Jumpstart Your Dream Life

  • About
  • Articles
  • Free Guide
  • Bookshelf
  • Resources

The Matthew Effect: Why Small Initial Differences Lead to Large Gaps Later

October 12, 2020 By Melissa

How would you help someone who is struggling in school?

Imagine you meet a high school student. The person doesn’t seem particularly enthused about school or learning in general. They struggle with understanding concepts in their classes, and their friends also don’t care much for school.

The sad truth is that a student’s fate is set in stone as early as first grade.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Success Tagged With: change, complacent, failure, goal setting, life lesson, psychology, research, success

How to Promote Your Writing

August 3, 2020 By Melissa

Going viral can be a fluky process.

Once in awhile, you write a piece that seems so-so, which ends up popular with readers. But more often, you think an article is going to be a hit, only for it to be a dud. You pour hours of work into something you think is brilliant. And yet it goes by unnoticed and unappreciated.

All that wasted time and effort feels disappointing.

Why does it happen? How can something that seems promising end up going nowhere? Is there a way to keep that from happening?

Let’s dive in.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: creativity, learning, life lesson, research, writing

How to Write a Full-Length Article

July 20, 2020 By Melissa

Imagine it’s the start of a car race.

All the cars are lined up, people are cheering, and engines are roaring. Everyone’s waiting for the race to begin. The tension is high.

Bang! goes the pistol. The cars speed off, leaving only a cloud of fumes that dissipates into the sky. The drivers feel the adrenaline through their veins as they accelerate.

They know exactly what to do. Hopefully, that’s the feeling you get when you write, too. You sit down, open up a document, and start typing away furiously.

Except that’s probably not what happens.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Writing Tagged With: creativity, learning, life lesson, research, writing

How to Rewire Your Brain to Perform Difficult Tasks

June 22, 2020 By Melissa

Why do some people accomplish so much, while others do hardly anything at all?

How is one person able to exercise, hold meetings, and finish numerous tasks before lunch, while someone else hasn’t gotten out of bed yet? How does someone work on their craft, day after day for years, while someone else can only daydream about getting started?

We all know what we should be doing. We should be learning. We should be staying healthy. We should be working on things that will pay dividends in the future.

But we don’t. You see, those things aren’t easy. In fact, they can be incredibly hard.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: brain, change, goal setting, habits, life lesson, productivity, psychology, research, science, success

Overthinking is Damaging Your Well-Being

May 25, 2020 By Melissa

Imagine that it’s close to bedtime.

You’ve finished a long day of work, ate dinner, and watched TV. You get into bed and relax by doing some reading.

After a while, you realize it’s getting late and decide to call it a night. You reach over and turn off the light. It’s pitch dark now.

You know you should be falling asleep. And yet there you are, staring at the ceiling. Your mind is racing with all sorts of thoughts.

You think back to something you said and wonder if things came out wrong. You reflect on a past action that resulted in negative consequences. Then, you start to worry about all the things that could possibly go wrong.

With each passing thought, you feel yourself sinking into a low mood.

If this sounds like you, you may be suffering from overthinking.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: brain, happiness, health, life lesson, mindset, psychology, research, stress

5 Ways You Can Increase Your Intelligence, According to Science

March 16, 2020 By Melissa

We often assume intelligence is fixed from birth.

If you’re born with it, you have it. And if you aren’t? That’s too bad. End of story.

Previously, neuroscientists believed that our brains were “fixed”. No matter what someone did, there was nothing they could do to change their brains. If anything, our brain functions would become worse over time.

However, more recent research shows otherwise.

But before we get to that, let’s answer the question: what is intelligence?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Psychology Tagged With: brain, change, intelligence, learning, mindset, research

Bad Things Happen When You Ignore Warning Signs

December 2, 2019 By Melissa

In January 2002, a lone man predicted a natural disaster that would impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Local expert Dieudonne Wafulah had been studying Mount Nyiragongo, a volcano in Congo, for 15 years without pay. He tracked the activity of Nyiragongo and another nearby, smaller volcano for signs of change. Although his equipment had been stolen and vandalized over the years, he persisted in his work.

Then, he saw it. Based on the patterns Wafulah witnessed, Mount Nyiragongo was about to blow. There had been a series of tremors in the earth some months before. Black smoke rose from the mountain. The lava pool inside the crater had shifted and was getting higher.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: brain, change, complacent, failure, habits, life lesson, mindset, psychology, research, self-deception

Were Our Ancestors Happier Than We Are Today?

May 27, 2019 By Melissa

Picture this: It’s the year 10,000 B.C. The sun is just rising.

You wake up to the sounds of rustling nearby. A few people sharpen their spears as they discuss the upcoming hunt. After downing a few gulps of water and some dried meat, you collect your supplies in a bag for the day.

You go out hiking with a few close relatives and friends to a berry patch. As you pick the ripest berries and place them in your basket, you overhear a funny story that your cousin shares about a conversation that morning. Laughter erupts.

The day carries on, dragging the sun along the sky. Beads of sweat accumulate on your forehead while your basket grows heavier. Finally, you hear a call from a fellow forager. It’s time to head back.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: happiness, history, inspirational, life lesson, mindset, motivation, research, science

Why Likability Matters More Than Competence

March 25, 2019 By Melissa

Malpractice lawsuits are every doctor’s nightmare.

Once a doctor gets sued for malpractice, the implications reach far and wide. Patients distrust their doctor. Self-doubt creeps in. Some doctors even take it as a sign to leave the medical profession altogether. Even though many cases are dismissed or settled outside court, the effects of receiving that dreaded notice letter can last a lifetime.

A study using a malpractice database in Florida found that 6 percent of obstetricians accounted for over 70 percent of all malpractice-related expenses over a 5-year period. Further research showed that claims at all levels, from unpaid claims to large paid claims, played a predictor in whether a doctor was sued in the past.

Basically, some doctors get sued repeatedly, while others hardly ever get sued. There’s clearly a difference between the two. But what is it? Why do malpractice lawsuits happen in the first place?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Psychology Tagged With: brain, change, life lesson, psychology, psychology study, research, social, social skills

10 Signs You Need to Let Go of Someone

February 25, 2019 By Melissa

A strong social network is important to our well-being.

But what if components of that network fail us? What if instead of uplifting us, supporting us, and making us better, they make us feel worse and drag us down?

The obvious answer would be to cut those people out. Stop talking to them altogether. But sometimes the answer isn’t so obvious. There are gray areas.

Maybe a friend pushes you into doing things you’re uncomfortable with, but has a great sense of humor and is fun to be around. Or a partner is thoughtful and means well, but simply isn’t relatable. It’s hard to cut the cord for a number of reasons.

So when is it time to say goodbye?

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: change, complacent, habits, happiness, instinct, learning, life lesson, mindset, psychology, research

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • Next Page »

Like what you’ve read?

Do you want to get things done and enjoy the rest of the day guilt-free?

You can do that by signing up below for my guide How To Get Anything You Want (it's free!):

Popular Posts

Are Books Superior to TV? How They Affect Our Minds in Different Ways

How to Read the Right Way: A Complete Guide

5 Types of Music That Will Increase Your Productivity, According to Science

10 Signs You Need to Let Go of Someone

How Late Should You Be Drinking Your Daily Coffee?

  • Contact
  • Student Log In
Copyright © 2021 | Terms and Conditions
Learn how to stop stalling on your goals
I'll send you a guide on setting up a fail-proof system.
You'll also get fresh insights sent over to help you improve your life and work.
Like what you read?
Get fresh insights like this by signing up below:
Look forward to seeing you inside!