What You MUST Know to Get Through the Month

By now, if you’ve been reading this website fairly regularly, you know I’m a pretty big fan of the Psychology Today magazine. They put out some fairly interesting articles and ideas, even if it IS pop culture psychology – that is to say it’s not ALL firmly research based, although quite a bit of it is. In a way, it challenges you to be a critical consumer of the research they offer. Meaning you (and I) have to think about whether a “1-person case study” is cause enough to overhaul our lifestyle and behavior when a previous decade’s worth of research may indicate the contrary. That idea of being a “critical consumer” of “research” is pretty important in our times of being bombarded with “new and improved” facts, opinions, and research.


I thought might provide for you a quick take on some of the more enlighten bits I read from this month’s issue to see what you might think about using in your life:

There was a fairly graphically entertaining article on optimists and pessimists titled “Optimism, Optimized”. In it, we are told that thinking about, planning for, and expecting “ the worst” is often helpful in educational situations in order to motivate us to study and to not feel too disappointed when our studies don’t pay off. On the other hand, expecting “the best” can often be helpful in the areas of family, romance, and career, as setting high expectations in those areas can lead to self-fulfilling behavior.

I’m a big proponent of working towards being medication free in most mental health situations; but I do recognize the need for the use of psychotropic medication from time to time. There are a few new developments in this area and the treatment of anxiety. Most anti-anxiety medications today treat the issue in a manner that causes most people prolonged periods of sleepiness or just plain unconsciousness. Research is promising for a medication that will help with anxiety based issues like post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and specific phobias that doesn’t leave the patient unconscious. This would prove extremely helpful in helping those struggling with anxiety, and it’s many forms, to be successful in treatment.

Boost your brain with your i-device or smartphone. Here are three cool memory-based games to help stretch your brain. I picked up Memory Matrix for my phone, and I believe it has helped me achieve near-genius levels of intelligence, as well as boosted my self-esteem. You can check out Lumina and Touch Attack for other ‘handy’ memory improvers.

The article Mood Makeup was pretty interesting, even from a male point of view. Although it highlighted three different products, I’m not one to comment on ‘bronzer’ or ‘foaming moisturizer’. Apparently the aforementioned smartphone brain booster has not given me the intelligence to understand such thing. However, the Firmenich’s Smiley Perfume piqued my curiosity. You should know that smell is the strongest sense linked to memory – if for no other reason because your nose and brain are close together and linked pretty tightly. A particular smell from a pleasant time can trigger pleasant thoughts and feelings. This product goes quite a bit deeper into the nasal cavity and incorporates theobromine and phenylethylamine (the same ‘happy chemicals’ found in cocoa beans). So, if you’re feeling down, give it a try.

Of course, for every positive piece of psychology, there’s got to be a little bit of negative – the interview with Simon Critchely, a philosopher in the field of death, may make you run out to buy Firmenich’s secret happy potion… The crux of the article is that contemporary society has put such a negative spin on death that we work hard to avoid it, and therefore struggle to cope with it. Coping with death, embracing it’s inevitability, and recognizing our own mortality are keys to a happier life. What do you think? True or just plain morbid?

The final article I thought would be helpful – The Fab Fourteen – a helpful list of the top 11 foods you should be trying to eat more of. Yes, the article is called Fab Fourteen, but even after reading it three times, I could only find 11; unless you break out all the nuts listed, and then there is 15… What you should be eating more of and why:

Barley – knocks out bad cholesterol

Quinoa – quinoa is a great alternative to rice and has all 9 essential amino acids; even though it has a funny name, it is gaining in popularity and can be found in most grocery stores

Buckwheat – huge in the antioxidants race

Rye – protects against gall stones and is great for fighting hunger

Nuts – almonds, walnuts, pistachios, pecans, and hazelnuts – have “good fat” in them, and protect against cardiovascular problems AND cognitive decline

Black raspberries – lots of fiber and lots of great chemicals that help your brain deal with stress more effectively

Blueberries – more great chemicals that protect against cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s

Broccoli – mom was right… this is a great detoxifier and just plain good for you

Pomegranates – similar to the positive effects of blueberries, but much more difficult to harvest… have you ever tried to get the fruit out of one of these? It takes quite a bit of work, but is well worth it

Tomatoes – one of the few foods who nutrient value is INCREASED by cooking and processing; great for blood pressure and fighting bad cholesterol

Next time you are grocery shopping, grab more of these, and less of the boxes and bags of processed foods, and you will be well on your way to a healthier you.