In film and in literature, there’s nothing more captivating than a good mystery. Whether it’s a hidden message encoded in a priceless painting, or a dusty robot carrying a plea for help, it’s easy to get drawn in by the mystery. When it comes to turning the camera around, however, we’re generally not as eager to explore mysteries about ourselves. We may occasionally wonder why we react strongly to certain kinds of people, why it’s difficult for us to open up about specific to

When we think about our bad habits, our instinct may be to judge ourselves for having them and perhaps to feel ashamed of our inability to break them. We may think that piling on the guilt will motivate us to change those bad habits, but it usually just makes us feel worse and results in a deepening of the self-defeating behavior. Instead of judging ourselves, it’s often more helpful to approach our bad habits from a place of curiosity. After all, it’s confusing: why do I kee

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” observed the writer George Santayana. That holds true for global affairs, and it’s certainly the case when it comes to personal growth. In order to make positive changes in your life, it’s often helpful to spend some time exploring your past. Here are 3 reasons why your past matters: #1 Information Before beginning the process of changing unhealthy patterns of thought and emotion it’s essential to identify what

Have you ever watched an ice cube melt? It’s not the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but it conveys a valuable lesson about the process of change. An ice cube in a typical freezer has a temperature of around 0°F (-18°C). If you take it out of the freezer and set it on a countertop you’ll need to watch it for quite a while until you seen any signs of change, as ice begins turning to water only when it reaches 32°F (0°C). It may seem as though this overt change occurs

As children, we learn how to feel, think and act. Over time, we reinforce these ways of feeling, thinking, and acting until they become psychological habits deeply ingrained within us. Unfortunately, some of these habits may get in the way of happiness, causing emotional harm to ourselves and straining our relationships with others. Thankfully, as adults, we have the ability to change these habits. The first step is gain insight into our habits and where they come from. This