The Prosperous Coach: Book Overview and Takeaways

A woman reading a book in a library

What’s The Prosperous Coach by Steve Chandler and Rich Litvin about? Do you want to become a professional coach? In The Prosperous Coach, Chandler and Litvin explain how to take on the mindset of a successful coach and market yourself to potential clients. They also describe their process for building a client base for a thriving coaching business through deep, meaningful conversations. Read below for a brief The Prosperous Coach book overview.

Are Fitness Apps Worth It? 3 Ways They Harm Your Mental Health

A cellphone with a dumbbell symbol on the screen, in front of an actual dumbbell at the gym, questioning whether fitness apps are worth it

Do you use fitness apps regularly? Are fitness apps worth it? Fitness tracking apps help you identify, quantify, and measure your progress toward goals in various areas of your life. Trying to reach goals isn’t inherently harmful, but Adam Alter argues that the culture around goal-setting is toxic for three reasons. Continue reading to learn what these three reasons are.

Mindbody Syndrome: Symptoms and Causes (Dr. John Sarno)

A woman crying and facing the wall from mind body syndrome symptoms

What are different mindbody syndrome symptoms? Can high blood pressure be caused by a psychological condition? The Divided Mind by John E. Sarno consists of a series of essays by other doctors about their experiences with mindbody disorders. This includes learning about their symptoms, treating them, and in some cases, recovering from such disorders themselves.  Let’s look at real-life stories of mindbody syndrome to get a sense of the different kinds of symptoms patients experience.

How Pseudo-Connections Fuel Tech Addiction (Adam Alter)

A person who has a pseudo connection with a YouTuber, watching them on their computer

What’s a pseudo-connection? Why is it a danger to your mental health? As humans, we care about what other people think of us because, evolutionarily speaking, their support improves our chances of survival. Adam Alter suggests that much modern technology, from social media to video games, appeals to this aspect of the human psyche because it champions pseudo-connections. Discover more about pseudo-connections and the harm they’re causing to our lives.

How to Know a Person: Book Overview (David Brooks)

A woman reading a book in a coffee shop at a table

What’s How to Know a Person by David Brooks about? How can we rebuild connections as human beings? In How to Know a Person, New York Times columnist David Brooks argues that our ability to truly understand and connect with others is in crisis. Brooks contends that by rediscovering the lost art of “knowing” people, we can bridge divides, foster empathy, and rebuild our moral character. Read below for a brief How to Know a Person book overview.

Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure? The Surprising Answer

Red aura coming out a stressed man's head, showing how stress causes high blood pressure

Is stress the leading psychological cause of hypertension? How can resolving emotions help patients with high blood pressure? It’s a common belief that stress causes high blood pressure, but Samuel J. Mann doesn’t think that’s the case. In fact, he says repressed emotions are the culprit at play here. Read below to learn more about what Mann believes is the true psychological cause of high blood pressure.

How to Maintain Energy: 3 Steps to Nourish Your Mind & Body

A man yawning and stretching in bed after waking up, learning how to maintain energy

Is mental energy just as important as physical energy? How can you keep yourself invigorated throughout the day? How much energy you have depends on both your body and your mind, and how you care for them. Simon Alexander Ong says you can raise and maintain your personal energy by treating your body well, feeding your mind, and letting your energy levels recharge. Keep reading to learn how to maintain energy, both physically and mentally.

How Motivated Perception Distorts Reality & Fuels Addiction

An eye looking at colors, representing motivated perception

What is motivated perception? Why is it perceived as a sign of addiction? Adam Alter explains that both gambling experiences and immersive technologies present a deceptively superior alternative to reality. Gamblers can easily fall victim to motivated perception, a psychological phenomenon where intense desire primes your brain to interpret the world in a way that aligns with your desires. Read more to learn how motivated perception deceives you to believe reality is different than what it truly is.

What Does It Mean to Know Someone? David Brooks Explains

A black and white watercolor painting of a man and woman facing each other, showing what it means to know someone

Do know someone who feels lonely and unseen? What does it mean to know someone? David Brooks says that many of us feel unacknowledged, unseen, and unloved. But he argues that we feel this way because we’ve lost the skill of getting to know one another deeply—and making each other feel known. Below, we’ll look at how you can make other people feel appreciated and acknowledged.

What Is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

A doctor holding chalkboard that says "ADHD 101" as part of a lesson answering what is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder? How is ADHD diagnosed? For many people, struggling with commitments and time management rises to the level of a clinical condition that significantly impairs how they live. That’s precisely what ADHD is—a neurological condition that inhibits how your brain processes information, regulates emotions, and predicts the consequences of your actions. Let’s discuss how ADHD is defined, where it comes from, and how it’s diagnosed.