When a storm of life passes through, whipping up turbulence around us, we feel no control over our destiny. Things are happening to us, and it seems the best response is to be defensive. Reacting to the storm out of fear, we may lash out to push through it or turn inward to protect ourselves. [...]

Our series on PACT series, Practicing Attitudes, Characteristics, and Techniques for peace of mind continues with a focus on techniques. There are as many methods for increasing peace of mind as there are human beings – we each shape our own paths toward happiness and contentment. Choices include practice of religion, methods focused on human [...]

Having made a PACT to Practice Attitudes and Characteristics using serenity-building Techniques, let’s consider Characteristics. Previously on Insanely Serene we explored the personal traits that determine our ability to change ourselves, Do You Have What it Takes to Change? Check the 10 Personal Traits. These are important elements in creating peace of mind on a [...]

Last week we looked at attitudes (What’s in an Attitude? Only Peace of Mind) and how they affect peace of mind. Now let’s get down to brass tacks with practical examples in an area we all struggle with at different points – relationship conflict. Relationship conflict is certainly in the top 10 causes of stress [...]

Our series on Peace at Any Point kicked off with the idea of making a PACT with yourself to: Practice Attitudes, Characteristics, and Techniques. Since practice applies to all three, we’ll weave it into our explorations of attitudes, characteristics and techniques. Today the focus is on attitudes. at·ti·tude noun 1. manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., [...]

Special Notice: This post was originally published  in The Infopreneur. Since it is no longer available there, I republish it here for your reading enjoyment. denial [dinī′əl] Etymology: L, denegare, to negate 1. refusal or restriction of something requested, claimed, or needed, often causing physical or emotional deficiency. 2. an unconscious defense mechanism in which emotional [...]

If you have as much trouble as I sometimes do making decisions, here’s an interesting directive: When in doubt, don’t. — Benjamin Franklin If your stomach is roiling, and you feel like you don’t have any good options, it might be that your best choice is to do…nothing. Nothing? That doesn’t sound helpful when making [...]

When someone in your life has an addiction, the focus is usually on that person. Addictions take many forms, from substance abuse to workaholism and overeating, and the effects on that person are often very obvious. Chaos, conflict, lost jobs, unpaid bills, arrests, jail, hospitalization, institutionalization, even death. Less obvious are the effects on the [...]

For those of us who regularly beat ourselves up for our flaws, I have news: Hidden in every flaw is a precious gem – a piece of self-knowledge that can lead to transforming that apparent defect into a personal advantage Flaws are just aspects of our characters that have been exaggerated to help us cope [...]

Anxiety is the worst partner you’ll ever have, a relationship nightmare you can’t walk away from. No matter how many times you determine to let it go, it always returns, sneaking up on you like an assassin in the night. That’s because it has a secret hold on you, one you’d never expect and will [...]