Tag Archives: "self-control"

I love paradoxes, parables, koans, aphorisms, fables, Secrets of Adulthood, and teaching stories of all kinds. Several months ago, I posted about the “one-coin problem.” This is my phrase to describe what’s also known as “the argument of the growing heap”: “If ten coins are not enough to make a man rich, what if you add one coin? What if … →

Last week, I posted Want to be free from French fries? Or, why abstaining may be easier than you think. The comments were so fascinating that I want to post some follow-up questions to you Abstainers and Moderators out there. (If you need to catch up on the whole abstainer/moderator split, or figure out what category you’re in, read here.) … →

Every Wednesday is Tip Day,  or Quiz Day. This Wednesday: Quiz–Are you an abstainer or a moderator? For the last week and a half, I’ve been traveling on my book tour for Happier at Home. I love getting the chance to talk to so many people about happiness. When I gave my talks, the issue of abstainers and moderators came … →

So much of my Happiness Project is aimed at helping me curb my very strong tendency to “talk in a mean voice” or “make a mean face” (which is how my daughters refer to this behavior). In a flash of irritation or anger, I snarl at my sweet daughters or my good-natured husband. They don’t like this, and I don’t … →

Assay: I’ve been thinking a lot about moderation lately. I’m an abstainer, so moderation is often tough for me (are you an abstainer or a moderator?), but I certainly hear people talk about their striving for moderation, and I strive for moderation in many areas of my life. But while moderation is often a helpful goal, it can also be … →