••• Delia played the “blame game.” Whenever something was not to her satisfaction, she blamed someone else. She never asked herself if she had contributed anything to the situation. Even when clear-cut facts were brought to her attention, she refused…
Category: Mental Health
Ruth’s Blog: Begin Doing What You Want to Do, Now!
A Smiley for every occasion “Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star – and melting like a snowflake.” Marie Beyonn Ray Do you have an idea, a really…
Getting Your Act(ions) Together: The Importance of Movement
••• “I’m a natural born couch potato.” Maurice said this with an air of resignation. Then he added, “I even remember finding every excuse in the book to avoid gym at school. ” Maurice needs to learn that strenuous exercise…
Getting Your Act(ions) Together: Inject Humor into Your Life
••• Nancy was telling her friend about an incident that happened several years ago at a party. Nancy’s husband got drunk and made a spectacle of himself. “I was so embarrassed,” she said, “and so angry that I was practically…
Getting Your Act(ions) Together: About Working Productively
••• Gerry and Lionel were in the same graduate study group. Lionel put in at an extra five or six hours of study a day, while Gerry spent much of his free time relaxing. In terms of intelligence, nobody would…
Getting Your Act(ions) Together: Learn to Delegate: Don’t Do Everything Yourself
••• Jack and Kent are next door neighbors who decided to add decks to their homes. Jack spent almost the entire summer building the deck himself while Kent hired a contractor and spent most of his time at the shore.…
Ruth’s Blog: Optimism can be with you 24/7
I had a very funny conversation today. I was explaining all about the Spontaneous Smiley Project to someone knowing zip about Smiley, hardly knowing me and under the impression that I was there to talk business. To him I must…
Getting Your Act(ions) Together: Actions Speak Louder than Words
••• Barbara and Jeff had a turbulent marriage, mainly because Jeff often disregarded Barbara’s wishes and feelings. He would declare his undying love for her, but the way he behaved seemed to belie his words. He failed to call her…
Thinking Yourself Happy: Three Basic Demands Typical of Neurotic People
••• Bonnie grew up expecting life to be simple and easy for her. She came from a wealthy family, attended a small private school, and never had to contend with very much adversity, or even to take care of herself.…
Thinking Yourself Happy: Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones
••• Susan was extremely sensitive. A real or imagined slight, a harsh glance, an overlooked letter, a minor criticism would send her into the depths of gloom and anguish. Her sister remarked: “Susan gets hit by emotional Mack trucks ten…