August 06, 2016

Why It's So Damn Hard to Be Happy

August 06, 2016/ Dara Poznar

There is endless information these days about happiness, and, specifically, how to be happy. There is no shortage of books, blog posts, TED talks, and documentaries on the subject. It’s naturally a popular topic because it’s the one thing we are all after. And one would think that since there has been this explosion of material dealing with how we should go about achieving happiness, we’d all have it in the bag.

But somehow we don’t. We’re still searching. Why is that? I mean it seems pretty simple: happiness is a choice, so choose it-right?

July 20, 2016

How To Get Someone To Change

July 20, 2016/ Dara Poznar

He doesn’t like that she works so much and it drives him insane the way she leaves her makeup all over the bathroom. She wishes he wouldn’t spend so much money on clothes and so much time on the web. They both wish their teenaged son were more outgoing and ambitious. He wishes they’d all talk about something other than schedules, lists, and plans and just slow down from time to time.

They also all really love each other.

As we get to know people, we will notice things about them that, according to our own standards and preferences, aren’t ideal. They will likely notice similar things about us, as they critique our ways of being through the lens of their own standards and preferences. What happens next has the power to make or break a relationship.

July 18, 2016

Stress isn't the problem. It's THIS...

July 18, 2016/ Dara Poznar

I remember having a conversation with a psychologist friend about an issue I was having with not feeling motivated enough to complete a project. I was completely astounded when she said that it sounded like I didn’t have enough stress to get it done. Not enough stress?, I scoffed. Well that’s a first. I’d heard over and over about how important it is to reduce stress, but never until that point had I been advised to go get some more of it!

She proceeded to explain that there is such a thing as “good stress”; a level of stress that stimulates you enough to get you focused, engaged, and motivated. So at this point, mind=blown, right? I mean, wow. It’s not just stress we need to be aware of, but good stress vs. bad stress. Good stress provides the stimulation you need to...

July 06, 2016

The First Step to Mud Slogging Like a Boss

July 06, 2016/ Dara Poznar

In life, we tend to spend a lot of time searching for the easy roads; the least painful paths to success. This doesn't work and we end up not getting very far. Why? Because, as the saying goes: no mud, no lotus. We admire the lotus, the beauty of it, and we are happy for its existence. But we forget the mud, without which the lotus would not exist. Without the difficulties we face in life- the fear, doubt, heartache, failure, discomfort, loss- without the suffering, happiness would not be possible. We forget the value of the hard stuff. But what if you decided to embrace it instead? What if you began to appreciate the struggle- how would your life change?

Embrace the Mud