Marty Nemko's Blog, page 201

Should You Be in a Romantic Relationship?

Despite the high breakup rate, many people want to be in a relationship. Some of the reason is volitional —They simply feel better in a couple. But other people are heavily driven by convention: It’s normative to be a couple.  

Whether you're currently in a relationship or not, my Psychology Today article today offers some questions that may help you get clearer on what’s right for you, at least for now.

What Your Daily Routines Say About You

By definition, habits are done automatically. So we rarely think much about them.

But our habits can tell us a lot about ourselves. That's especially true of our daily routines. Over decades and thousands of repetitions, we’ve been refining those routines to fit who we are.

My Psychology Today article today asks you questions about your daily routines that may help you identify your core characteristics. Also, they'll confirm what you already believe about yourself, or maybe inspire you to make a change.

Life Lessons from 43 Years of Playing Cards with My Wife

Playing cards is often dismissed as a waste of time. But in addition to the pleasure my wife and I have derived, we’ve acquired life lessons. I describe them in my Psychology Today article today.

Rereading Favorite Books

Rereading favorite books is an under-considered approach to insight and pleasure. My Psychology Today article today makes the case, lists my board of advisors' and my favorites, and offer suggestions on how to recall your faves. 

We Are Living All Wrong: Toward a life well-lived: work, money, optimism, contribution, health, closed-mindedness

On seeing the title of a recent Psychology Today article, We've Got Depression All Wrong, it struck me that many people are living all wrong. I offer suggestions in my Psychology Today article today.

Your Medical Appointment: The psychological and the practical

We’re all just one blood test or one medical exam away from a death sentence.

So as your appointment approaches, you can understandably be fearful. That's especially likely as you get older.

How can you deal with it? My Psychology Today article today offers suggestions, practical and psychological.

 

The Case for Counseling by Email

Over the years, a small but growing percentage of my clients work with me partly, or even mainly, by exchanging emails. My PsychologyToday.com article today makes the case for its advantages and then include an email exchange with a client.

Addressing Five Annoying Characteristics of "Gifted" People

Most people can, in one way or another, be annoying: They’re too quiet or too noisy, too aggressive or too passive, too emotional or hyperrational, etc.

Brainy people, the so-called gifted, bring their own set of annoyances. My PsychologyToday.com article today describes 5 "overexcitabilities" identified by a psychologist, Kazimierz Dabrowski.

The Benefits of Having a Troll: Making the most of criticism, even if unfair

I have a troll, an anonymous person ever looking for a chance to publicly magnify whatever errors I’ve made. Worse, s/he has distorted my work and even manufactured lies, serious lies about me.

Of course, having a troll isn't fun but it has yielded unexpected benefits. I describe them in my PsychologyToday.com article today. It has implications for anyone who is criticized or bullied.

Five COVID Ethical Questions

The COVID pandemic embeds important ethical issues. They have implications for our psychological as well as physical health. My PsychologyToday.com article today offers thoughts on five such issues.