So, my previous post was not quite my last post of the year. Well I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas. Now, about those New Year resolutions.

With the holidays coming to a close, it’s time to get serious and set some New Year’s resolutions for 2018. Unfortunately, keeping those resolutions is often easier said than done.
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In the spirit of setting achievable goals, we asked therapists to weigh in on six of the most common resolutions and grade them on a scale of 1-5 (with 1 being “very attainable” and 5 being “very difficult”). Continue reading.

Originally posted on Huffington Post UK.

This will be my last posting of 2017 so I'd like to wish you a happy and merry Christmas and here's to a positive and productive New Year for you all. Many thanks for visiting my website. My first year back has gone really well and I have enjoyed it immensely. Thank you to those who have helped me get going again and to those who made contact during the year, it was a pleasure to help you all, keep doing the homework. See you on the other side. Regards, Alan.

You can train yourself to choose what you think about.

I know something about you without knowing you. I bet you spend A LOT of time in your head.
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You know, thinking, worrying, stressing, freaking out — call it whatever you want. I call it a preoccupied mind. And with what?

99% of your thoughts are useless. William James put it best:

“A great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.”

All my life I’ve been obsessed with practical things. Practical philosophy, practical knowledge, practical books, practical work, and practical advice.

That idea comes from Pragmatism, a philosophical tradition that started in the 19th century in America. Charles Sanders Peirce, who was a Harvard professor, is considered as the “father of Pragmatism.”

But it was William James, a trained physician turned philosopher, who really defined the philosophy.
About thoughts, worry, and stress, William James says:

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” Continue reading.

Originally posted on Thrive Global.