Dr. Ben MichaelisDr. Ben Michaelis |

Cheating on Your Inner Procrastinator

drben — Wed, 29 May 2013 17:20:23 +0000

Yeah, that’s right: You’re busted.

You’re procrastinating. I know it. You know it. And I actually think your boss probably knows it too. Maybe she’s even reading this post right now, trying to avoid working on your mid-year performance review (lucky you).

It’s okay to procrastinate, as long as you do it with panache (and some planning).

Rather than trying to wrestle with your “Inner Procrastinator,” why not change the dynamics of your relationship with him. Seem strange? Keep procrastinating and read on, my friend… Read the full article on the Huffington Post.

If Everybody Likes You, You are Doing it Wrong

drben — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 08:20:47 +0000

“I want to do it but I’m afraid.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“I’m afraid that people won’t like me.”
“And?”
“And, that’s it. I don’t want people not to like me.”
“Let me let you in on a little secret: If everybody likes you, you are doing it wrong.”

I cannot even begin to tell you how many times this exchange, or something very close to it has occurred in my office…. Read the full post on the Huffington Post.

3 Easy Ways To Blend Work And Play

drben — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:30:44 +0000

For most of us, working is a necessary but not sufficient part of living a meaningful life.

Regardless of what motivates you to work, if you believe in what you do, and even if you don’t, you probably want to do it well, which means dedication and sacrifice. However, over time, dedication and sacrifice without a sense of joy or will grind you down physically and mentally, and will almost certainly make life less enjoyable… Read the full post on Live in the Grey .

The Biggest Risk Is the One You Never Take

drben — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:41:01 +0000

Taking risks raises your anxiety level. It should and has to. No one wants to be rejected.

Whether you are expressing your romantic longings to the person you have pined over for months or you have put your soul and spirit into an audition for the role of your dreams, you are exposed. You face the possibility of rejection. And yes, that is terrifying.

This fear, which exists inside all of us, is deep and remote… Read the full article on the Huffington Post.

Three Tips for Moving From Fear to Faith

drben — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:34:25 +0000

You may be wired for fear. But if it makes you feel any better, it’s not just you. It’s all of us. Our minds are prewired to react more strongly to negative information than positive information. But when you’re in the grip of a panic, I suggest following these three steps in order to shift from fear to faith: recognize, refocus, re-imagine… Read the full post on Psychology Today.

Are We All Just Wired for Anxiety?

drben — Sun, 03 Feb 2013 18:46:29 +0000

We are all just wired for anxiety.

Let me break it down:

Let’s say something bad happens to us: We have a breakup, a breakdown, a trauma, an insult or injury of any kind. This leads us to seek out patterns in our environments that could signify the possibility of future pain. In fact, Shermer says that when we feel uncertain (like after a trauma) we will be even more prone to seeking out patterns, possibly seeing them where they don’t exist… Read the full article on the Huffington Post.

What Does It Mean to Be Smart?

drben — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

If we begin thinking about how we (and our kids) have adapted to our environments rather than how “smart” we are, we will all be better served. It is both more useful and more emotionally healthy to do so. When we stop thinking about intelligence as a static and comparable trait, and start thinking about how we adapt to our circumstances, we will all be better off because we will open up a more inclusive space for personal growth… Read the full post on the Huffington Post.

Why Stress is Good for your Anxiety

drben — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:25:22 +0000

Stress is not bad. It just needs a new publicist.

Stress and anxiety are different from each other, yet the terms are often used interchangeably. Stress is just a synonym for pressure. And pressure is a motivator. Too much of it is overwhelming, but without enough of it you won’t get anything done.

Anxiety is very different from stress, in all the worst ways… Read the full post on Shake off the Grind .

5 Quick and Easy Tips for Change in 2013

drben — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 01:52:49 +0000

As the new year is upon us, many of us tend to pause and look longingly at the possibilities in the year ahead. Some of us turn to New Year’s resolutions to try to make the New Year synonymous with the New You. Change doesn’t just happen; we have to make it happen. And the first hurdle to change is inertia. So, how do you get past this? Easy.

Let’s start with five basic techniques to get you going in 2013 … Read the full post on the Huffington Post.

The Christmas Presents They Will Never Get

drben — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 01:44:56 +0000

I don’t care what your politics are: whether you are liberal or conservative, whether you voted for Obama or Romney, or anyone else. If you are a feeling human being, if you can conceive of the pain and sadness that is running through the blood of the families of the victims in Newtown, if you can think about the presents that will lay unopened this Christmas, I ask that you consider contributing your voice to our national conversation …. Read the full post on the Huffington Post.