“The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius Pronounced over 2000 years ago by the famous general and eventual leader of the Roman Empire, Marcus Aurelius’ words are still powerfully accurate into the 21st century. How we think about the world around us…

Click here to test your psychology knowledge before your read further. Don’t worry; it isn’t graded! Now, click here to see the answers. How did you do? Most people miss at least a few. Why do we think we know so much about psychology? Popular psychology lore permeates our culture…

I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. Henry David Thoreau Thoreau and other literary giants of the past eloquently pronounced the positive effects of spending time in nature. While their anecdotal notions were profound, scientists are now empirically investigating their assumptions. Despite growing…

The theory of relativity occurred to me by intuition, and music is the driving force behind this intuition.—Albert Einstein Albert Einstein is widely known for his prolific achievements in physics. But few people know he attributes his creative breakthroughs in the sciences to his passion for music. While not regarded…

“Look at the moon,” I exclaimed. As my family brushed off my profound excitement with their “Cool, Mom,” retorts, I began to wonder about wonder. What makes some people feel deeply moved by nature, art, and love? What is awe? Conceptualized as a sense of wonder, amazement, or fascination, awe…

Modern parenting is bewildering, and the struggles are plentiful. Parents turn to childrearing books filled with behavioral principals of reinforcement and punishment to generate compliance from their offspring. When these operant conditioning techniques fail, parents are confused and frustrated. Why are many children—especially teenagers—defiant and disrespectful? While there are individual…

When I reached the summit, I peered out at the vast expanse, overcome with emotion. Coursing through my mind and body was a hybrid feeling of ecstasy and marvel. At that moment, the fleeting sensation transcended my reality and eternally altered my perception of the world. Frequently conceptualized as a…

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you really are.” Carl Jung’s early-20th-century assertion transcends time. Many of us arrive at middle age, realizing our life paths are fueled by outside expectations. This insight is disconcerting—often leading to a mental unraveling as we try to find ourselves in…

Ominous forecasts speculate that technological innovations will replace many occupational opportunities. To combat this looming calamity, creativity is being hailed as the skill of the future. Humans who conceptualize various alternatives to solve problems in original ways will likely excel and flourish. What is Creativity? Understanding the rapidly evolving field…