Can money buy happiness? (Ch. 6). Are happier people healthier? (Ch. 3). Do happier people get paid more? (Ch. 5). Are religious/spiritual people happier? (Ch. 7). Are some people just born happier? (Ch. 9). These are all components of the concept of psychological wealth.

I love to reminisce. When I get together with friends or family we tell the same stories again and again. Like the time we stared death in the face in Interlaken, Switzerland. We had decided …

As I meet with individuals and couples, either in my role as a church leader or in my role as the Human Resources officer for my employer, I often find people who have lost hope. …

As I talked to old friends and made new ones, Ilona Boniwell’s presentation came to mind over and over again. Ilona is a Senior Lecturer in Positive Psychology from the University of East London, UN. She spoke in one of the pre-forum sessions about teaching positive psychology in a postgraduate setting. Toward the end of her presentation, she mentioned that there seemed to be a “magic to MAPP.” She said that she has noticed that the people who study positive psychology in her program seem to see their studies as a calling. She said that positive psychologists seem drawn to the field and they sense a bond with other students that holds them together. [...]

I have been reading about the virtues as outlined in the book of virtues by Peterson and Seligman. I have been wondering how they all relate to each other and the influence one virtue exerts …

My boss has told me that he has never seen a performance review system that he liked. While it almost seems like blasphemy to admit this, I have been uncomfortable with the way corporations evaluate performance throughout my career in Human Resources. I have written and helped implement several approaches to performance evaluation over the years. Each approach was a variation on the common theme that is most widely accepted among corporations. [...]

Several months ago a man made an appointment to meet with me regarding some of his personal struggles. When the appointed time arrived I was more than a little curious about what was on his mind and how I could help. After sharing a heart rending story of his life experiences, he summed it up by saying that the biggest burden he carried was his inability to forgive those who had hurt him. What a heavy burden it was for him to carry. I could see it in his eyes and in his manner and even in his posture. He seemed sad. The mental image I had of him was of someone standing in a deep hole looking up and longing to be back in the light. [...]

Several years ago I was visiting with friends and we were all getting ready to go out for the evening. One of my friends came into the living room and I complimented her on how pretty she looked. Her immediate, almost unconscious response was, “You’re blind.” I was shocked. It felt like she threw this little compliment back in my face. Her response made the whole exchange a negative experience. I remember thinking that I would have been better off saying nothing. But I couldn’t leave it there. I stopped the conversation and turned it into a training session. I said, “Let’s rewind this exchange and try it again. This time all I want you to say is, ‘Thank you.’” I repeated my compliment word for word and she dutifully responded with a quiet “thank you.” [...]

Yikes! I’m turning 50 in ten days.  It’s hard to believe.  Where did the time go?  What have I accomplished?  What have I contributed?  What do I want to accomplish and contribute in the next …

Please forgive the personal nature of this month’s writing. I don’t know how to communicate my thoughts this month without tapping into an experience from which my wife, Laurie, and I are just now emerging.

Sunday, …