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

The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. —Eden Ahbez 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

What if you didn’t have to worry about what other people think of you? Does your body sigh with relief at the thought of all… 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

  If you are humble nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are. —Mother Teresa Read more

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

“No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.” — George Chakiris Read more

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

Yesterday, a friend asked me if she could borrow my car to run a long-distance errand because my little car gets better mileage than her… Read more

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

  The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. –Marcus Aurelius 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

“Ask yourself this question: ‘Will this matter a year from now?’” — Richard Carlson 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

This excerpt is from a series about how we choose to spend our time in my online course, Science of Finding Flow.    We assume… 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

Friends! I want you to meet Susie! She and I have been friends since 1995, when we were both hired out of college to mentor teenagers… 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

I spend about five hours a day slacking off. Really: I spend that much time doing stuff I enjoy, that isn’t on a task list anywhere.… Read more

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

Last week, I had lunch with a friend. As we were walking out, she mentioned that she had to see someone who hadn’t always been… 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

A little while ago at a birthday soiree, I got to sit across from one of UC Berkeley’s cutting-edge ocean researchers. I asked him to explain… 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

We are living in an age of anxiety, and when we feel stressed out (or sad, or disappointed, for that matter) our world offers us… Read more

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

The summer before I started high school, unbeknownst to me, my mother tasked my father with giving me the “sex talk” on a six-hour road… 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

We spend a lot of time working, hoping to increase our feelings of well-being by making more money. But we’d do better to cultivate our… 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

I’m sure you already know this: Scores of studies have shown the benefits of meditation to be broad and profound, including the inducement of positive… 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

A fun fact: Asking for favors can strengthen your connections to other people. Because giving to others brings the giver such huge benefits, when we give others… 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

This fun video and short post is from a series about how to focus from my online course, the Science of Finding Flow. Does anything… 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

When was the last time you felt a strong positive emotion? Perhaps you felt really grateful, joyful. or excited. Can you identify the circumstances and… 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

“Even more than they are boring, downtime and daydreaming are threatening to our sense of self.” Join the Discussion How would you feel if you… 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

This is a recommended practice from a series about how to focus in my online course, Science of Finding Flow.  When we are re-building our… 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

There you are, freaking out in front of your colleagues when you should be calmly giving a presentation. Or you’re sweating bullets in the ER,… 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

The advent of social media connections has introduced a lot of confusion when it comes to the strength of our social fabric and our ties to one… 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

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that research shows that having an ability to build relationships predicts how well people do at work. I was a… 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

This quick video is about the some research-based low-hanging happiness fruit you can pick right now. 🙂 More low-hanging fruit: Watching amusing videos online. According to a study… 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

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

 “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” –Robert Louis Stevenson Parenting Practice: Fostering Behavior Change Think… 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

Over time, our broadened vision and the other positive effects of happiness grow. There is, as doctors say, a dosage effect or, more accurately, a… 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 post is from a series about how to focus from my online course, the Science of Finding Flow. Several years ago, I devised a… 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

So what is actually happening in your brain when you stare into space, or when you let your mind wander? Turns out, a LOT. We… 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

Did you know that research show that a even brief connection with a stranger can make us happier? In one study, researchers randomly assigned volunteers… 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

 When we are happy, we are more creative and motivated, more productive and skilled socially. This means that when we are joyful—or experiencing even… 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

Did you know that women still make only 79 cents to men’s dollar—and that this income differential has barely budged in the last decade? At… 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

“People with many social connections are less likely to experience sadness, loneliness, low self-esteem, and problems with eating and sleeping, and are more likely to… 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

 “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

 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

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

“Abundance can be had simply by consciously receiving what has already been given.” — Sufi Saying Everywhere I go, people ask me this one question:… 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

Even though we say we can’t buy happiness, we often behave as though we can. Why else would we spend so much time shopping? What… 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

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

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

Until a couple of years ago, every time someone would ask me how I was doing, I would always give the same answer: I am… 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

Though you probably didn’t realize that today is a national holiday celebrating blended families (who knew?), I’m taking a moment to relish being a stepmom.… 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

At each turn of each season, lots of achievement-oriented people set goals. The start of the school year is my favorite time to do this for… 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

People ask me all the time what the secret to happiness is. “If you had to pick just one thing,” they wonder, “what would be… 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

As a follow up to how — and why — you need to take a real vacation, I offer you this sound advice from Kid… Read more

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

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.” –Thomas Paine 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

“Keep loving each other, keep respecting each other, and keep on dancing.” –Jimmy Fallon Read more

So many good tips in this video! Read more

“Only by giving are you able to receive more than you already have.” –Jim Rohn Read more

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

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

Oprah speaks so many truths here, but I do love this line: “You get just as much from your losses as you do from your… 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

Or let it lay down beside us? I love this reminder about “feeding” our emotions. 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

Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness. –Seneca Read more

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

Doesn’t “practice discontinuous productivity” sound so technical and important? It IS powerful, but honestly it just means: Take a break. Rest your brain. But if… Read more

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

Leading a joyful life does not mean always trying to be happy, or pretending that we don’t sometimes feel annoyed, disappointed, irritated, or hassled. These… Read more

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

About a year ago, a dear friend of mine gave me a gift that changed my life forever. The night before Wisdom 2.0, my friend orchestrated… 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 in San Jose, CA in a few weeks to participate in a dynamic panel discussion on burnout. We’ll talk through how to expand the… Read more

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

I have a full and rewarding career, and four teenagers who go to four different schools. I couldn’t have the life I do without email.… 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

Our hard-wired stress response is designed to gives us the quick burst of heightened alertness and energy needed to perform our best. But stress isn’t… 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

“Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.” Maya Angelou 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

If you didn’t think a laundry soap ad could make you cry… guess again. Even if it is just marketing, this commercial makes a important… 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

What makes us happy and healthy as we go through life? This inspiring TED talk discusses some key findings from the longest running study of… 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

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

Such a simple idea: Step 1: Spend 10 minutes every day complimenting the people around you. Step 2: See what happens. Step 3: Report back… 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

Are you focused on romantic love this Valentine’s Day? If so, you’re missing an opportunity! Building stronger connections with those around us can lead to a happier,… 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

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

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

Never say never, because limits, just like fears, are just an illusion.” — Michael Jordan If you’re working through your New Year’s resolutions, you’ve probably faced… Read more

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

Fun fact: Most people are starting to falter at their New Year’s Resolutions by now. If you are anything like me, setbacks, lapses, and mistakes… 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

YOU’RE INVITED!  What: A FREE live Q&A about HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT RESOLUTIONS When: Thursday, January 14 at 12:00 PM PST RSVP: Register here! I’ll be… 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

Please join me at a fundraising event in support of The Lafayette Library and Learning Center on January 13 ,2016 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Science Cafe:… 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: TODAY!! 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

“I know I should say ‘no’ more,” everyone seems to be telling me. “But how? It’s so hard.” Saying no can be hard. Here are… 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

If I have learned one thing in this life, it is that God will not tie my shoes without me. — Doug Boyd 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

Could you be setting better ones? I’ve always found the idea of setting goals appealing. But—and I hate to admit this—it has been years since… 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

Wonder and awe allow us to transcend the ordinary and be in the moment. Wonder inspires us to open our hearts and minds to engender… 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

Even though we say we can’t buy happiness, we often behave as though we can. Why else would we spend so much time shopping? What… 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

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a… 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

“I know I should say ‘no’ more,” everyone seems to be telling me. “But how? It’s so hard.” Saying no can be hard. Here are… 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

Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, shares simple ways to let go of worry and expand your gratitude to include the extraordinary nuances in our… 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

Humans are hard-wired to connect with each other. In this energetic and poetic Gratitude Revealed video, Jason Silva explains how our innate yearning to connect… 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

The secret to a long and happy life? Do what you love with genuine passion and joy! If you enjoy this, check out the rest… 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

By Damon Brown IMAGE: Getty Images If you’re looking for happiness as an entrepreneur, then you’re probably barking up the wrong tree. JetBlue Airways has… 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

Busyness stinks. Although people tell me all the time they like feeling busy — perhaps because it makes them feel important and significant — I’m… 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

by Sunshine Monke As parents and adults who work with youth, we can positively impact kids’ lives through helping them build good social skills, which… Read more

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

“They who want to expand the field of happiness in the world, let them lay the foundation of it on the bottom of their own… Read more

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

Remember how fun it used to be to receive a handwritten note? People seem to love posting my weekly “Thursday Thoughts” online, and so we made… 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

“Speak when you’re angry, and you’ll make the best speech you’ll ever regret.” —Lawrence J. Peter   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

Tired of nagging? I’m going to let Jen’s humorous approach work it’s magic with my teens. (My husband is hoping that I’LL take her tips… 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

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is one step out of your comfort zone.” —Anonymous 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

Athletes call this mental state being in “The Zone”; psychologists call it “flow” or peak experience, and they have linked it to leading a life… 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

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

“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

By Meredith Montgomery Shelly Lefkoe, co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Guide to Effective Parenting, believes that children learn what we model as important… 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

People make mistakes all the time. Not just bad people, or weak people. All people. Our mistakes are what make us human. And even when… 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

By: Justina Reichel Today it seems like all ‘successful’ people in life are the ones who keep up with the breakneck pace that society sets for… 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

As women, we face judgement no matter what path we take. Let’s stop judging and start supporting.  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

The benefits of meditation are tremendous. In a world that is “on” 24/7, few of us get much regular rest. We go go go — perhaps getting… Read more

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

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

By Anna Borges Everyone wants to feel happy, right? Then why does happiness seem so hard to find? Well these thirteen mental health experts may… Read more

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

“I think if you can dance and be free and not embarrassed you can rule the world.” –Amy Poehler Read more

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

Remember how fun it used to be to receive a handwritten note? My daughters are away at camp right now, so we’re sending and receiving more mail than… Read more

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

Don’t hold back, tell your dad why you’re grateful. Read more

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

I’ve been re-reading Amy McCready’s excellent parenting book, The “Me, Me, Me” Epidemic. In so doing, it’s occurred to me that our generation of parents… 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

Please join me at a free event in Mill Valley on June 7, 2015 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. If you are heading into summer feeling… 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

What’s stopping you from achieving your goals? The answer is surprising! (Need tips for being conquering your fear? Check out this week’s blog post on… 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

“When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.” Anthony Robbins 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

by Joy Sawyer-Mulligan Shared in my monthly newsletter this week, this beautiful essay is my top pick for Mother’s Day reading this weekend. I’d been… 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

“Laughter is an instant vacation.” — Milton Berle Read more

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

What is the sweet spot, you ask? (It has been called to my attention by several readers of this blog that I have not really… 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

I’ve written a lot about how busyness is less a sign of significance or success than it is a sign of what researchers call “cognitive… Read more

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

A beautiful and moving demonstration of blind trust and and important reminder that we are all a part of a common humanity. 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

I do! In fact, I have THREE middle schoolers. It’s safe to say I think a lot about this critical developmental period in children’s lives.… Read more

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

by MommyTasker Finding the right balance can be tricky and takes concentration If I take a brief scan of my life over the last decade… Read more

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

Until a couple of years ago, every time someone would ask me how I was doing, I would always give the same answer: I am… Read more

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

It’s very hard for us to accept that more is not necessarily better, and that busyness is a mark of importance and success. But when… Read more

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

I love love loved being at Wisdom 2.0 this weekend. One of the great highlights of my life. 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

“You will never realize your best destiny through the avoidance of fear. Rather, you will realize it through the exercise of courage, which means taking… Read more

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

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.” –Buddha 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

Social media can stress us out — or help us feel love and connection. The key is to understand their impact and use them strategically.… Read more

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

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

“Busyness is not a sign of success, significance or importance. It’s a sign that we are not fulfilling our potential.” — Christine Carter in the… 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 honor of book launch week (yay!), check out this video my publisher put together for my Sweet Spot manifesto. Get a beautiful printable version here. 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

If you find that you make more errors while multi-tasking, you aren’t alone. Watch this to learn how to multi-task skillfully and strategically — so… 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

If you are wondering whether you are pursuing the right goals in 2015, or whether your resolutions will truly make you happy, watch this. (Or… 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

Happy New Year! As we count down to the release of my new book, The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work,… 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

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin 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

This moving piece makes me think about Ferguson and how every atrocious situation presents an opportunity for us to be big hearted and truly good,… 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

Do you have resolutions you’d like to make this week? Maybe you’d like to read or workout more, or remember to call your mom on… Read more

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

Don’t join this failing 50% in the new year! Instead, follow these three research-based strategies for making resolutions that stick: 1. Make your resolution a… 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

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

Thinking a lot about recent deaths of innocent young men. What meaning will we give their lives, and their deaths? The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak… 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

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

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

It’s not too late to listen in!           I so enjoyed my recent teleseries designed to teach simple but critical skills for… 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

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

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

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert K. Chesterton   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

          These conversations are designed to teach simple but critical skills for reducing the stress in our busy lives. We’ll be talking… Read more

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

I’ve found it incredibly helpful to have go-to ways to just say no. I mostly just say “I’m already booked” (see below), because that is… 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

I love the unexpectedness of this video — the juxtaposition of a monk shredding the streets — using his natural talents in his chosen vocation.… Read more

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

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

I’m so excited to be offering a new tele-series! .           . Please join me for 3 fun conversations designed to teach… 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

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” Anaïs Nin 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

Despite the soul-crushing moment in the middle, I love this narrative about seeing your own beauty when you are in your groove — in that… Read more

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

“I imagine a world where we smile when we have low batteries because that will mean we are one bar closer to humanity.” Check out… Read more

Read more

In case you are in need of inspiration for this week’s Happiness Tip, here is a different take on gratitude. Read more

Read more

I think most of us divorced people with kids never thought we’d ever be the ones to get divorced. This week is the anniversary of… 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

We all have so many gifts to share that can change the course of other people’s lives profoundly for the better. Here, the father of… Read more

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

I love this! A great way to foster compassion and make sure no one is made to feel less-than. Empower kids to #endbullying. Read more

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

Why we need to stop dreaming about becoming someone we admire, and get busy becoming ourselves. 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

In the East they say that luck favors the prepared mind. I believe that life favors the prepared mind.” —Robin S. Sharma Read more

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

Education is when you read the fine print. Experience is what you get if you don’t.” — Pete Seeger 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

Go ahead: really smile while you watch this. Maybe even get up and dance! Advanced challenge: Go out and do something that is playful like… Read more

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

Following on this week’s Happiness Tip, this TED talk is about how hugely our posture can impact our success. 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

Although the lesson is clearly lost on this little girl, I like the message: If you want to be happy, stop looking in your neighbor’s… 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

Why can’t the phrase “run like a girl” mean show your strength or win the race? 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

I love this experiment in gratitude. These college students are caught off guard when they are asked to share their letters with those for whom… 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

A racing mind that reacts sensitively to little things indicates thinking that has lost its spiritual strength. Meditation restores that power.” –Anonymous 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

Think you know someone? Often, you don’t know the half of it! This story about an old school teacher warmed my heart a little! Read more

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

We love our children unconditionally, but do we accept them as they are? Andrew Solomon sheds light on this question in his poetic and provocative… Read more

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

Register for our Happiness on Autopilot online class to learn five high-impact habits that will make you — and your kids! — happier now.  This class will cover:… 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

Happiness does not reside in strength or money; it lies in rightness and many-sidedness.” — Democritus 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

After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one’s own relations.” — Oscar Wilde 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

It’s a marathon not a sprint — I love how this “Mother’s Day note we all deserve” captures the little things we do to keep… Read more

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

Hilarious look at childbirth and life with a large family. 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

Fascinating (very short) film on the science of character. Building on strengths can have a lasting effect on our happiness and well-being. Read more

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

I first saw this stunning TED talk at least 5 years ago (maybe more) but I still think about it all the time! Worth a… 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

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

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

Might be that sitting with your legs crossed repeating stuff like “May all beings be free from suffering,” is a little too far-out for you.… 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

Ready for a good cry? This is one of the most touching demonstrations of selflessness and love I’ve seen in quite some time. How far… Read more

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

Fascinating scientific presentation of how mind-wandering may be draining your happiness quotient. One of the more surprising findings is that even when people’s minds wander… 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

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” –Plato Loads of research shows that… 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

Feeling anxious or impatient? Mindfulness can help. Check out this video for a few quick tips to get started. For more information on this topic,… 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

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” — Buddha 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

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

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

  A fresh pep talk from Kid President: “You’re made from love, to be loved, to spread love.” I LOVE KID PRESIDENT!! 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

In a world that is “on” 24/7, few of us get much regular rest. We go go go — perhaps getting a lot of work done, or… 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

When my brother was getting married, I inundated him with the science of happily married couples. I wanted to give him a guide to not… 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

All the particles of the world Are in love and looking for lovers. Pieces of straw tremble In the presence of amber.” –Rumi 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

A buddy recently stopped by for tea and was telling me in a sweet moment how much he loves his wife. This is someone who… 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

In this new video from Kids in the House, I share practical tactics for increasing your own happiness. Want more tips? Check out my online… 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

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust 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

Double down for one more week and reap the benefits. This week is an important one for people who made New Year’s resolutions (I hope… Read more

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

Here’s how to stay strong through January (or get back on track if you’ve started to slip) Did you make a resolution this year that… 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

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” — Martin Luther King, Jr. 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

To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing: that is enough for one man’s life.” –T.S. Eliot Read more

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

What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations…is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of being able to… 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

Feeling a little grouchy? Don’t just go to another holiday party, BE THE PARTY. Sound advice from a kid who wants us to be more… 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

A little irreverent (but hilarious) video with an important message: if you are feeling anxious or excited or proud, let yourself FEEL that emotion. 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

A good story about love. About inspiration. Check out the Tutu Project website to see the beautiful photos! Read more

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

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy Holidays, everyone! Did that greeting just make you warm inside with thoughts of winter lights and family celebrations and Salvation… Read more

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

Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.” — G.B. Stern 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

A New Perspective For Moms on Vimeo. We are all our own worst critics, aren’t we? Watch this lovely video and let your inner voice… 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

In this Kids In the House video, I share the importance of creating gratitude routines. 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

In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life… 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

Hope, strength, determination, human connections. I love the raw nature of this video: caretakers being silly and vulnerable for the benefit of the children they… 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

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 tools… 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

I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do 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

Beautiful piece illustrating the distinctions between a day in the life of the affluent and the impoverished. Also a great demonstration of this week’s Happiness… 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

Do something generous this week, and stretch if you can. Be more generous than usual. Research is clear that giving to others improves our health… 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

Register for our Raise Kid’s Emotional Intelligence online class to learn how to teach children skills for happiness, emotional intelligence, and resilience This online class will… Read more

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

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for… 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

Fill each day with life and heart. There is no pleasure in the world comparable to the delight and satisfaction that a good person takes… 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

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, 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

If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces, never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.” –Flavia… 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

When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal, you do not change your decision to get there.” — Zig Ziglar 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

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” — Albert Einstein 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

You can’t have innovation without failure. The reason it is precious is that it’s scarce. Put yourself out there, dare to fail, learn and grow! Read more

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

Dustin Hoffman on how Tootsie challenged his perception of beauty. I think his emotion in this video is SO beautiful! Read more

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

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

Regret is in the past. Fear is in the future. In the present I can manage whatever is actually happening.” –Paul Williams 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

This inspiring short, created by a 20-year old in an AARP contest entitled “U@50”, uses an elegant device to articulate the importance of being a… Read more

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

When you have good news, share it, because the sharing will make you even happier. This is Savoring 101: Positive emotions are amplified when we… 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

Don’t squander your summer at work or at summer school — you’ll miss all the best benefits There are a lot of great things about… 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

Patience, noun. A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.” — Ambrose Bierce 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

On his birthday, a son surprises his mother with a gift of profound generosity. A sweet reminder that we receive so much more by giving… 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

Get excited about someone else’s good news. One of my favorite things that happy couples do: They shout things like “WHOO-HOO!!!” when their partner shares… 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

This year, they’ll be away for THREE weeks. I’m heartbroken and kidsick already. Last week, my kids went off to sleepaway summer camp again in… 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

You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” — Jon Kabat-Zinn 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

Happiness is like jam, you can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.”  —Vern McLellan 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

I imagine some may be familiar with David Foster Wallace’s “This Is Water” speech, delivered in 2005 at the commencement ceremony at Kenyon College in… Read more

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

This one goes out to the all the daddies out there…especially the ones in their “gas station glasses.” Happy Father’s Day! 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

In this video from Kids in the House, I share practical tactics for increasing your own happiness.   Read more

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

In her Parenting with Presence Summit, author of Parenting without Power Struggles Susan Stiffelman brings together more than 20 of the world’s leading parenting experts and thought-leaders to… 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

‘Why not’ is a slogan for an interesting life.” – Mason Cooley Read more

In this new video from Kids in the House, I discuss why you should worry about your own happiness first. Want to learn more about… Read more