Lauren Mackler

Do you sweat the small stuff or feel chronically stressed? If so, you're not alone. According to a 2008 national survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), 77 percent of Americans reported having physical symptoms due to stress, and 73 percent claimed to be experiencing stress-related psychological problems....

If you're parents, it's always in your children's best interest to co-parent in a friendly and mutually respectful manner. Divorce is always painful. When one parent demeans the other in front of their children it can create life-long emotional wounds. If need be, seek out a therapist or coach to...

Many people dream of changing their lives but remain stuck in their status quo. They may tell themselves that their goals are unrealistic, or tolerate dissatisfying situations because they feel undeserving of anything better. Each of us is born with tremendous potential, but it becomes buried beneath self-defeating patterns adopted...

Each of us comes into the world as a whole, integrated human being. We're born with innate personality traits, natural strengths and talents, and tremendous potential.

Growing up, we respond to our life conditioning by adopting habitual roles, beliefs, and behaviors that often diminish our strengths and potential. These...

Even people fortunate enough to have a job in today's economy are unhappy at work. According to a recent survey by the Conference Board, less than half of American workers experience job satisfaction -- the lowest level recorded by the research group in 22 years.

The drop in...

Many people don't treat themselves very well. They break promises to themselves, eat poorly, don't get enough sleep, are self-critical or fail to take good care of their bodies. In fact, if most people treated others the way they treat themselves, they wouldn't have many friends!

A great technique for...

Feeling stuck or unable to accomplish your goals? Change can be difficult, and many people lose motivation to achieve their goals. When you slip up, just think of it as course, and correcting it. Welcome the challenge--it means that you're taking charge of your life. Don't judge yourself. Instead, treat...

We're living through challenging times. But inherent in nearly all challenges are opportunities for renewal and transformation. The current economic crisis offers the chance to re-evaluate how you live your life, to be more mindful and strategic about how you...

An old acquaintance of mine recently wrote an article about positive thinking -- a subject that is often misunderstood. For many years I, like many people on the personal-development path, believed that by writing down and repeating positive affirmations (positive statements about yourself or your life, written in...

Healthy relationships are critical to our well-being, yet many people never learned the skills to cultivate them. Not all people have what it takes to be supportive, and not all unsupportive people can be avoided--for example, family members and co-workers. But the idea is to...

At start of a new year, many people make resolutions for change. In fact, many of these are the same ones every year! Yours may be to increase your income, expand your social circle or find your dream job. But the foundation for achieving any goal is the ability to...

During a recent trip to Japan, I realized I wanted to have more fun in my life. I am, by nature, a fun-loving person. But I'm so energized by my work that it doesn't feel much like work. That's a mixed blessing. The good news is that I love what...

Out of all the relationships we have in our lives, the ones we share with family members can be the most challenging. And there's nothing like holiday stress to trigger the old wounds and unresolved issues that plague so many families.

Sharing close, loving, and supportive relationships is a...

In a recent CNN interview, I was asked what the next steps should be for estranged reality TV couple Jon and Kate Gosselin, who are engaged in a contentious divorce. Although the Gosselins are unique in that they are the parents of 8 children, their...

Carl Jung wrote that "...it is the strength of the bond to the parents that unconsciously influences the choice of husband or wife, either positively or negatively." As my own divorce drama unfolded, it became clear that there were deeper issues between my...

Many people fail to achieve their goals because they never learned the skills that produce success. No one ever taught them how to set clear goals, create effective action plans, or sustain their motivation.

Whether you want to become a better leader, create a more fulfilling career, or bring greater...

Fear is one of the biggest barriers to living a joyful and fulfilling life. If you're living life from a place of fear, you're not free to take risks or pursue your dreams. If your energy is expended in avoiding failure or rejection, then that energy is used to stay...

More people are living as singles today than ever before. In the United States, there are 95.7 million single adults -- a number that represents 43 percent of all U.S. adults. Why? Not only are people marrying later, but given high divorce rates and that women outlive men by an...