Todd Smith

How much control do we really have over our lives? Many psychological theories have attempted to answer this question. One such explanation is the locus of control. Locus of control is a concept created by psychologist Julian Rotter (1954). Rotter was interested in social learning and why some behaviors stick while others languish. Locus of […]

Wabi sabi and kintsugi have their historical origins in the aesthetics of the Japanese tea ceremony that upholds the Zen Buddhist values of purity, harmony, and tranquility. Both wabi sabi and kintsugi value the acceptance of imperfection. This article introduces the Japanese concepts of wabi sabi and kintsugi and explains how to apply them in

For years, researchers have pondered the factors that influence how people make judgments about their wellbeing. However, until the late ‘80s, much of what we knew about wellbeing was based on a poor definition of the construct. This left much of the scientific community scratching its head and asking the same question: What is wellbeing

Success. Abundance. Prosperity. Intelligence. Talent. Skill. These are all potential products of a growth mindset. Why is it important to foster this mindset in children? A growth mindset can encourage a passion for learning and an ease in facing new challenges. Children with a growth mindset outperform those with a fixed mindset and are more

While difficult to define, perfectionism can drive impossibly high standards and have dangerous consequences. Maintaining that flawless veneer can put your mental and physical wellbeing at risk as you search for that perfect life (Thomson, 2019). The number of people experiencing perfectionism is rising dramatically, especially among the young (Curran & Hill, 2019). So, how

Many of us are aware of the importance of adopting a growth mindset and perhaps even believe we have done so already. But do we really know what we mean when we talk about moving from fixed thinking to the growth zone? Findings from research into the benefits of a growth mindset have been well

Juggling is a mind-boggling skill, and for me to juggle just 3 balls requires all of my attention, never mind juggling 6 torches, 10 balls, or even worse… knives. If you are as inept as I am, how well do you cope with juggling the responsibilities of life? Imagine you have different balls for different

We know humans are social beings. Yet, when thinking about wellbeing, we think more about our individual wellbeing, in terms of how good we feel, how satisfied we are with our lives, and how well we are functioning in different areas. We might think about positive relationships as a part of functioning well. However, there

We exist in multiple domains throughout our lives. We might be a professional, a parent, a partner, a sports person, a community member, a friend, a child. Our roles and responsibilities differ for each role, and the challenge is to meaningfully satisfy these requirements with as little conflict as possible. This is known as work–life

Authenticity is not about taking the soft option; it involves openness and honesty with ourselves and others. And living authentically does not mean existing without pain or sadness; they are as much a part of life as joy and love (Joseph, 2019). Being your true self promotes a life of purpose and meaning, even in