Marty Nemko's Blog, page 214

Final Wishes: Clarifying and sharing your intentions

Few people like thinking of their demise, but getting clear on your final intentions and letting the right person(s) know about them can be a last great accomplishment and contribute to your legacy.

Of course, you know that you need a will or trust. My Psychology Today article today lists issues that are less often considered or conveyed to the loved one(s) who will help ensure that your final desires are fulfilled.

Life Lessons from Looking Back

We’re more likely to improve our life by looking forward, and taking the next baby step.

But an occasional look back may provide lessons for moving forward. Perhaps the prompts I offer in my Psychology Today article today will help.

Avoiding Education Armageddon Two ideas to propose to an educator

With many public schools providing only the dubious "remote learning" option, there may never be a better time to propose some bold ideas. 

My Psychology Today article today offers two: one that's only necessary in the COVID era, another which might merit continuing long after.

Getting Respected: The HUVA technique can help

Many people wish they got more respect. One tactic that can help is HUVA, developed by Dr. Mark Goulston.  I describe it in my Psychology Today article today.

Resilience in the Time of COVID: Ideas for bouncing back from coronavirus economic and medical fears

If there’s ever been a test of resilience, it’s in the COVID era. There’s the disease, the toll on jobs, and the restriction on living life as we knew it.

My Psychology Today article today offers composite letters from two people who are eager to rebound from a COVID-related situation and my response.

Work in 2021-2025: An optimistic and pessimistic COVID scenario and their career implications

There’s increasing evidence that quelling the COVID pandemic will require a high degree of compliance from a high percentage of the population. It’s possible but far from a certainty that this will occur and, importantly, that it will be sustained until the population acquires sufficient herd immunity and/or a good-enough vaccine is developed.

I’ve offered my career counseling clients the career implications of both an optimistic and a pessimistic COVID scenario and I’ve decided to share them with you here.

Telling Your Life Story

Whether you’re 20, 90, or anywhere in between, it can be fun and instructive to write your life story, even if only briefly and only to yourself.

But many people have difficulty getting started, or they get stuck.

Perhaps one of the prompts I offer in my Psychology Today article today will make it easier. The first has you chronologically replaying your life. The second helps you describe the life you wish you had.

The Simple Business Plan

Amid the COVID economic shutdown, many people have lost their job and are pessimistic they can land another. So they're starting businesses. Often they can avoid the 100-page business plans often recommended in business schools. I describe such a mini-business plan with an example in my Psychology Today article today.

Mother Teresa's "Anyway" Poem: Its embedded life lessons plus my yes-ands, yes-buts, and questions for you

Memory is a useful filter. That which is important is most likely to remain top-of-mind.

Well, as I think about writings from which I've most benefited, Mother Teresa’s Anyway poem jumps to mind. 

My Psychology Today article today presents that poem plus my added commentary: yes-ands, yes-buts, and for each, a question for you.

Should You Be Bolder or Less So? A self-assessment

Some evidence suggests a genetic predisposition to risk-taking.
Not withstanding that and philosophical determinists from Kant to Sam Harris, I like to think we retain a measure of free will.  

With that as an assumption, my Psychology Today article today offers a self-assessment inventory that could help you decide whether you want to direct your free will in a new direction.