If you spend five minutes on the internet today, you might start to believe your behaviors and quirky habits are caused by a long list of mysterious diagnoses. Social media is overflowing with quizzes and captions meant to catch our attention and create unnecessary worry: Take this quiz to find out if you’re a narcissist. Here are five unexpected signs that you have multiple personalities. Here are the daily habits most often seen in psychopaths. By the time you finish scroll

“Think before you speak” is an expression that is frequently thrown around, usually to remind us to communicate with kindness and consideration. But this expression has an alternative meaning that is equally important: our conversations are more likely to be effective and helpful to both parties when we approach our interactions with a clear goal in mind. To illustrate this point, imagine the following scenario. One day you walk into a café to buy a coffee before a morning me

Many people struggle to validate effectively because they believe it means agreeing with the other person. If a friend is upset over something that seems minor, if a partner interprets a situation differently than we do, or if a child is having a big reaction to a small disappointment, we may worry that validation reinforces irrational thinking or inappropriate behavior. In reality, validation and agreement are not the same thing. Validation is the act of communicating that a

People tend to believe that motivation is the key to success. If only they were more motivated, they would finally start exercising, stick to a routine, stop procrastinating, or make meaningful changes in their lives. It is an understandable belief, but it is also one of the biggest misconceptions. Motivation is overrated. Motivation is often treated as the starting point for action. In reality, motivation is unreliable. It comes and goes based on mood, energy levels, stress,

As the school year is coming to an end, and the transition to summer is beginning, perhaps both feelings of excitement and nervousness are creeping in. When schedules change, feeling excitement about the possibility of rejuvenation, and nervous about the lack of routine, both make a lot of sense. While you are still in that transition phase, thinking about the reality of your summer, and places that you might get caught up in, is critical to a successful and relaxing vacation