I took an extended walk with M in the afternoon, and was unexpectedly taken over by a deep sense of serenity. M fell asleep in her stroller soon after we began, so I was left alone. It was a warm afternoon with a bright sun hanging at an angle; I could feel its hot rays…
Tonight was the second night we put M, our 9-month old daughter, to sleep by creating a circle of love and safety. Our daughter has always given us a hard time when we put her to bed. She is often restless, turning and tossing, and starts to cry for our attention almost as soon as…
Preparing for a job interview is stressful. If you are like me, you will google and write down a long list of possible questions, and write out the best answer for each of them. After a few hours or days of preparation, you will have a 7-10 page document. Reviewing this document, you feel overwhelmed…
“There are these two young fish swimming along, and happened to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods to them and says, ‘Morning boys, how’s the water?’ The two young fish swim on for a bit, and eventually one of them looks over at the other and says, ‘What the hell is…
You suspect that you inherited some unhealthy emotional and relationship patterns from your parents. If you did, you wonder what they are and how they affect your work and relationships. Below are seven types of behaviors that I’ve seen in clients whom I have worked with, as well as from my own experience growing up. …
Couples argue. The key to a healthy relationship is “arguing well,” which were wise words that an esteemed colleague told me during my bachelor’s trip in Yosemite right before my wedding. I share below an argument that I had with my partner, and how we were able to prevent it from escalating.
Rejection is painful. Whether it’s a romantic interest who stopped returning your texts, a job or promotion you didn’t get, or the dreaded letter from the university’s admissions office, we have all experienced it at one time or another. The worst part is the self-doubt that seeps into your mind. You start to question your…
Dreams are a window into our unconsciousness. According to Carl Jung, who was a contemporary of Sigmund Freud, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Dream analysis, therefore, has been a fascinating topic for a psychologist like me. Below I describe a recurring motif in…
Many people have the experience of seeing spontaneous images in their mind. The imagery seemingly appears out of the blue, and it’s often puzzling why and from where it arises. Some people are frightened by the imagery, while others interpret it as a vision that portends the future. I’d like to share my experience of…
Managing life transitions and their impact is one of the most difficult challenges we encounter. I describe below a writing activity that I’ve found helpful as I cope with several major life changes that took place the past two and a half years.