Marty Nemko's Blog, page 181

Should You Have a Baby? 6 pluses, 6 minuses

My Psychology Today article today lists 6 pluses and 6 minuses for having a baby.

How Much to Try to Change? How Much to Accept?

My Psychology Today article today tells a composite story of a person who decided to stop fighting and start accepting. It then asks the reader questions to help them decide what they want to fight for and accept in their life.

Could "Think Happy" "Really Work?

A client called me the day before yesterday. He was ebullient. He had previously lived with mainly three emotions: fear, anger, and sadness. But at the end of our previous session, he decided to try to be happy. My Psychology Today article today describes what happened.

Toward a Great School Year Despite COVID

For many kids, it’s a double-whammy: It’s been a year of remote instruction, often only part-day. And now kids face a year of in-person instruction impeded by masks and social distancing.

How can a parent help ensure a good school year? Of course, every child and parent is different, but my Psychology Today article today should help.

Becoming a Great Communicator

Don’t you know people who listen poorly or who talk too much or unclearly? We all do.

My Psychology Today article today offers keys to being a good communicator. They apply both to your work and personal life, and may be worth sharing with your loved ones, with whom excellent communication can be crucial.

Becoming a Good Manager

My Psychology Today article today starts with a composite story of a disliked manager and then moves to questions I'd ask him.

“I Can’t Make a Clean Break From My Ex”

I’ve had a number of clients who kick themselves for being unable to cut the cord on their bad relationship. My Psychology Today article today offers a composite that describes a common situation, and questions to ask yourself.

How to Avoid the Lure of Scarcity

If something is scarce, we’re more likely to want it. That’s an axiom known by everyone from marketers to people dating. That said, it's not the best way to make decisions. You really want to make these choices based on the merit, not on scarcity, To that end, my Psychology Today article today describes tactics to watch out for.

The Case Against Talking About Your Trauma

 Conventional wisdom, especially among psychotherapists and counselors, is that it's wise to "process" your trauma. My Psychology Today article today makes the case that that is often, though not always, unwise.

Dealing with Fear of Marriage

It’s not surprising that the prospect of getting married can be scary. After all, you’re publicly committing, before friends, family, the law, and if you’re religious, God, to be faithful in sickness and in health, for richer, and for poorer until death do you part. And should you choose to divorce, it’s not only potentially embarrassing but costly and stressful, often for quite a while. Plus, if kids are involved, it can be even more difficult.

My Psychology Today article today offers a composite of fears that my clients have expressed.