Daniel Dashnaw Daniel Dashnaw

Can Happiness Be Learned?

The pursuit of happiness is a universal endeavor, but can it be taught?

According to a groundbreaking study, the answer is a resounding yes, provided you keep practicing the strategies learned.

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What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw

What form of stress ages you the most?

As a couples therapist, I've seen firsthand how stress can permeate every aspect of our lives, affecting not only our relationships but also our physical appearance.

Among the various types of stress, financial stress seems to take the greatest toll on our looks.

A compelling study led by Professor Margie Lachman sheds light on this issue, revealing that financial stress accelerates the aging process more than any other type of stress.

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

Do fearful dreams of hunter-gatherers inform modern anxiety disorders?

As a family therapist, it's fascinating to explore how the dreams of our ancient ancestors may relate to the anxiety disorders we see today.

In hunter-gatherer societies, which still mirror the lifestyles of our early human ancestors, dreams play a crucial role in coping with threats and anxieties.

Recent cross-cultural research delves into the function of dreams among hunter-gatherer societies, suggesting that dreams help prepare us for anxiety-provoking situations in waking life. These are known as ‘simulation theories.’

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What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw What Happy Couples Know Daniel Dashnaw

Why do Americans believe in Willpower Fitness?

Believing that willpower is an infinite resource can unlock greater reserves of self-control.

However, many people fall into the trap of viewing their willpower as limited and needing periodic recharging, making this belief their reality.

These folks believe in Willflower Fitness, which can ebb and flow.

A revealing study compared beliefs about willpower fitness between Europeans and Americans, shedding light on how cultural perspectives influence self-control.

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Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw Social Media and Relationships Daniel Dashnaw

Why do I let things piss me off?

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

The Second Coming W. B. Yeats

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Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw Marriage and Mental Health Daniel Dashnaw

How being in a hurry reveals our true personalities

As a marriage and family therapist, I often emphasize that time is the very essence of life.

It's fascinating how our true selves emerge under the strain of time pressure, a phenomenon that could be described as "being in a hurry” — the way our authentic traits are exposed when we're in a hurry.

This exposure raises profound questions about our nature and the role of time in shaping our identities.

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