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:
By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — You can tell a person by the company he or she keeps. Our friendships not only tell a lot about who we are – in many ways they actually make us who we are. I’ve heard it said that one’s peers create an environment in which the […]
Who is your best friend? Read More »
Michael MantellMichael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO–In .28 seconds I found 18,900,000 results on Bing, and 61,500,000 results in 0.46 seconds—honestly—on Google on how to “survive the holidays.” Millions of tips on how to “survive” the holidays! What in the world has happened to us? Have we gone mad? C’mon now. We need more than these many
Surviving the Holidays? Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — My family owned shoe stores in Newark, New Jersey, when I was growing up. I worked in their stores from the time I was seven years old. One day, my grandfather brought me outside to teach me an important lesson. He pointed out the competitor down the street
Whose store are you running? Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — “Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must,” counseled Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. But what’s with the “must”, JW? When “must” we “endure”? By the time you finish this column, you’ll realize you don’t need to ever endure life, but rather you can find enjoyment in every
Life should be enjoyed, not endured Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO– Of course, those who really need this article probably won’t read it. That’s the way arrogance works. It makes you feel that you are better than the next person, that you certainly don’t need to change, and besides, no one is really smart enough to teach you anything.
Arrogant? Here’s how to become humble Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael Mantell SAN DIEGO — Vote after informal vote, I was in the top five. But when the official decision of who was going to move ahead from the Master’s degree program to the doctoral program, I was reminded of my mother’s words, “Michael, when one door closes another opens.” I wasn’t among the
When one door closes…. Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — It used to be that psychiatrists put insane people into insane asylums. However, today, everyone is seemingly insane. Sort of. Just look at the pathology of our youth, the dysfunction of our families, the violence in our day to day lives, the poisonous popular culture to which
Nowadays we need sane asylums Read More »
Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — When it comes to living really well, many confuse doing so with looking good, feeling good, or having the goods. This leads people to chase after such goods as fake tans, plastic surgery, feel good drugs, virtual friendships, the mansion on the hill—preferably overlooking the water, making
Living with victory, not mediocrity Read More »
Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO–Why do we fast in the first place? Yes, the answer is in the very word itself: F.A.S.T. = For A Spiritual Transformation During Yom Kippur, beginning this year at sundown on October 3rd and ending 25 hours later on October 4th, many Jews will be fasting and engaged
Why do we fast on Yom Kippur? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellMichael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO– This year it begins on Wednesday evening, September 25th. Our chance, once again, to reset the “character clock” and start renewed, fresh, and cleansed. With the beginning of the “High Holidays,” Jews throughout the world are offered the opportunity again to join in the oldest, most widespread, and clearly
Want to do teshuva? Here’s how! Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellMichael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO– There’s a growing sentiment in our population that age is just a number. The new “mantra” is “age be damned.” When a 100 year old man finishes a marathon as happened last year, we know the conventional conceptions of old age must change. September 21-27 is International Active Aging Week.
Myths and facts about aging Read More »
Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & EducationBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO — This year it begins on Wednesday evening, September 25th. Our chance, once again, to reset the “character clock” and start renewed, fresh, and cleansed. With the beginning of the “High Holidays,” Jews throughout the world are offered the opportunity again to join in the oldest, most
Teshuva: Judaism’s version of therapy Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. SAN DIEGO–The month of Elul is the last month in the Jewish calendar. El Al is, of course, the well-known airline of Israel. Boarding an El Al flight, means you know where you are going. After all, you bought a ticket, right? Israel is more than likely your destination, but
Elul and El Al: Where Do You Want to Go? Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael MantellBy Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D SAN DIEGO — “Shluff, now, mamellah.” My mother and grandmother used to say that to me after a few urgings to “Gai shluffen” or, more commonly, “gai shluffie.” How’d you shluff last night? For about 70 million Americans, yes, even readers of the wonderful, positive, life-enhancing San Diego Jewish World,
Here’s to a good night’s ‘Shluff’ Read More »
Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, Science, Medicine, & Education