Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. is a retired psychologist, best-selling author, international speaker, and a highly sought after cognitive behavioral coach whose actionable, valuable and practical work has been featured on Fox News, ABC-TV, NBC-TV, CBS-TV, The New York Times, and The Huffington Post. He has been teaching how Torah’s wisdom can lead to optimal living for many decades. You can follow him on Facebook and in other social media, where he has posted the #MantellDaily5 everyday for years.
His books, available on Amazon, include:
Are you still joking about obesity, even now? No, I’m not on a rant. But I sure could be. What’s funny about a chronic disease that impairs health and renders people more sensitive to deadly co-morbid factors associated with COVID-19? Nothing. Nothing is funny at all. [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Stop blaming people for obesity Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellThat we are in a time of profound, extreme and for many, overwhelming transformation and adjustment, is unmistakable. Arianna Huffington, observed, “Transformative change rarely happens without a catalyst and a crisis,” in an article entitled, “We are Never Going Back.” No, we are, and never do, go back, despite our yearning for the “good old days,” that we erroneously believed were free of severe hardships and emotional turmoil. After all, it was Franklin Pierce Adams who said, “Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Live free in the present normal Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellHeard any good negative predictions lately? No, of course you haven’t heard any good negative predictions lately. That’s because there aren’t any good negative predictions. There are only negative negative predictions. That’s because there’s essentially nothing good about a negative prediction! Negative predictions can only be negative. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
A tollbooth in the desert of the mind Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellPerhaps we need this week’s parasha, Emor, more than many other times in our history. With protests for and against seemingly everything, vitriol and bitterness filling the media, contempt and temper raging in many homes, and hostility and acrimony swelling in the political arena, what we can learn from Emor, speaking with love and sensitivity, is vital to our healthy future. And isn’t it interesting that we read Emor during the Omer, words that appear to be the same, but jumbled? Could it be because we stop counting the Omer when we receive the eseret hadibrot, and dibrot, daber, emor, vayomer, ve’armata, are all words connected to speaking, specifically, Hashem speaking to all of us? But just what’s the difference between speaking and…speaking? [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
A Torah command to speak softly, gently Read More »
Jewish Religion, Lifestyles, Michael MantellLet’s start with a head’s up. If you are looking for motivation, stop the search. You see, after studying this field for more than four decades, I’ve arrived at this: motivation is not something you have, lose, find, get, create, or build. It’s something you reveal. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Motivation — you don’t get it Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellIf you’re like most folks who read websites, magazines and newspapers, listen to a myriad of podcasts or TV news broadcasts with experts from all walks of life, you may be totally confused by the sensationalism and shock tactics covering COVID-19, mental wellbeing, physical health, obesity, exercise, nutrition, stress and a whole host of other related topics. Much of it is twaddle, claptrap, and sheer poppycock. And we don’t need research to tell us that stuff isn’t good for you health. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
The harm of SIGH-ence Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & EducationRemember back in February when the media was babbling on about medical professionals debating over whether to call the “epidemic” of COVID-19 a “pandemic”? You couldn’t wipe the drool off of news anchors’ faces fast enough given the headline turbo fuel this created. OMG, a pandemic!!! [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Obesity: Where’s The Panic of COVID-19? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell“It’s so tough these days,” “I don’t know how much longer I can take this terrible pressure of being cooped up at home,” “I’m filled with so much anxiety and sadness.” “I just feel lost and like nothing is in my control anymore.” Sound familiar? [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Formidable thoughts for daunting times Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellNobody I know desired to attract COVID-19 into her/his life, and yet here it is. The famed Law of Attraction tells us that we all have the ability to pull into our lives whatever we focus on. Mahatma Gandhi noted, “A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes.” So why aren’t we inviting a beautiful state of love, joy, playfulness, gratitude, healing, positivity and an end to this pandemic, something we are all certainly centered on? We are longing for these, aren’t we? [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
What pandemic are you attracting? Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellThis week’s double Torah portion, Acharei and Kedoshim, leaps off the scroll with relevance to the pandemic of our times, COVID, or if you prefer, kaf, bet, dalet—the equivalent our English letters, K, V, D, forms the root for the word Kavod. What’s honor have to do with these parshiot? Plenty. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Where’s the Kovid in COVID? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellWant to keep your brain in a healthier balance and improve your life even while the world feels like it’s spinning out of control? Harvard Psychiatrist John Ratey, M.D., tells us how. He advises that we go for a little run or brisk walk. Why? {Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Moving, literally, through COVID-19 Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellBarbara Bry, San Diego City Council’s President Pro Tem and candidate for mayor, hosted a one-hour webinar on Monday that included the following panelists: Physician Coach, and Assistant Clinical Professor at University of California, San Diego Dr. Helane Fronek; Associate Professor in Family Medicine, Public Health, and Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr. Suzi Hong; Emeritus Professor in Psychiatry at University of California, San Diego Dr.David Janowsky; and Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, and Health Mentor Marc Rosenberg
Mental Health Challenges During a Crisis Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, San Diego CountyAre you ready to refuse to be miserable? Are you prepared to make yourself happy at every chance you can despite sheltering-at-home? While it may be silly and unreasonable to think that a brief article here can lead your feelings of happiness to become stronger while the world is filled with worry, anger, apprehension, I believe it isn’t that silly or unreasonable if you will stop doing one simple thing, demanding your way through COVID-19, and indeed, life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]
Refuse to be miserable during COVID-19 Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael MantellCOVID-19 has tossed into the deep blue sea many of the concerns and values, not that long ago that we once held dear. For example, remember that catchy “work-life balance” concept that management consultants made small fortunes from rushing on to stages to teach everyone how to attain? Then remember when that wasn’t selling so much, so they changed it to “work-life integration”? Be careful what you teach…we are now way past “integration” and many are inundated with “work-life intermingling.” [Michael R. Mantell, PhD]
Remember ‘Work-life balance?’ Read More »
Lifestyles, Michael Mantell