fiona went to a boarding high school. Having her… Read more

“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.” —Alfred Mercier Many of our children are graduating this month! My wish for my children and yours… Read more

Dear Christine, I know you have teenage daughters around the same age, so I’m hoping you have some insight about how to help kids deal… Read more

Imagine, if you’ll indulge me for a minute, what it must be like to be one of my children. As a  professional advice giver, I’m… Read more

Stress is healthy and helpful when it creates enough tension and strain to foster growth. Think of a muscle that is stressed by weight training:… Read more

I asked my daughter to help me make dinner the other night; soon after that, I got caught on the phone. When I finally emerged… Read more

“Living with others is, in many ways, living in a constant state of unmet expectations.” —Christine Carter from Am I Really Going to Have to… Read more

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson Read more

In Triumphs of Experience, George Vaillant writes that “there are two pillars of happiness revealed by the seventy-five-year-old Grant Study. One is love. The other… Read more

A member of the Sandwich Generation struggles with feeling overwhelmed, sad, and stuck. Dear Christine, My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s two years ago, just… Read more

A half dozen recent studies demonstrate the power that connecting with strangers has to make us happier. Research also suggests that that talking to strangers… Read more

“Lucky people meet their perfect partners, achieve their lifelong ambitions, find fulfilling careers, and live happy and meaningful lives. Their success is not due to… Read more

Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get. Ray Kroc Read more

“Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Helen Keller As we look ahead to the weekend and… Read more

Irritated with your husband (or your wife)? You probably expect too much. I find it ironic that the month after Valentine’s Day tends to be… Read more

These days, you can have both an actual life AND a life you present to others that’s been optimized for your audience. There can be what… Read more

“Once in awhile, right in the middle of an ordinary life, love gives us a fairy tale.” –anonymous quotation Read more

Research shows that with a little elbow grease, romance can last a lifetime. This week, put some energy into your relationship. How can you best improve… Read more

Like it or not, the season of love is beginning! Already the stores are filled with cheesy red-and-pink Valentine-related stuff. Why not use this Valentine’s… Read more

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could; some blunders and absurdities have crept in; forget them as soon… Read more

Now that the kids are back in school, I’m thinking about what really leads to success—as well as happiness. Part 3 in a 3 part series.… Read more

We all understand that when we first attempt to drive a car or ride a bike, we’ll make mistakes. Behavior change is no different; it’s… Read more

“I am larger, better than I thought, I did not know I held so much goodness.” —Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road Read more

You might know how to be happy, but can you do it? Watch a video of any elite athlete or performer before a big game… Read more

Drawing on the neuroscience of habit formation and goal-setting, I’ve developed a plan for setting and keeping resolutions that will stick. In this short webinar, I’ll… Read more

New Year’s resolutions are an amazing act of creation, an art form where the canvas is the self. —Christine Carter 3 Resolutions to Make You… Read more

  Thinking of making a New Year’s Resolution this year? This quick, research-based explanation by Dr. Mike Evans of why New Year’s Resolutions are a… Read more

“Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future.” —Earl Nightingale Read more

You can definitely try this at home! There are three steps to Rick Hanson’s “Taking in the Good” technique: 1. Teach kids to notice the… Read more

Feeling overwhelmed? Wondering how you’re going to get it all done? Wishing you could just lie down? You aren’t alone. The holidays can be stressful.… Read more

Last year about this time, an Instagram photo showing a mountain of shiny wrapped presents – nearly as large as the seven-foot Christmas tree behind it –… Read more

“Materialism is a cycle. Unhappiness tends to lead to materialism which feeds back into those feelings of unhappiness.” ― Christine Carter, Shopping is not a… Read more

“How come your family knows how to push your buttons? Because they installed them…” ― Elizabeth Gilbert The Easiest Way to Deal With a Difficult… Read more

Like many families, ours followed this year’s midterm elections with passion. This will no doubt give us lots to talk about over the holidays and… Read more

One of the most powerful positive emotions we have in this life is gratitude; mountains of research indicate that gratitude is part of the happiness… Read more

“Our success and happiness are based as much on what we choose NOT to do as what we choose to do.” —Christine Carter Do You… Read more

  “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion… Read more

When one of our teens, who shall remain nameless, was 15, my husband Mark and I got a surprising email from another parent we’ll call… Read more

Our success and happiness are based as much on what we choose NOT to do as what we choose to do. What things in your… Read more

“I’ll take a small success over an ambitious failure any day.” –Christine Carter How to Get Better at Reaching Your Goals   Read more

Last week, I lead a workshop for 20 top female executives from around the world — it was a great pleasure and a great honor. We… Read more

Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that it is both soul-satisfying and eternal.”… Read more

Recently, I went to high school Back-to-School night with my first husband, Mike, and we ran into a colleague of his I’d never met before.… Read more

First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. Thomas A. Kempis Read more

Are you longing for more meaningful work or more fulfilling relationships? Or just more time to focus on what matters most? (Or how about just… Read more

Sometimes it’s easier to see how we can achieve fulfillment and contentment when we examine what we’re doing in to sabotage them. I hope you… Read more

What do you want to feel more of in this one wild and precious life (as Mary Oliver would say)? I’m not wondering about what… Read more

You cannot lead where you do not go. –Author Unknown Read more

Since her own bout with burn-out and crippling exhaustion, Arianna Huffington has been giving great advice for finding greater meaning and fulfillment in life: Start… Read more

The opposite of talking isn’t listening. The opposite of talking is waiting. Fran Lebowitz Read more

Help your kids reach their goals this school year. (Or set some goals for yourself!) Now that our summer break is wrapping up, I’ve started… Read more

On no account brood over your wrongdoing. Rolling in the muck is not the best way of getting clean. –Aldous Huxley Read more

“You are unimaginably cruel. I could never have done something like that to you.” One of my clients—we’ll call her Sara—received that in a nasty… Read more

 This video is the 4th in a series about fostering academic success from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. It covers: Why relieving kids’ pain also takes… Read more

“Unkindness almost always stands for the displeasure that one has in oneself.” — Adrienne Monnier Read more

 This video is from a series about how we choose to spend our time in my online course, Science of Finding Flow. “Compelling research… Read more

 “The only thing you can control is your own effort.” –Theodora van den Beld This video is the 1st in a series about fostering… Read more

Whoever is happy will make others happy too. — Anne Frank Read more

The thing that’s important to know is that you never know. You’re always sort of feeling your way.” ― Diane Arbus Read more

 This video is the 4th in a series about being happier as a parent from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. Watch the rest of the videos… Read more

“Learn how to take criticism seriously, but not personally.” –Hillary Clinton Read more

“We are continually faced by great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.” –Lee Iacocca Read more

“I’m grateful that I didn’t let fear get the best of me. It only holds you back from possibilities and greatness.” Mariska Hargitay Read more

This post is from a series about the ideal worker archetype in my online course, Science of Finding Flow. Read the rest here. We can… Read more

Here’s an icky confession: I used to dread Mother’s Day. When I first became a mother, the holiday somehow left me feeling unappreciated. I tended to… Read more

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it.” –Eckhart Tolle Read more

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Read more

“A society grows great when old [people] plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek Proverb Read more

Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone – we find it with another. Thomas Merton Read more

Last autumn, horrific wildfires raged near our home. People we knew were losing their houses left and right. In the midst of disaster, I had… Read more

Immature love says: ‘I love you because I need you.’ Mature love says ‘I need you because I love you.’ Erich Fromm Read more

The other night, I did something that I am not proud of. We have four teenagers, so dinnertime is never dull, but this particular evening… Read more

Research shows that our feelings of being in love come from what we do and how we behave around our beloveds — more than from… Read more

Let nothing dim the light that shines from within. —Maya Angelou Read more

We must be our own before we can be another’s. –Ralph Waldo Emerson Read more

We live in California, where marijuana is now, as of Jan. 1, legal for recreational use. My four teens report that pot is already very easy to… Read more

Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted. —William Bruce Cameron Thanks to the kind reader who informed… Read more

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? —Mary Oliver Read more

It’s not to late to join our Brave Over Perfect coaching group! Our next live call is on January 10th. That gives you plenty of time… Read more

And now let us welcome the New Year—full of things that have never been. —Rainer Maria Rilke Read more

If you were trying to eat less candy, would you carry a bowl of it around with you? Would you put it on your nightstand… Read more

Happy New Year! Do you need some ideas for how to be happy in the New Year?  Check out this oldie but goodie Greater Good graphic!… Read more

We all know we’d do well to disable the push features, alerts, and notifications on our mobile devices, desktop, and laptop computers that distract us.… Read more

This video and post are from a series about how to focus from my online course, the Science of Finding Flow. Although we usually assume… Read more

 This short video is from a series about gaining control of your time, attention and energy in my online course, Science of Finding Flow.… Read more

Instead of just willing ourselves not to check our phones, social media, and email so often, we need to configure our online time so that… Read more

Remember this: Very little is needed to make a happy life. —Marcus Aurelius Read more

He who obtains has little. He who scatters has much. —Lao Tzu Read more

Many people love the idea of the holidays more than their actual experience of them — mostly because their list of holiday-related tasks and obligations… Read more

My paternal grandmother died young, at age 49; within a year of her death, my grandfather had remarried the woman who would become my grandma.… Read more

People seem to be taking issue with my claim that happiness comes when we live with total integrity—when we stop people-pleasing and start living more… Read more

The world is before you, and you need not take it or leave it as it was when you came in. —James Arthur Baldwin Read more

The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook. —William James Read more

Susie: In the summer of 2016, when I received some horrible news about my health, I sent my family camping and sat on my bed… Read more

Today’s teens are busy. Last week, one of my teens was sitting in the kitchen replying to her emails while I prepped dinner. “Help me… Read more

“May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.” -Mary Oliver (Upstream) Read more

Everyone I meet eventually asks me this question, usually sooner rather than later. The good news is that there are many secrets to happiness. But… Read more

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. –Corrie ten Boom Read more

It’s a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one’s life and find at the end that one has no more… Read more

There is no path to peace. Peace is the path. — Mahatma Gandhi Read more

“If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Mother Teresa Read more

Busy women tend to struggle with similar challenges. We get overwhelmed. We take care of others before we take care of ourselves. We question our… Read more

“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. “Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives… Read more

We have four teenagers headed to high school — two of them 9th graders at new schools this week. Remember how nerve-wracking it can be… Read more

  “Every girl must decide whether to settle for adoration or to fight for love.” –Glennon Doyle Melton Read more

“Work is not man’s punishment. It is his reward and his strength and his pleasure.” –George Sand   Parenting Practice: Getting Kids to Do Boring But… Read more

“The source of all happiness relies in thinking of others.” —Shantideva Read more

This post is from a series about the ideal worker archetype in my online course, Science of Finding Flow. Read the rest here. To me,… Read more

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As a sociologist who’s done much research on elite performance and productivity, I’ve given a lot of thought to the skills that lead to success… Read more

“Are your kids totally happy and squared away?” a reporter recently asked me earnestly during an interview. Gah. I really hate that question. My kids… Read more

Want a quick hit of happiness? Research demonstrates the incredible power of loving-kindness meditation; in fact, this simple practice might be more effective than Prozac. Also… Read more

When I was in high school, my advisor, Michael Mulligan, called my parents to recommend a special treatment for my anxiety: Transcendental Meditation (“TM”). I was… Read more

Personally, I would love it if we could just have one “sex talk” with our kids and be done with it. Or, it would be… Read more

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Usually, you’ll hear me tellin’ ya to spend more time with friends. This is because the best predictor of a person’s happiness is the breadth… Read more

My father — the most disciplined person I’ve ever known — always quips that his “only goal is to climb a low mountain.” As an… Read more

Love feels magical and biological—something that just happens to us, something beyond our control. Research shows, however, that love is better thought of as behavioral—or… Read more

You already know, of course, that getting into a regular exercise routine is probably the best thing you can do for yourself — whether you… Read more

Mark your calendars! I’m hosting a free, 45-minute online webinar on January 10, 2017 with James Baraz and Michele Lilyanna. We’ll be talking about their new… Read more

This post is from a series about how we choose to spend our time in my online course, Science of Finding Flow. Read the rest… Read more

Sometimes good things happen to us, but we don’t really register them — we hardly look up from our phones, we barely slow down to… Read more

This post is from a series about how to focus from my online course, the Science of Finding Flow. It is incredibly easy to tip… Read more

 This video is the 1st in a series about high impact happiness routines from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. Check out the rest of the Homestudy… Read more

“Creative people’s brains unconsciously connect experiences they’ve had. Which means they’ve probably had a lot of diverse experiences; that’s the raw material of insight.” Worried what… Read more

I know. I know! I know what you are thinking right now: Now you’re really pushing it, lady. You WANT to take a nap. You may even… Read more

Slacking-off has several obvious benefits. For starters, we human beings need stillness in order to recharge our batteries. The constant stream of external stimulation that… Read more

I’m endlessly fascinated by a series of studies led by Tim Wilson where the research subjects were put alone in a room, with nothing to… Read more

 “When was the last time you just did nothing? I mean NOTHING AT ALL?” This short video is from a series about “strategic slacking” from… Read more

 Never let a problem to be solved become more important than the person to be loved. –Barbara Johnson Welcome to Theme 5 of the… Read more

Ever feel like you’ve lost time and productivity because you couldn’t keep your mind from wandering? I can’t believe that I’m writing this, but perhaps… Read more

As an affectionate extrovert, I probably have always been a bit predisposed to creating “micro-moments of positive connection” with others. (If you aren’t sure what… Read more

What are you curious about? What have you been meaning to look up? What is really interesting to you these days? Go ahead, Google it!… Read more

People make mistakes in relationships all. the. time. Not just bad people, or weak people. All people. Our mistakes are what make us human. And… Read more

In our rigorous pursuit of happiness, we often forget that inspiration—along with its cousins elevation and awe—are positive emotions that make us feel more content,… Read more

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” —Oscar Wilde   Covered in This Video: Three easy ways… Read more

“What if I told you that you have a good deal of control over your emotions? Here’s how.” This short video is from a series… Read more

This post is from a series about how we choose to spend our time in my online course, Science of Finding Flow. Read the rest… Read more

So you’ve finished taking “The Science of Finding Flow”? Wondering what now? Well, I have good news and I have bad news, folks. First the… Read more

There are countless things we can do for others that take very little of our time. We can make an introduction, help a fellow traveler… Read more

Research shows that “flourishing” people are happier and more resilient. These are the are high-functioning individuals who score well on things such as self-acceptance, purpose… Read more

Are your feeling too overwhelmed and time-starved to slack-off? Then what you need more than time to work is downtime. You need a BREAK. Today, take… Read more

This is a recommended practice from a series about how to focus in my online course, Science of Finding Flow.  Using the list you generated… Read more

So if our happiness and our success are best predicted by the quantity and quality of our relationships with others, and our relationships are built… Read more

“It’s very important to remember that this work doesn’t end here.” Join the Discussion What helped you the most in this course? What do you… Read more

This video is from a series about how to focus in my online course, the Science of Finding Flow. Busyness is a sign that we… Read more

This is a recommended practice from a series about how to focus in my online course, Science of Finding Flow.  Do you want to focus… Read more

 LOVING-KINDNESS MEDITATION AUDIO (MP3) When I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed or just a little sorry for myself, I make a conscious effort to think like… Read more

“The more connected you feel, the happier and more successful you are likely to be.” Join the Discussion What worked best for you in this… Read more

 This video is the 4th in a series about the science of great relationships from the Raising Happiness Homestudy. This week, why not do some… Read more

 Patience, n. A minor form of despair disguised as virtue. –Ambrose Bierce Welcome to Theme 4 of the Raising Happiness Homestudy. In this theme you’ll… Read more

So what does the “real ideal worker” ACTUALLY look like? If you’re finishing this “The Science of Finding Flow” online class, I’m guessing you know by… Read more

This video is the 2nd in a series about boosting emotional intelligence from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. Check out the rest of the Homestudy here. Parenting… Read more

This video is the 3rd in a series about fostering academic success from The Raising Happiness Homestudy. Watch the rest of the videos here. “They say… Read more

All of our emotions, both positive and negative, can have a profound physiological effect on our bodies and our brains. We feel this the most… Read more

“The most powerful emotions of all (are) love, empathy and compassion.” This post is taken from “The Science of Finding Flow,” an online course I… Read more

Once you’ve identified what will bring you joy, ease, strength, and meaning in your life — or how you otherwise hope to feel— it’s time… Read more

As it turns out, all positive emotions were not created equally. Love and the similar emotions that we experience when we feel connected socially—like affection,… Read more

“I don’t divide the world into the weak and the strong, or the successes and the failures… I divide the world into the learners and… Read more

 What are the four things doomed couples do when they argue? More importantly, what is it that you and your partner do? Fortunately, we… Read more

You now have some really important tools for creating a more just, productive, and innovative society. You are now equipped to solve some of the… Read more

This may be “the happiest time of year” for some, but if it isn’t for you, I think it’s at least in part because we… Read more

I joined Candace Rose for an interview to discuss how we can avoid disappointment this season and stop being so hard on ourselves, the secret… Read more

My teens are obsessed with Christmas carols this year (and every year). “It’s the holidays!” they exclaim when I suggest that perhaps we could listen to… Read more

If you are anything like me, you are not inclined to join a gym, or start training for a new race, or begin an exciting new exercise plan right… Read more

Ahh, Thanksgiving. For many of us regular gratitude-practicers, this extra grateful time of year can seem like a bit like more of the same. Sometimes… Read more

“But who could have foreseen . . . that he would die a happy, giving, and beloved man? Only those who understand that happiness is… Read more

We are coming to that time of the year that is both blessed and cursed with zillions of invitations. Here are some that are in… Read more

Ever feel like you are constantly drinking from a firehose of information? We have more information (and stuff) coming at us than ever before. In… Read more

Several years ago, I devised a system for quickly getting into the “zone” while I wrote. Free from distractions and interruptions, I worked quickly, joyfully,… Read more

Small acts of kindness can positively change the feelings and attitudes of everyone around you! Read more

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein When I first started writing about how to foster… Read more

The answer is a cliché: You were probably in the shower. Creativity doesn’t come from the bathroom, we know, but it sure does seem highly… Read more

There are so many ways to make other people’s lives better. This video inspired me to think about how I can best use my own talents to help people… Read more

Researchers believe that the brains in both humans and animals evolved to feel calmed by repetitive behavior, and that our daily rituals and habits are… Read more

A new poll by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds extraordinary levels of workplace stress, with… Read more

Are you feeling anxious or frustrated that you don’t have enough time? If you’ve got 20 minutes, I’ve got a new free webinar you’ll appreciate.… Read more

“You wander from room to room hunting for the diamond necklace that is already around your neck”. –Rumi Read more

Parent shaming is not a happiness habit. Parenting isn’t easy for anyone. Seek out ways to support each other rather than breaking each other down. Read more

In honor of my dear old dad, who is decidedly NOT old, and who is redefining aging for me and my children every day. #HappyFathersDay Read more

Control is an illusion. Really, your only choices in each moment are: How much Grace and Beauty you can show up with? And how well… Read more

So many good tips in this video! Read more

I love this lady! There’s so much we can all learn from her spirit and determination. “Do the thing that you don’t like to do… Read more

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” –John Lubbock Read more

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” —Mignon McLaughlin Read more

Ah, the to-do list. Lately, I’ve had dozens of calls from high-achievers (a Head of School, a university athletic coach, a tech industry Chief Marketing… Read more

“I’d rather regret the things I’ve done than the things I haven’t.” Anonymous Read more

Ah, the to-do list. Lately, I’ve had dozens of calls from high-achievers (a Head of School, a university athletic coach, a tech industry Chief Marketing… Read more

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ― Etty Hillesum Read more

In his awesome book The Organized Mind, cognitive neuroscientist Daniel Levitin has quantified how overwhelmed by information the poor human brain is: “In 2011, Americans… Read more

I love how this Mother’s Day note captures all the little things we do to keep our families humming and happy. Happy Mothers Day! Read more

There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in. – Leonard Cohen Read more

… in the mean time, enjoy this funny public service message. Read more

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. –Anne Frank Read more

The determination, patience and love that this father demonstrates is a lesson to all parents. Unconditional love is the answer to every question. #AutismAwareness Read more

“Where we love is home—home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.” ― Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. Read more

Little shifts in mindset make all the difference. Read more

Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. – William Penn Read more

I’ll be back when I’m done having the time of my life. (Chuckle.) Happy Spring Break! Read more

Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change — Brene Brown Read more

To change one’s life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions. William James Read more

Want to know the secret to enjoying next weekend? Pretend you’re about to move out of town, and spend the weekend seeing the friends you’ll… Read more

“But I know also that still more interesting discoveries will be made that I have not the imagination to describe – and I am awaiting… Read more

Such a lovely tribute to dreaming big. I love that this International Women’s Day Doodle includes women of accomplishment — Jane Goodall and Malala Yousafzai… Read more

All our talk and worry about “work-life balance” is such a bunch of baloney. I don’t mean to be depressing, but you will never find… Read more

All our talk and worry about “work-life balance” is such a bunch of baloney. I don’t mean to be depressing, but you will never find… Read more

“Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only the scenery you miss by going too fast — you also miss the sense of where you… Read more

Are you feeling starved for time? Impatient? New research shows that experiencing awe can make us feel more satisfied with our lives, more patient, more… Read more

“There’s an important difference between giving up and letting go.” –Jessica Hatchigan Read more

I’m calling for a new conception of the “ideal worker.” I don’t know anyone who has worked for a traditional business and hasn’t run up against… Read more

“The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own… Read more

All of our emotions, both positive and negative, have an often profound physiological effect on our bodies and our brains. We are most familiar with… Read more

Live today by the Buddha’s words: “You could search the whole world and never find anyone as deserving of your love as yourself.” –Martha Beck Read more

I am so excited to share this FREE workshop with you.  I’ll be in Bend, OR in a few weeks to talk through how to expand… Read more

We can be imperfect and it won’t scar our children. Really! (But they reserve the right to hold it against us at a later date!) Read more

“Confidence that comes from never having been burned is different from confidence that comes from having been in situations where it all went wrong.” —South… Read more

Don’t know what your true passion is? Here’s a reason why that is good. Read more

Adversity causes some people to break; others to break records. — William A. Ward Read more

Watched this video with my daughter and we both got #goosebumps! This is a story that puts it all in perspective. Read more

You miss 100 percent of all the shots you never take. — Wayne Gretzky Read more

I’ve been having a blast coaching people to new habit success. If you haven’t joined yet, it’s  not too late to learn how to successfully… Read more

Wow. Jada Pinkett Smith gives good happiness (and marriage, and parenting) advice. She sums up what is to me the most important component for a… Read more

“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” —Mother Teresa Read more

You have a to-do list. But do you have a not-to-do list? I just listened to a fantastic conversation between Ron Friedman and Peter Bregman… Read more

Do you have a lot of options? This is often a quick ticket to anxiety. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg explains how guiding your focus back to the… Read more

“There is only one success — to be able to spend your life in your own way.” —Christopher Morley Read more

YOU’RE INVITED!  New Year’s Resolutions 101 What: A FREE live Q&A about HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT RESOLUTIONS When: TOMORROW, January 6 at 2:30 PM PST /5:30… Read more

Now that the holidays are behind us, and our daily routines are settling back into place, I’m ready to take this fresh start that the… Read more

Please join in Mill Valley, CA on January 7 , 2016 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. A GREAT way to kick off the New Year!  The… Read more

Jason Silva, a freestyle philosopher, conveys why we strive to come alive to our authentic selves and why that’s enough to change the world. If… Read more

YOU’RE INVITED!  New Year’s Resolutions 101 What: A FREE live Q&A about HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT RESOLUTIONS When: January 6 at 2:30 PM PST /5:30 PM… Read more

Before you start to make your New Year’s Resolutions, ask yourself not what you want to achieve, but what, in your heart of hearts, you… Read more

Whenever you see darkness, there is extraordinary opportunity for the light to burn brighter. – Bono Read more

Need help sticking to a new routine or setting goals that work? Enroll in my FREE 90 Day coaching program. A completely revised version of my most popular… Read more

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.” ―Joseph Addison Read more

Need help sticking to a new routine or setting goals that work? Enroll in my FREE 12 week coaching program. A completely revised version of my most… Read more

How come your family knows how to push your buttons? Because they installed them… I had a great teacher in India who said to me,… Read more

Deep suffering ends the moment you decide to forgive. Malynn Utzinger, MD, a certified yoga instructor and specialist in holistic medicine, describes why forgiveness is… Read more

I’m on Dr.Oz today, 12/8! Fun episode about ways we can find ‪‎balance‬. We’ll discuss the secret to “just clean enough” to feel happier and… Read more

Too busy to leave your desk to eat lunch? If so, you aren’t alone, as only 1 in 5 office workers regularly takes lunch these… Read more

Hear author Lynne Twist’s advice on letting go of a toxic idea about abundance—and the simple way to reach the ”absolute exquisite experience of enough”… Read more

“Here are the two best prayers I know: ‘Help me, help me, help me’ and ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you.’” –Anne Lamott Read more

“Giving thanks for abundance is sweeter than the abundance itself…” -–Rumi Read more

Here’s a way to foster family connection: Share a story from your family history. It doesn’t even have to be a good story! Research shows that… Read more

 “Real life isn’t always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgement of what is working in our lives can help… Read more

  My perfectionism is still solidly in remission, but at times I’m a little anxious that I don’t feel guiltier for not constantly striving to… Read more

“Gratitude is the memory of the heart.” –-French proverb Read more

by Susan Swann, FamilyShare When your kids’ friends are a problem, how can you step in without socially isolating your child? No matter how much… Read more

I was honored to be a part of filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg’s Gratitude Revealed series — 16 film shorts that explore what gratitude is. Over the… Read more

“Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we… Read more

This makes me smile more than Halloween candy. Read more

“You make a mistake, and that happens to take you in a new direction. Without that mistake you stay in the same place.” Giovanni Hidalgo Read more

Does your to do list have a to do list? Are you human or humankinda? I had a lot of fun participating in this short… Read more

“Some pursue happiness, others create it” -Anonymous Read more

  Throughout our lives we arrive over and over again at what writer, designer and artist Elle Luna calls the “The Crossroads of Should and… Read more

“The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.” —George Bernard Shaw Read more

by Christine Carter and Candice McGarvey @herdollars Following these rules will teach your kids to be responsible with money. In a radio interview that went… Read more

How many more mass murders before our leaders pass common-sense laws to prevent gun violence and save lives? Demand a plan. Read more

How could a little optimism change your day? Read more

“In every difficult situation, there is glittering opportunity: stronger relationships, deeper understanding, new meaning. If accepted, these opportunities can bring us fulfillment and even joy.”… Read more

“The opinion which other people have of you is their problem, not yours.”  —Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Read more

This sweet film is a heartwarming story of compassion and creativity. By using the universal power of music, walls are brought down to expose a… Read more

  If you could change anything in the would, what would it be?   Read more

“People wish to be settled; only so far as they are unsettled is there any hope for them.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Read more

What a surprising and fun break from all this back to school chaos! Read more

“Even as real grief breaks your heart, something in you knows that you’re being broken open, and there is something profoundly hopeful at the core… Read more

Do we limit girls and tell them what they should or shouldn’t be? Do we box them into expected roles? Read more

“The reason most people do not recognize an opportunity when they meet it is because it usually goes around wearing overalls and looking like Hard… Read more

A startling reminder about what matters most — and what doesn’t matter at all. Read more

“Life is short. Break the rules. Forgive quickly, kiss slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably. And never regret anything that makes you smile.” ― Mark Twain Read more

When she reached out to the New York City Ballet about a dance program for children with special needs, she didn’t expect a response. But… Read more

“Panic causes tunnel vision. Calm acceptance of danger allows us to more easily assess the situation and see the options.” —Simone Sinek Read more

Really: I spend that much time doing stuff I enjoy, that isn’t on a task list anywhere. I walk through the beautiful university campus near… Read more

Feeling frustrated or disappointed? It isn’t that we shouldn’t have high expectations, or that we shouldn’t feel hurt when someone lets us down. But one of the… Read more

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Read more

By Dr. Sanjay Gupta A study suggests that people have a hard time being alone with their thoughts. What can you do about it? Everybody spends… Read more

Gratitude has inspired both of these women in two very unique ways! See their heartwarming stories here. A film by Hailey Bartholomew. More at 365… Read more

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin Read more

Fantastic productivity tip from Marie Forleo. This 4-minute trick has helped me get more done with less stress — I find I can get to… Read more

“The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or… Read more

Researchers believe that the brains in both humans and animals evolved to feel calmed by repetitive behavior, and that our daily rituals and habits are… Read more

Want to participate in a global matchmaking effort by this sweet son? Read more

I know, I know — you’re thinking this happiness tip is pretty bogus. I mean, who doesn’t feel happier when they eat? Am I really… Read more

Lennie and Pearl just celebrated their 48th year together and their first anniversary. #LoveWins #loveCantWait Read more

Feeling annoyed by your significant other? Sometimes irritation is the price we pay for love. Funny (but profane) relationship advice from Dan Savage. Read more

Spend less time tearing yourself apart, worrying if you’re good enough. You are good enough. – Reese Witherspoon Read more

Why science needs heart in addition to brains! I watched the hug at the end several times. I adore Jane Goodall!! Read more

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt Read more

Melanoma killed my grandmother when she was about my age — I never got to meet her. I’m told she was a creative, funny and… Read more

“Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” Leonard Cohen Read more

“One who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; one who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” -Chinese Proverb Read more

I’ve made a lot of happiness mistakes. I know you will make some of those same mistakes. But there are certain things I’ve finally learned… Read more

Every day, do at least one frightening thing that contributes to the fulfillment of your desires. – Martha Beck Read more

Our culture sends us mixed messages about being “busy”, but there is a way to use our minds and physiology to help us find a… Read more

by Celia Shatzman for Women’s Health Just Smile Making eye contact and grinning at a stranger can brighten both of your days. “Research shows it… Read more

Kids today are more stressed and exhausted than they’ve ever been — and the pressures on them to achieve are only mounting. What can we… Read more

Don’t get addicted to busyness, or let it become a badge of honor. You can do less—and feel good about it. Check out my interview… Read more

This small business owner is offering a year of yoga to the vandals who damaged her property. I hope they take her up on it! Read more

Now THIS is a good idea! Read more

  “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.” — Anonymous Read more

This absolutely made my day. I want to be just like this woman. (Starting now: For the record, I love being 43.) Read more

Do you have middle schoolers? I do! In fact, I have THREE middle schoolers. It’s safe to say I think a lot about this critical… Read more

Such a great demonstration of how a simple shift can have an amazing effect on your life. Read more

Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. -Malcolm S. Forbes Read more

One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul.… Read more

I had another fun interview with Mindfulness 4 Mothers’ Kellie Edwards! Take a listen to her “A Flourishing Life” show. CLICK HERE to play or right… Read more

Isn’t it time to see more realistic — and truly inspiring—images of women in the media? I’m sure ready. This video is a wonderful, and… Read more

There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it. –Edith Wharton Read more

To celebrate the International Day of Happiness this past Friday, I participated in an interview with Snapchat Stories. Enjoy! Snapchat: What’s one of the biggest… Read more

Nothing determines who we will become so much as those things we choose to ignore. –Sandor McNab Read more

I love being surprised! Read more

Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them. –Marcus Aurelius Read more

Photo by Iain Watson It’s approaching that time of the year again: spring cleaning. Although we may know that we want to deep clean or… Read more

How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours. –Wayne Dyer Read more

Photo by Michael Dales I’m naturally very distractible and messy – a “big-picture thinker, but not so much a detail person,” as my father would euphemize when… Read more

Having a bad day? Take a few minutes to listen to these truthful and poetic words. Let them uplift you and know that this too… Read more

  Find the minimum effective dose — of everything. The “minimum effective dose” (MED) is considered to be the lowest dose of a pharmaceutical product… Read more

Love this advice for navigating all important relationships in your life. Read more

We’re all in search of ways to become more productive, less stressed and better balanced between work and play. This hour, we’ll talk to sociologist… Read more

by Dave McGinn for The Globe and Mail When asked how we are doing, most of us will answer with “busy.” We say it with… Read more

My baby Fiona giving her 8th grade commencement talk. (A reminder to me that she’s got this thing — she gave better advice to her… Read more

“With life as short as a half-taken breath, don’t plant anything but love.”- Rumi Read more

“Kindness, I’ve discovered, is everything in life.” – Isaac Singer Read more

Photo by xxFr0z3n Celebrate other people’s success. The people we love feel closer to us when we actively rejoice with them. When they succeed, whoop and… Read more

Jill Suttie sat down with me recently to talk about my new book In 2009, Christine Carter felt like she had it all. On top of… Read more

Photo by Avern This week is an important one for people who made New Year’s resolutions (I hope that’s you)! If you can keep your… Read more

“In our materially rich but spiritually bereft culture, we often forget that how much we enjoy our lives really matters.” — Christine Carter,  The Sweet… Read more

Before I wrote The Sweet Spot, I needed a manifesto — something to organize my passion for the project. I started keeping lists of phrases… Read more

“The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling… Read more

Photo by Andres Rodriguez I would love some help figuring out a tiny habit to help me unplug from my phone. It’s the first thing… Read more

  Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail. — Ralph Waldo Emerson Read more

Photo by Jorge Sanmartín Maïssa These first few weeks in January are a precious time for setting getting ourselves on a path toward more joy… Read more

Photo by Tom Fahy Take a good old-fashioned recess in the middle of the day. For every 60-90 minutes that you focus, take a 10-15… Read more

Photo by Carrie Eberhardt If you are setting New Year’s resolutions this year, whether or not you are able to keep your resolutions will depend on… Read more

Photo by Snapshooter46 Know what one of my very favorite things to do is? I LOVE coaching people through making New Year’s resolutions. Sign up… Read more

We’re excited to offer a completely revised version of my most popular online class ever as a gift for ordering The Sweet Spot: How to Find… Read more

“If you want to feel rich, just count the things you have that money can’t buy.” Proverb Read more

Wondering what exactly a “sweet spot” is? Check out this video and learn what inspired me to write the book. If you’re intrigued, check out… Read more

How to give The Sweet Spot as a gift: (1) Pre-order the book. (2) Fill out the form below to get a gift card and/or a signed… Read more

Heading home for the holidays? We’ll all do well to heed @Elizabeth Gilbert’s great advice! Read more

“Happiness depends on conditions being perceived as positive. Inner peace does not.” –Eckhart Tolle Read more

Photo by Jessica Ondrejicka How come your family knows how to push your buttons? Because they installed them… I had a great teacher in India… Read more

Imagine you’ve just been told that you have less than six months to live. What do you need to do?  Who do you need to… Read more

A skillful, artful protest. Read more

Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” –Helen… Read more

A lot of my new book is about easing the overwhelm that comes from the busy world we live in. Here are 9 of my… Read more

The holidays can be a mixed-bag for some people when it comes to happiness. Many of us tend to look forward to this time of… Read more

(even if you are super busy).   Chase created this little graphic based on some of my holiday happiness tips… Read more

All this technology we have, it’s just an illusion, of community, companionship, a sense of inclusion yet when you step away from this device of… Read more

  “This is the gift: to have a wonderful capacity to appreciate again and again, freshly and naively, the basic goods of life, with awe,… Read more

So that I can actually enjoy the holidays, I’ve had to devise a three-part plan for tackling all that needs to be done at this… Read more

Ah…how moving I find these little acts of kindness… hat tip: Shawn Achor Read more

My teens are obsessed with Christmas carols this year (and every year). It’s the holidays! they exclaim when I suggest that perhaps we could listen to… Read more

I am rarely so unhappy as when I’ve committed to do something I don’t really want to do; dread is such a yucky thing to… Read more

Take control of the life that you want to lead. #womeninspire Read more

“Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.” Author Unknown Read more

It’s not too late to join us! .           These conversations are designed to teach simple but critical skills for reducing the… Read more

When was the last time you just sat down and stared into space? Put your feet up and did nothing? Spaced out in the shower?… Read more

“There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all.” Peter Drucker Read more

Although I presumably spent most of my childhood daydreaming, I seldom do it anymore. Occasionally, I’ll catch myself spacing out in the shower, just standing… Read more

One of the greatest things a baby can teach us is how to give affection without expecting anything in return. Read more

  This day is a journey, this very moment an adventure. Rebecca Pavlenko Read more

When I drop my kids off at school in the morning, I ask them one question: “What are you going to do today?” They always… Read more

Ashes and Snow by Gregory Colbert from Gregory Colbert on Vimeo. Need help cultivating wordlessness? This incredible film is a meditation of sorts, and it… Read more

My new tele-series kicks off today! .           . Please join me for 3 fun conversations designed to teach simple but critical skills… Read more

While I’ve long known about the neurological benefits of meditation, it wasn’t until I watched Jill Bolte Taylor’s TED talk that I started thinking about how many… Read more

Now that all your worry has proved such an unlucrative business, why not find a better job? –Hafiz     Read more

A long-time perfectionist and over-achiever, I used to accomplished my goals through the sheer force of my iron-clad will, my grit, and darn hard work.… Read more

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This last weekend was my nephew’s first birthday party, and because he is absolutely the most adorable baby EVER and I love him so much,… Read more

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I am not a journaler; after sitting in front of my computer all day, it doesn’t usually occur to me to end the day by… Read more

Last weekend was my first wedding anniversary with my husband, the first of what I hope will be many in a long marriage. But because this is… Read more

No one can give you anything–love, shame, self-esteem–until you give it to yourself. Today, give yourself good things.” –Martha Beck Read more

Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare.” — Japanese proverb Read more

Did you know that happiness is much better thought of as a set of skills you can learn and practice than it is an inborn… Read more

Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” — Jesse Jackson Read more

Are you documenting this Labor Day with lots of pictures? (My kids are certainly smiling–only 3 days of school and already a holiday!) Say cheese along… Read more

I LOVE THE FALL!!! I’m getting very excited for September, and not just because my kids are headed back to school this week…I love the… Read more

My kids go back to school on Wednesday. Until then, I’ll experience vicarious joy through @WhatsUpMoms Read more

Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance and order and rhythm and harmony.” —Thomas Merton Read more

I like this video for its moving reminders about why we should find ways to say no politely, and to behave well when someone doesn’t… Read more

We recently adopted a dog, which has given me a new perspective on how animals bring happiness to humans. We were certainly happy before we met Buster (pictured below),… Read more

Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.” –Albert Camus Read more

Turn off your cell phone — really and truly, totally off — for several hours today. Technology can be addictive, and it can change the… Read more

Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” — Joseph Chilton Pearce Read more

In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.” — John Churton Collins Read more

When was the last time someone else’s happiness became your own? Last weekend I was at a fundraiser where several musicians were playing live. I… Read more

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”… Read more

Starting in 6th grade — about the time when I became painfully self-conscious, and really didn’t want my mother’s advice — my mom started to… Read more

The stuff of life never ends. That is life.You will never clear your plate so you can finally get to the good stuff. So you… Read more

We often forget that inspiration — along with its cousins elevation and awe — are positive emotions that make us feel more content, joyful and… Read more

Set me a task in which I can put something of my very self, and it is a task no longer; it is joy; it… Read more

Feeling too busy? Does busyness impact your happiness? In this video with Lindsay Reed Maines, I discuss that ever-present feeling of being too busy and… Read more

Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible… Read more

No dream is impossible. This (wonderfully hilarious) woman is living proof. Read more

Glennon’s courage will move you to accept yourself exactly as you are–and inspire you to live a bolder, more meaningful life. Read more

Give yourself entirely to those around you. Be generous with your blessings. A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” —… Read more

Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” –Paul Cezanne Read more

It was an afternoon like any other. I had picked my kids up from their after-school activities, and we were driving to dinner at my… Read more

Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” — Rumi Read more

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I know, I know — you’re thinking this happiness tip is pretty bogus. I mean, who doesn’t feel happier when they eat? Am I really… Read more

Is there a connection between wealth and unseemly behavior? You bet there is. Check out this amazing video! Read more

Now that my kids are pre-teens and teens, dinnertime keeps getting pushed later and later, squished between after school activities and homework time. I know that… Read more

This is a little random. Made me giggle, and remember to “be like water, my friend.” Read more

In this new video from Kids in the House, I discuss the benefits of family dinnertime. Need tips on making family dinners easier?  Check out my… Read more

My grandmother always told me that getting outside for a little walk could clear our heads and lift our spirits; now we have plenty of… Read more

A well-spent day brings happy sleep.” –Leonardo da Vinci Read more

In case you need a little reminder to thank your mother for all she’s done for you… Read more

This is how we usually behave — we see a reflection of our less-than-perfect traits in others, and rather than realizing that we are seeing… Read more

It’s important to let your kids make mistakes — to learn and grow from them. Check out this Kids in the House video for more… Read more

Every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see.” — Marcus Aureliuss Read more

You might know that your TV needs to be grounded electrically to get a clear picture, but did you know that your body also needs… Read more

I’m proud to pay taxes in the United States; the only thing is, I could be just as proud for half the money.” – Arthur… Read more

“If you empty the dishwasher right now, I’ll give you a dollar.” Does this sound familiar? We’ve all done it: offered our kids little bribes… Read more

Great piece about overcoming failure in your creative endeavors and trusting your instincts. Read more

The opposite of anger is not calmness, it’s empathy.” — Mehmet Oz Read more

Studies show that kids who are emotion coached experience fewer negative emotions and recover more quickly when they are upset. Register for our Raise Kids’ Emotional… Read more

The sheer number of positive emotions we experience relative to negative ones affects how happy we are generally; for that reason, excitement about future events can be… Read more

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.” — Michel de Montaigne Read more

In this video from Kids in the House, I give you some tips for managing kids’ emotional outbursts. Read more

Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” — Theodore Roosevelt Read more

What do I do when I have a “bad mother” moment?  What can we do instead of losing our temper? Here’s the short answer: try… Read more

In honor of Women’s History Month (and LeanIn.org’s first anniversary), Getty Images and LeanIn.org recently launched the “Lean In Collection” an impressive library of positive images of women,… Read more

There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. By being happy we sow anonymous benefits upon the world.” —… Read more

“How are you?” A good friend asks at lunch. You haven’t seen her for a month or so. You feel guilty that you’ve been out… Read more

When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? No texting, talking or even thinking? Read more

Multitasking talent is nothing to brag about. If we just focused on one task at a time, we’d actually be more productive in the long… Read more

How long can you go without your phone? Can you enjoy a special moment without recording it? Can you tolerate the boredom of waiting, or… Read more

Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein Read more

Loving-kindness meditation does far more than produce momentary good feelings. Research convincingly shows that it actually puts people on “trajectories of growth,” leaving them better… Read more

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” — Mother Teresa Read more

We know intuitively that how happy we are—in a relationship or otherwise—affects our children.  Our emotions are contagious, and so when a romantic partner loves… Read more

Even if you don’t believe in fairy tales, this is one of the most romantic proposals I’ve ever seen. Read more

What I’ve come to learn is that the world is never saved in grand messianic gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost… Read more

I know, I know, you don’t have time to sleep. You’re very busy and important. Or you think you are the exception to the rule—that… Read more

This hilarious parody is a pretty solid “what not to do” guide to Valentines Day. Enjoy a good chuckle today! Read more

One of the greatest things about our long-term romantic relationships is that they can provide comfort and predictability in this wild world we live in.… Read more

Transform your relationship in four weeks! Rekindling Romance — an online class you can take on your own time — will help you build a foundation for… Read more

This video by my dear friend, Kelly Corrigan, shares incredibly sweet, touching (and funny!) thoughts on family and the great adventure we call parenthood. Read more

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” — Lao Tzu Read more

“What is the secret to happiness?” Everyone I meet eventually asks me this question, usually sooner rather than later. (Most recently, Dr. Oz asked me.… Read more

Watch this with your daughters, and post a selfie on our Facebook page today! While it is true that advertisers and the media put unrealistic… Read more

I’m always struck by our willingness as mothers to take care of our children—and often their fathers and a host of others around us—before we… Read more

In this Kids in the House video, learn how and why to put your happiness first! If you need more guidance or an action plan… Read more

Step out of your comfort zone and create your own hero’s journey. Read more

Be steady and well-ordered in your life so that you can be fierce and original in your work.” — Gustave Flaubert Read more

If I had to guess which personality trait best predicts a long, healthy life, I’d probably guess something that relates to joy or creativity or… Read more

Do you know what the difference between empathy and sympathy is? In this beautiful video, Dr. Brené Brown teaches us why empathy fosters friendship and… Read more

I’m a big fan of high-fat foods; fat tastes good, after all! And research has shown that some types of fats, like Omega-3s, can calm… Read more

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Wondering which Happiness Tips were most popular in 2013?  Here are the top 5 Happiness Tips shared, viewed, liked and commented on the most! 5.… Read more

Great life advice for the New Year in this moving little video. Most true for me: “Life is about the people you meet and the… Read more

You want to lose weight. Get out of debt. Stop smoking. Eat more kale. Call your grandma more often. I do understand why people don’t… Read more

This year, skip the New Year’s diet and do something fun. I do understand why New Year’s resolutions don’t make a lot of people happy:… Read more

How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment. We can start now, start slowly, changing the world. How lovely that everyone, great… Read more

The holidays are not always a happy time for many people, particularly for adults who are disappointed or hurt year after year — that their… Read more

Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst… Read more

‘Tis the season for electronic gifts. But these days, parents need to provide their kids with much more than batteries for all their devices. Everyday… Read more

Give children at least as many chances to show compassion as they have to be competitive.” –Erica Layman Read more

The kids and I are preparing to go to a friend’s party, where we’ll be wrapping presents for less-fortunate children, like those spending Christmas in… Read more

I adore my children, but this comedian’s take on how difficult life with children can be is sidesplittingly funny! Read more

One kind word can warm three winter months.” –Japanese Proverb Read more

Every day is a gift! Practical — and uplifting — wisdom here about how to make each day count. Happy Thanksgiving to all! I’m deeply… Read more

If we want to be happy we need to practice gratitude deliberately and consistently — or we’ll end up feeling entitled rather than satisfied. Here… Read more

To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” –Johannes A. Gaertner Read more

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” –Johannes A. Gaertner… Read more

Want to boost your mood this week? Challenge your family members to an old-fashioned board game. A whopping 91% of families who play games report… Read more

Touching story of determination and the unbreakable bonds that tie family together. Read more

In this Kids in the House video, I discuss why gratitude is an important and necessary skill to develop for happiness. Read more

It’s a myth that “winners never quit and quitters never win.” From a stress-management standpoint, we need to know when to disengage — and be… Read more

Some tips and tricks to get kids’ to to do boring but necessary tasks without offering bribes and rewards from my Kids in the House video. Read more

Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” — Henri-Frederic… Read more

I’m on a new Dr. Oz show episode today! Tune in — I can’t wait to share my favorite Happiness Tips with you! Read more

Malala Yousafzai is an incredibly brave and noble young woman. Wise beyond her years, the forgiveness she shares in this video is an inspiration to… Read more

We Americans are often overwhelmed and exhausted. Did you know that 235 million people are currently grappling with feelings of time starvation and moderate to… Read more

In this video from Kids in the House, I discuss a surprising way to encourage self-discipline in kids. Read more

You’ve got to continue to grow, or you’re just like last night’s cornbread–stale and dry.” — Loretta Lynn Read more

Three ways working parents can combat exhaustion that don’t require radical social change Feeling maxed-out? Like you’d like to lie down so badly you are… Read more

Emotional literacy is, in many ways, the foundation of a happy and meaningful life. Register for my Raise Kids’ Emotional Intelligence online class learn more… Read more

When we consciously practice gratitude, we find more joy and satisfaction in life. I LOVE how this small experiment demonstrates immediate benefits! Read more

Tough times never last, tough people do.” — Robert Schuller Read more

Inspiring display of selflessness to make the world a better place. Read more

Is it even possible to work less in today’s economy? Are you caught in a “Time Bind”—where you feel like you don’t have enough time… Read more

This special man warms my heart! May he rest in peace. Read more

I just finished Katrina Alcorn’s gripping memoir, Maxed Out, about her nervous breakdown. Although it is an absorbing, can’t-put-it-down kind of a book, her breakdown—harrowing as… Read more

  In case you think you are too old to do something. Like hip-hop, or to star in a movie as a dancer. (Also, and… Read more

To keep our ancestors alive, the brain evolved a “negativity bias” that makes it like Velcro for negative experiences but Teflon for positive ones, as… Read more

A fun Friday Inspiration that underscores the contagious energy of joy. Read more

When we look at people who are at the top of their field, they all have grit: persistence and passion for their long-term goals. But… Read more

I LOVE the message of this video. Particularly relevant to perfectionists (I’m recovering) and kids kicking off a new academic year. Read more

As the kids get back into their school routines, I’m thinking about what really leads to success—as well as happiness. When we look at people… Read more

Check out these famous failures for a little inspiration to dust yourself off and try again! Read more

An open letter to my brother and his wife, who are expecting their first baby—a boy!!!—this fall. Dear Timmy and Sammy, As I know you… Read more

Faking happiness often makes us feel worse, but there are loads of ways to feel better after we feel bad. (Before you try this, though,… Read more

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves; otherwise we harden.” — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Read more

“What do you do when you feel sad?” people often ask me. (Some even ask, “Do you ever get sad?”) Yes, OF COURSE I feel… Read more

All happiness depends on courage and work.” — Honoré de Balzac Read more

An overview of the most powerful mindsets — beliefs about why someone is successful or not — and why it’s essential for us to foster… Read more

Hello Dr. Oz Show viewers!   If you’re on this website for the first time, welcome! We are so glad you are here. We offer… Read more

A fun Friday Inspiration to share with the kids. How great to see someone using their celebrity to express the merits of hard work, thoughtfulness… Read more

In the latest video from Kids in the House, I discuss why perfectionism is a form of unhappiness. It is, by definition, never being satisfied… Read more

Do something kind today for someone who’s a regular part of your life. There is a lot of scientific evidence that happiness and kindness are… Read more

Perhaps everything terrible is in its deepest being something helpless that wants help from us.” –Rainer Maria Rilke Read more

    Since my book Raising Happiness was published, I’ve met so many unhappy parents I’ve come to believe there might just be an epidemic of unhappiness… Read more

‘The Light That Shines’ a story for all from InBedWithSue.com on Vimeo. An inspiring reminder of the power of friendship, acceptance, self-confidence, healing, love, and… Read more

It’s not so much about getting what you want as having what it takes to give to others.” –Danielle LaPorte Read more

In today’s hyperbusy world, most people don’t take real breaks. “We are poisoned by the hypnotic belief,” writes Wayne Muller in his inspirational book Sabbath, “that… Read more

Is your kid complaining of being bored? Are you jealous of your friends’ vacation? Clearly you need a PEP TALK from Kid President (and Robert… Read more

I find it annoying to play referee. Here’s how I keep my time breaking up fights and enforcing the rules to a minimum. When the… Read more

Make an effort to embrace your mistakes as opportunities to learn. Mistakes are a sign that we are putting ourselves out there and challenging ourselves;… Read more

The only justification we have for looking down on someone is that we’re going to stop and pick them up.” — Jesse Jackson Read more

More calm and less chaos in just 20 minutes a week Every year I rethink our family meetings at the beginning of the summer, when… Read more

How does this inspire you? At first, I felt inspired to rescue/adopt children, as this family has. And then I thought of all the reasons… Read more

If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change.” — Buddha Read more

Consciously practice an act of forgiveness. It’s true: you’ll be happier if you practice forgiveness. Holding a grudge is not a happiness habit — resentment… Read more

If you took a video one second every day of your life, how do you think it would impact your daily choices? Read more

Ah, siblings. My kids, 22 months apart, are good friends more often than not. But if history repeats itself I know that this summer break… Read more

Upon approval of the definition of marriage act by New Zealand’s parliament, the gallery breaks out in a spontaneous rendition of a traditional Maori love… Read more

Creating strong children and cohesive families through the stories we tell. This fall, my main squeeze and I are getting married. We’ve been dating for… Read more

Clean out a drawer today. (Perhaps that one that drives you crazy every time you open it?) Organization can be grouped with personal cleanliness, a… Read more

Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest.” –Mark Twain Read more

And what all heroes have in common. “The true test of a champion is not whether he can triumph, but whether he can overcome obstacles.”—Garth… Read more

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing — that’s why we recommend it daily.” — Zig Ziglar Read more

This article was originally posted on my Greater Good blog. My friends and family know what’s coming when we’re out to dinner and they see… Read more

Hilariously sweet video filled with great tips for taking care of mom’s happiness. Read more

People need joy quite as much as clothing. Some of them need it far more.” ― Margaret Collier Graham Read more

Express gratitude to the one you love. Research shows that gratitude is one of the most powerful — and efficient — ways to strengthen a romantic… Read more

We all have our backstories and you never know what someone else’s might be… Read more