My kids and I feel sadness, anger, anxiety -- sometimes downright misery -- just like everyone else. Leading a joyful life does not mean always trying to be happy. At the same time, I'm not really one for rumination.

A lot of people sit at home, dwell on the negative, getting deeper and deeper in their depression. Psychologists call this style of repetitive negative thoughts "rumination."

If you want to distract yourself and raise your thoughts, what do you think about? Do you consider the elephant, contemplate the heavens, or something similar?

Conscious forgetting means letting go of the event, to not insist it stay in the foreground, but rather allow it to be relegated to the background or move off stage.

It took me years to stop blaming myself for something over which I now accept I had no control. With no appeasement from the medical work-ups, I was overwhelmed with guilt.

QUESTION Dear Irene, My husband and I were very close friends with another couple who betrayed and hurt us deeply. They made twisted and false accus...

Have you ever suffered from tension in the shoulders? Do you think others around you should do things differently - be more understanding or forgiving; be a better leader, fairer, wiser, more inspirational?