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Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Sharing a new show from my friends at Higher Ground, hosted by Michelle Obama, called IMO. You know on Science of Happiness, we have conversations filled with compassion and empathy, and share research-backed strategies for a more fulfilled life. Similarly on IMO, Michelle and her big brother Craig Robinson bring candid perspectives to the everyday questions shaping our lives, relationships and the world around us. Each week, they’re joined by a guest to tackle real questions from real folks just like you offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and plenty of laughs. Topics…
I recently partook in a critical rite of passage for the horny betches of the literary world: I read the viral romantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas. There’s only one problem with devouring these books as a 25-year-old single girl suffering through the NYC dating scene — my expectations are now far too high. Suddenly, an awkward hookup with a Hinge match on a Wednesday evening won’t cut it. I need someone to take me like the men-slash-monsters do in this smutty Beauty and the Beast. I need sex straight out of a fairy…
Bold eye makeup is coming out of hibernation. Everyone’s eyelids have remained relatively bare over the last few months, as beauty’s biggest trends previously called for minimal glam — but that’s no longer the case. Now, the world is seeing a return of vibrancy and creativity in its fullest form. From bold plum pigment and avant-garde stickers and decals scattered on top, the best canvas to experiment with is your very own eyelids. With summer around the corner, party girl makeup is taking back its throne (if it ever really left, that is). Enter: the chrome eyeliner trend, aka the…
While much of the focus of your wedding planning likely revolves around your big day, there’s another important event that deserves your attention: your rehearsal dinner. Depending on you and your partner’s personal preferences, you may opt to host an intimate gathering that includes just a handful of family members, or you may decide to skip the traditional dinner altogether and hold a larger welcome party, bringing all of your guests together prior to your ceremony. Yet regardless of your vision for this pre-nuptial fête, you’ve likely booked a venue, hired a caterer, and selected your décor for such an…
Siblings….your relationship with them is one of the most important ones in your childhood and into adulthood. Parents want to help their kids get along. More than 80% of kids in the U.S. grow up with one or more siblings (more than grow up with fathers!) yet the importance of these relationships is not always recognized, much less studied.Importance of sibling relationshipsSiblings are important teachers during early childhood often providing the first roadmap to navigating peer relationships before they enter school. Positive sibling relationships have been found to provide many benefits including:Peer acceptance and relationshipsSocial competenceAcademic achievementConflict management skillsEmotional well-beingHealthy…
You’re finding your voice this morning when Mercury, the planet of mindset, bursts into headstrong Aries. Ambitious ideas and daring opinions could inspire confidence or bring chaos, depending on how well people can handle your honesty and enthusiasm.However, as Mercury darts toward hazy Neptune, you may be better off saving your bold assertions for another day. Mixing up your facts and overlooking details won’t be a good look!Use this energy instead to get in touch with your passionate and creative side. Dream of an ambitious plan to conquer your next achievement or milestone.Aries (March 21-April 19)Aries, people are hanging on…
Adolescence, the Netflix miniseries, presents a terrible possibility—that a seemingly “good” kid in a normal English town, with two well-meaning parents, could be drawn so far down the poisoned well of the internet that he stabs a classmate to death.Terrible, but not unfathomable: Just last year, a 17-year-old in England stabbed several children to death after viewing violent instruction manuals online. Social media is also rife with cruelty and harassment that has led to other tragedies: In 2023, a 14-year-old in the United States died by suicide after being bullied over a TikTok video, an incident that echoed several others.Phones…
“The real meditation is how you live your life.” ~Jon Kabat-Zinn I never saw myself as someone who would meditate. It wasn’t even on my radar until my wife suggested it while we were both working on our wellness. I chuckled. Like a lot of people, I assumed meditation meant sitting still, trying to clear my mind, whatever that even meant. It sounded impossible and, frankly, frustrating. I grew up in the rust belt, part of the baby boomer generation, and I’ve spent my life working hard, showing up, and taking care of my own. I love hard and play…
Photo by Roman Empire Times on UnsplashSome dudes would rather quote Marcus Aurelius than admit they messed up.They’ll say “I cannot control external events, only my response” instead of just owning the fact they were an asshole last night.Like bro, you weren’t practicing self-mastery when you ghosted her for two days — you were just being emotionally lazy.And now you’re calling it “detachment”? Miss me with that.It’s wild how some men hide behind philosophy like it’s a bulletproof vest.You ask them why they didn’t text back, and they hit you with “I was observing my emotions” or some cold, clinical…
Task #1: Notice and express one positive thing about your partner each day, no matter how small it is. Understanding Emotional Triggers (The 24 Hour Rule)Triggers. We all have them. Regardless of your history and upbringing, we have all had experiences in life that have been challenging, hurtful, difficult, etc. When current situations evoke similar emotions, we often react to the feelings in the here and now but also to the pain of the past. As a result, we may end up having a larger reaction to the incident than someone with a different history would have. Our reactions in these…