Making Change

Empathy

5 Ways to Be Happy Even When You're Hurting

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on January 10, 2022

To be truly, deeply happy, you must accept and love the person you are—painful feelings and all. You can do this by nurturing compassionate self-awareness.

To be truly, deeply happy, you must accept and love the person you are—painful feelings and all. You can do this by nurturing compassionate self-awareness.

Rejection Sensitivity

6 Signs that You Might Be Rejection-Sensitive

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on December 12, 2021

Learning to identify whether you are sensitive to rejection can help you develop compassionate self-awareness, feel emotionally stronger, and become more resilient.

Learning to identify whether you are sensitive to rejection can help you develop compassionate self-awareness, feel emotionally stronger, and become more resilient.

Relationships

Feeling Alone? Learn to Carry Love in Your Heart

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on November 15, 2021

If you are drowning in loneliness whenever you are away from loved ones, it’s important to know that you can learn to carry their love in your heart.

If you are drowning in loneliness whenever you are away from loved ones, it’s important to know that you can learn to carry their love in your heart.

Anger

How to Respond When Someone Is Angry

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 25, 2021

Feeling the brunt of someone’s anger is never any fun. But knowing how best to manage it can at least enable you to navigate that situation.

Feeling the brunt of someone’s anger is never any fun. But knowing how best to manage it can at least enable you to navigate that situation.

Resilience

When Disaster Strikes: Preparing to Rebuild

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 5, 2021

Disasters are, by definition, difficult to live through. But with the right mindset, you can help yourself feel emotionally strong and move forward.

Disasters are, by definition, difficult to live through. But with the right mindset, you can help yourself feel emotionally strong and move forward.

Friends

Unhappy? How to Emerge from Your Darkness

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on September 27, 2021

Making bad choices that make you more unhappy do not mean that you want to be unhappy. You might simply be stuck in negativity—and you can learn how to emerge from this darkness.

Making bad choices that make you more unhappy do not mean that you want to be unhappy. You might simply be stuck in negativity—and you can learn how to emerge from this darkness.

Anger

So Much to Be Angry About: What to Do With Your Anger

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 12, 2020

It’s easy to get caught up in the anger that’s currently rising in society. Instead, for your sake and the sake of society, learn to manage your anger.

It’s easy to get caught up in the anger that’s currently rising in society. Instead, for your sake and the sake of society, learn to manage your anger.

Stress

Feeling Worn Down? A Simple Strategy to Regain Strength

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on September 14, 2020

When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, affirm your positives to increase your resilience.

When you feel stressed or overwhelmed, affirm your positives to increase your resilience.

Resilience

When ‘Why Me’ Leaves You Without an Answer

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on August 17, 2020

When life hits you with harsh reality, many people are pulled down by “why” questions. Why did it happen? Why me? Learning to get free yourself can help you be resilient and heal.

When life hits you with harsh reality, many people are pulled down by “why” questions. Why did it happen? Why me? Learning to get free yourself can help you be resilient and heal.

Resilience

Withstanding the Pain of Feeling Inadequate

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on July 24, 2020

Can you feel “in your bones” that you are different from—and lesser than—other people? This is simply not true. Learn to heal and experience yourself as worthy.

Can you feel “in your bones” that you are different from—and lesser than—other people? This is simply not true. Learn to heal and experience yourself as worthy.

Loneliness

Overcoming Loneliness While Social Distancing

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on May 25, 2020

If the COVID-related restrictions have left you struggling with loneliness, there are things you can do to reconnect.

If the COVID-related restrictions have left you struggling with loneliness, there are things you can do to reconnect.

Anxiety

COVID-19: Feel Better Now

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on April 27, 2020

Ease your anxiety by learning to follow through with good self-care — an especially important skill during this pandemic.

Ease your anxiety by learning to follow through with good self-care — an especially important skill during this pandemic.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Staying Emotionally and Physically Healthy During COVID-19

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on March 31, 2020

By consciously choosing how to respond to COVID-19, you can minimize anxiety and depression and strengthen a sense of connection while social distancing.

By consciously choosing how to respond to COVID-19, you can minimize anxiety and depression and strengthen a sense of connection while social distancing.

Wisdom

Finding Relief in Circumstances Beyond Your Control

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on March 16, 2020

Being human means that we are frequently faced with painful forces greater than us. By approaching this wisely, you can find serenity even as you feel the pain.

Being human means that we are frequently faced with painful forces greater than us. By approaching this wisely, you can find serenity even as you feel the pain.

Attention

Chopsticks and Other Divining Rods: Discovering Enjoyment

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on February 17, 2020

While stability and routine can help you feel secure, they can also lead to feeling bored. Approaching daily activities in a novel way can add enjoyment to your life.

While stability and routine can help you feel secure, they can also lead to feeling bored. Approaching daily activities in a novel way can add enjoyment to your life.

Happiness

How a Simple Smile Can Help Change Your Life

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on January 20, 2020

Your pursuit of happiness can be effectively helped along by the power of a free, easy-to-use, and frequently effective tool—your smile.

Your pursuit of happiness can be effectively helped along by the power of a free, easy-to-use, and frequently effective tool—your smile.

Depression

To Speed Up Your Personal Growth, Try Slowing Down

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on December 23, 2019

If you are stuck in the same painfully problematic patterns, learning to slow it down might be your way out.

If you are stuck in the same painfully problematic patterns, learning to slow it down might be your way out.

Relationships

Effectively Countering Self-Doubt

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on November 25, 2019

Struggle with self-doubt? Embolden yourself by nurturing relationships with people who truly care about what you want and what will help make you a more fulfilled person.

Struggle with self-doubt? Embolden yourself by nurturing relationships with people who truly care about what you want and what will help make you a more fulfilled person.

Cognition

Feeling Rejected? Reconsider What You "Know"

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on October 28, 2019

When you feel rejected, you may think you deserve it. Learn to develop resilience, lifting yourself back up by reflecting on the situation with greater clarity and self-compassion.

When you feel rejected, you may think you deserve it. Learn to develop resilience, lifting yourself back up by reflecting on the situation with greater clarity and self-compassion.

Attachment

Is Your Attachment Style at the Root of Your Struggles?

Leslie Becker-Phelps Ph.D. on September 30, 2019

Knowing your attachment style can help you to heal and grow in yourself and your relationships. It can help you to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life.

Knowing your attachment style can help you to heal and grow in yourself and your relationships. It can help you to enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life.