Positive Psychology

16 Sep

Posted at 19:48h in Action Research, Mindfulness, patterns, Positive Psychology by

1. Lots. 2. Negative patterns are so imbedded in our DNA, that without mindfulness, we're apt to repeat our history -- and not in good ways. 3. No one is exempt from building this thing called positivity. It's not "you have it or you don't." You build it -- just like any other muscle. 4. Focusing is hard. Especially in 2011 when there are so many things (media/discourse/beliefs) coming at us all the time. Especially during summer. Especially in transition. (For me, living in a new city, and out of a suitcase, has been more challenging than I thought it would be.) 5. Evolution is...

10 Sep

Posted at 09:17h in Positive Psychology, Workshop by

and the amazing Emiliya Zhivotovskaya . . . in NYC this fall . . . three Sunday afternoons (Oct 23, Nov 20, and Dec 4) . . . in an experiential learning lab at the NYC Open Center . . . which will leave you feeling energized, engaged, and alive! From the Open Center Catalog: The dynamic new field of positive psychology uses rigorous research to understand happiness and well-being and is expanding rapidly worldwide. In this lab, participants can enter this psychological revolution—a scientific movement helping people flourish, become happier, and be more alive. The program provides tools to measure our baseline happiness, well-being,...

25 Aug

Posted at 12:49h in My life, Positive Psychology by

Ever get the feeling that you don't know who you are? What you are? Where you are? I'm feeling this now as I transition to Cleveland and sort out the next phase of my life. Of SOMO. And beyond. Thank goodness mercury is coming out of retrograde on the 26th, which means clearer clarity, clearer communication, and clearer collaboration are on its way. Patience, Louis. ("I'm workin' on it!") Collaboration is the name of the game -- and what positive psychology purports is just that: putting aside ego (am workin' on this too), embracing individuality and diversity at the same time and realizing we...

13 Jul

Posted at 20:31h in Positive Intervention, Positive Psychology, Social-Emotional Leadership, SOMO Leadership, Uncategorized, well-being by

I drove 400 miles to Cleveland, Ohio yesterday to continue a newer chapter of my life called "My Dreams are Coming True." I swear, people--this stuff works! It's happening in my life and it's because I'm learning to think differently. Trust me, please. I'm not just talkin' smack. But let me tell you, the past few weeks have been filled with mixed emotions. Lots of anxiety was coming up for me in New York. (I'm learning too that my fear shows up in strange, strange ways . . . almost hard to notice in real time, which is why hindsight is a beautiful thing.)...

26 Jun

Posted at 01:11h in Mindfulness, Moments that matter, My life, Positive Psychology, SOMO Leadership by

[caption id="attachment_511" align="alignright" width="221" caption="SO, in this MOment, which do you choose? Opportunity or threat? Love or fear?"][/caption] --'cept my flight to LGA was cancelled and I found this out as I was enroute to the airport in Cleveland Friday morning, the first leg of a long travel day. “WTF Continental?” I thought. Threat! Threat! Error! Error! What was I going to do? Synchronistically, I was on the phone with my friend and travel agent, Donna when the email popped in with the seemingly tragic news.“Don’t worry, we’ll get you back to NY in time for your flight to Turkey,” Donna reassured...

10 Jun

Posted at 08:15h in abundance, forgiveness, Love, Moments that matter, Positive Psychology by

Wow. This is huge. Coming out. It's huge. I grew up thinking that who I am is not good enough. That the world wanted me to be something other than I was. Than I am. My essence. It was really hard to be me when I thought that I had to be different than I was. You picking up what I'm putting down? I think a lot of people can relate to that sentiment -- not just us gays. Diversity is our greatest asset, so why are people so fearful of it? An opportunity, not a threat, so long as we perceive it...

30 May

Posted at 16:43h in Cognitive-behavioral, Neurobiology, Positive Psychology by

[caption id="attachment_499" align="alignright" width="300" caption="To date, this was the biggest screen to show my slides!"][/caption] Helping people think differently: this is what it's all about. An opportunity, not a threat. I'm not telling you what to think, but merely suggesting that you think about how you think. This takes a slowing up, a mindfulness and consciousness which can be built by learning positive psychology, a movement where eastern tradition is meeting western science. You in?...

25 May

Posted at 12:33h in Positive Psychology, Social-Emotional Leadership, Uncategorized by

-- temporarily. My belief is that everything is temporary -- and this changes my feeling about moving away from NYC. Makes me move closer to my true knowing which is: right now, Cleveland calls. Never before have I had such a holographic view of my life: I am teaching people to think about their own beliefs - and being more aware of my own than ever before. This must be what they mean by consciousness. It is built! And it is good. Gets us more of what we want: happiness, health, wealth. Dreams coming true, literally. Want some of it? Get in...

17 May

Posted at 08:03h in Mindfulness, Positive Psychology, social construction theory by

We form habits of thought around stories, and each time we retell them the old way, we reinforce the habit. The ruts get deeper and harder to get out of. But what if we told different stories? It’s About Stories Today I actually stopped a client cold in the middle of a story. We were talking about his being single and to illustrate in his mind the “why” of this reality, he began to tell me a story about a past relationship—about one that had failed. His story was about blame and fault. It was entirely focused on what was wrong, nothing...

05 May

Posted at 06:59h in family, Meaning, Moments that matter, My life, Positive Psychology, Uncategorized by

[caption id="attachment_2060" align="alignright" width="224"] RIP Todd Louis Alloro (1971-1991)[/caption] --twenty years ago today. I was weeks shy of my 13th birthday and Todd had just turned 20. I remember waking up that morning to voices in the kitchen below. "Too early to be nana's pinochle game," I thought (She was watching us because as my parents were away for the weekend). Half asleep, I walked downstairs to hear the tragic news that changed our lives forever . . . I remember parts of that day -- awful and heart wrenching -- especially seeing my parents return home & get out of their car,...

Top