Ancient Roman Solutions to Modern Unhappiness – Musings in Missoula
“All men … wish to live happily,” wrote the Roman philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca in the year 58 A.D when he was 62 years of age. However, he noted, men are “dull at perceiving exactly what it is that makes life happy.” When it comes to many of our issues around psychology, the ancients had some staggering wisdom that we can still use today. Seneca was an expert on eudaimonia,
Contemplating Longevity in Love – Musings in Missoula
This month my parents celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Such a number and event is staggering in many ways. One measure of marital statistics says that just 5 percent of marriages in America will last that long. Half will end in divorce. Liberty Kovacs, Ph.D., a marital therapist working with couples of all ages, discovered the perhaps obvious truth that relationships unfold over time. The relationship after 5 years might
Further Adventures of the Daoist Dad – Musings in Missoula
I have written before about my trials and travails in fatherhood here in Missoula. As all parents know, it’s a “learn as you go” kind of thing. If we’re lucky, we have good role models. Luck, too, will mean we have time to read books and talk with friends and seek out support along the way. A third stroke of luck is having a happy, healthy kiddo. I count myself
Fieldnotes on Grief – Musings in Missoula
Grief is one of the most complex, powerful, and poorly understood emotions felt by humans. It comes in many ways, but the loss of a close family member is usually seen as the most painful path into grief. Grief can also strike when we are forced from our home or community, lose a job, or a friendship or romantic partnership. In 1969, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross published On Death and Dying, which
Six Quick Tips to Improve Mental Health
As we head into autumn, it’s easy to feel change in the air. The seasons are changing. The weather is finally cooling off, or will be soon. Sadly for us in Missoula, one change was from clear skies to wildfire smoke. But that too will change, and hopefully sooner rather than later. As we look forward to fall and then winter, we can take a few moments to be proactive
Quick Guides to Healthy Inner Peace – Musings from Missoula
Restoring our mental balance is a necessary exercise. Sometimes we can coast for days or weeks in a generally good state of mind. Other times, everything feels like chaos. Whether we are enjoying a period of serenity or surfing some very choppy mind-waves, learning some quick skills for restoring inner balance is a great way to improve our mental health. Like any skill, these won’t be too easy. Nor will