Here are a few tricks that have worked for me and may help you, as well. Using these tips can make a potentially uncomfortable evening a pleasant one for those of us who are introverted. This stuff is easy and it works, so give it a try.

A simple way of defining a pattern is a predictable response to a specific type of situation. The most obvious patterns are those that pop out when we are tired, feel attacked, in the middle of a conflict, a little ill, or overwhelmed. This is because we have less energy and attention to keep them locked down.

Opinions differ on the definition of well-being. Yet there’s a growing consensus that it cannot be reduced to material consumption and that other aspects of life, such as health and good social relations, are essential to being well.

Women are less affected by interference when carrying out certain tasks than men, and hormones may play a part in this discrepancy.

We often need to make decisions about sequences of things or people rather than just a single item in isolation. For instance, in an everyday setting, we might choose which smartphone to buy after trying out several.

Fast and slow talkers end up conveying information at about the same rate, research shows, because faster speech packs less information into each utterance.

If we want to manifest a change of heart and create a new practice, we become aware of the moment we give life to a judgment and be on the look-out for the triggers that make us judge. Paying attention to ourselves and getting to know ourselves...

Growing up with the cloud of “negative love” over our intrinsic, loving core, we never learned any other way to relate to the world than to take on the negative behaviors of our parents. This pain has often been passed on between generations...

For women, especially women who abide in their wild nature, this intuition is a direct link to the soul. Its voice is sure and true. Maybe this very strength, this “right-on-ness,” is what has made it the butt of jokes and the object of sarcasm.

Pretend today that you are the captain of your ship, and that for today you will guide this ship the way you want to. You will take the time you need, be with the people you want to be with, say “no” when you...

As long as the subconscious mind stays the same, the world stays the same. It sounds ridiculous because, of course, your subconscious mind doesn’t control the world. The conscious mind is the only part of the mind that can evaluate the quality of information and make decisions.

Something significant happened to me as I started writing this book. I had a profound insight: I realized that I could not have written this book any sooner in my life because who I am has never stopped changing.

Imagine you are visiting a new city and get lost on your way to that famous must-see museum. In times of yore – actually just about 10 years ago – you might have had to consult a friendly local to direct you.

The internet may be the most comprehensive source of information ever created but it’s also the biggest distraction.

How you experience this moment is very much like looking through a camera lens. You can look at the world in panorama or zoom in for a close-up. The lens can be focused, showing sharp lines, or unfocused, so that shapes are foggy and blurry.

Vision boards are fast being recognized as more than just a bit of creative fun and credited by leaders of our time a powerful tool for transformation. Notable celebrities frequently reference the important role that creative visioning has played in the realization of their dreams.

Emotional experiences can induce physiological and internal brain states that persist for long periods of time—an emotional “hangover.”

The average German household contains 10,000 items. That’s according to a study cited by Frank Trentmann in his sweeping history of consumption, Empire of Things.

Your happiness, or lack thereof, depends largely on your expectations. If you believe that only one person, job, home, or car can bring you happiness, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Even if you...

When the hypnotist's hand touched his shoulder, he tilted with the pressure. Blacksmyth caught him at once, thanked the other volunteers and dismissed them. Things had gone too far. "I'm sorry," Jamie whispered, "but I can't be hypnotized"...

The butterfly begins its journey as a caterpillar, and it may or may not be aware of what it is destined to become. But the caterpillar lives on, faithfully following the inner prompts arising within its being. It feels its way through life, naturally following the inner direction with which it was born.

Our dreams need to reflect who we truly are, and not stem from past conditioning and what our parents wanted for us, or what our teachers or peers influenced us to pursue. We may also find that if our dreams and ambitions mean that we sacrifice some part of ourselves in the achieving, then we end up frustrated.

At the crossroads you can stop and think what direction to follow. But don’t spend too much time thinking or you’ll never leave the spot. Once you have taken the first step, forget the crossroads forever...