
When Your Parents Disappoint You: The Difference Between Being Loved, and Being Lovable
How our parents treated us can have a big impact on how we feel about ourselves. But a difficult childhood doesn’t mean we have to feel bad

“Doing Fine” When We’re Not: Intimacy, Competition and Shame
Sometimes we’d rather die than let other people know we’re feeling bad. What’s behind this, and how does it keep us in our cycle of sadness

Love and Work: The Route to Happiness
There’s no shortage of advice on how to be happy. Perhaps it’s time to look again at what the father of psychology had to say.

Crying in a BMW: Money, Materialism and the Pursuit of Happiness
If all we want is to be happy, why do so many of us spend so much time pursuing money and possessions? Here’s what’s going on — and underst

Sex, Shame and the Myth of Normality
Society tells us what “normal” sexual behavior and feelings are. And there’s a lot of guilt and shame around not fitting in perfectly. But

Social Climbing and the Meaning of Life: Insecurity, Anxiety and Self-Knowledge
Hong Kong is known for conspicuous consumption. People vie to show off their latest acquisitions and their taste for the finer things. Not

Promotions, Raises and Anxiety: Managing Work Stress By Managing Yourself
We have very little control over whether we get rewarded by our company, and that’s very stressful. Manage that stress by focusing on what

Envy, Competition and Friendship — Feeling Better About Ourselves Despite Our “Bad” Feelings
We sometimes feel envious and competitive toward friends and family. Society frowns on this, so we try our best to squash these feelings.

Why We Can't Stop Ourselves -- Addiction, Willpower and Self-Esteem
Repetitive, harmful behavior seems senseless. Why do people harm themselves with alcohol, food, gambling, social media and the like? There