When I was in my teens I had a recurring dream. In it I was lying in a casket, recently deceased. My family and friends were gathered around, crying and mourning. You might think this was a nightmare, or at the very least, a very sad dream. But no, it was actually quite peaceful. I […]
When I look back on my business career, sometimes I get down on myself. I remember situations that I could have handled better, and been more effective, if I didn’t suffer from such severe anxiety. I remember a meeting I had with the accounting department staff when I was CFO. In this executive position I […]
Like many Type A’s, I have struggled throughout my life with the burden of perfectionism. It is a difficult taskmaster, I can tell you that. I think it will be instructive to relay my evolving attitudes toward perfectionism over the four decades of my adult life. I have tried many different ways to adopt a […]
It seems no matter what wonderful qualities or gifts we’ve been given in life, we always want what we don’t possess—it’s just human nature. A beautiful woman wishes she were smarter. Some rich guy longs to also be famous. A brilliant scientist wishes she could be more sociable so she can meet the man of […]
I came to the realization recently that the negative thoughts we so often entertain are usually extremely unlikely and improbable, and for this reason should be even easier to cast aside and replace with positive thinking. Our breeder had been emailing us weekly videos every Tuesday of the newborn puppies we were going to choose […]
I do not know how to explain why God’s grace is offered to someone as unworthy as me. When my little doggie, Munson, needed to be put down a couple of weeks ago, I was devastated, as so many pet owners are when this fateful day arrives. We spend so much time with our little […]
There is a certain rhythm to nature, life, the universe—everything progresses at a certain pace. If you are in sync with this cadence and tempo, then you will be in harmony. If not, then you will experience dissonance, which causes angst and frustration. I just discovered this the other day. I was driving along, tailgating […]
There was something that initially drew you to your line of work. It might have been the basic nature of your personality, or possibly your goals and dreams for the future. There is an aspect of your job that once, and hopefully still does, bring you joy. For me, I went into finance because I […]
As I discussed in my last post, optimism—being a “glass is half full”-type person—is a great way to be healthier and happier. However, I also believe that peaceful thinking is important to your emotional well-being. I have found that any sort of very extreme thinking or talk, whether negative or positive, can be harmful, since […]
Positive thinking, or an optimistic approach to life, has been much heralded over the last several decades, and for good reason. By allowing you to turn what could otherwise be a frustrating situation into one of peace and joy, positive thinking is a vital ingredient to a happy existence. I will provide a couple of […]
No, I’m not referring to Lady Gaga wearing another kooky outfit, although she certainly does that often enough. I’m talking about Lady Gaga making another hugely insightful observation about life. I was watching the album release show for her new ARTPOP CD, and she was being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest, as you’re probably already […]
Book Excerpt: The All-Important Issue of Control
Ahhh. Feeling in control. Being in control. Nirvana! Even a Type A with only a smidgen of self-awareness realizes that control is a central issue: controlling your schedule, trying to control your kids, controlling a project or that difficult subordinate at work, attempting to control your spouse whose needs, wants, and schedule affect your life. […]
Book Excerpt: Be Available to Respond to Life
I began the book with the observation that many Type As are anxious about the prospect of retiring. The open space of retirement is daunting, especially for driven and achievement-oriented people, or even for those Type As who just like to be busy and occupied all the time. I have addressed the challenges of retirement […]
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