Michael Mantell

Dr. Michael Mantell

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:

A Torah song of privilege and poverty

What’s with Moshe and his songs? We’re familiar with the “Song of the Sea,” יָשִֽׁיר־מֹשֶׁה֩ אָ֣ז, in Exodus where we sing of praise for the miraculous redemption following the crossing of the sea while Ha’azinu  הַאֲזִינוּ — “listen” – teaches us in a dramatic artistic way something more broadly about the important role of our attitude in life. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Being Grateful for Gratitude

Those who awaken daily to a mind filled with gratitude find grace and graciousness throughout life. The word gratitude is anchored in the Latin word gratia, meaning these gifts for, and of a positive life. And the good news is you can train yourself to open your eyes, your heart, at the start of every day, to grateful thoughts – especially valuable during these emotionally trying times of COVID19 when building wellbeing is particularly essential to living healthily. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

A time of return to good spiritual health

he parashiyot of Nitzavim–Vayelech are often read on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Hashanah. For good reason. Especially this year with synagogues closed, shortened services, reduced attendance, Zoom classes, with a never far off apprehension about health for those who do attend religious gatherings, many have wandered from observance, from Hashem, from mitzvot.  [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Your Mindset is Your Compass

“It is not primarily our physical selves that limit us but rather our mindset about our physical limits.” — Ellen Langer, Ph.D. in Counterclockwise: Mindful Health and the Power of Possibilities. “What? But my world is upside down! I mean, I’m financially stretched way too thin, my waist is getting way too large, my relationship at home is disintegrating, and she’s saying it’s all in my mind?!” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Gala to honor Rabbi Chaim and Temi Hollander

Young Israel of San Diego has scheduled a virtual gala tribute to honor Rabbi Chaim and Rebbetzin Temi Hollander for their 21 years of devoted service to members and friends of the Orthodox synagogue. Young Israel of San Diego was founded 31 years ago. The virtual gala will take place on Sunday, September 13, at 7 pm. [SDJW]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell, San Diego County, Science, Medicine, & Education

Doing mitzvot with joy or with oy?

Couldn’t we all use some genuine happiness about now? This week’s parasha may be just the thing that can bring it. Do you encounter your Judaism as a “get to” or a “have to” experience? This week’s Torah reading, Ki Tavo, asks us to consider how we serve Hashem, with joy…or with oy,“…because you did not serve the Lord, your God, with happiness and with gladness of heart, when [you had an] abundance of everything…you will serve your enemies.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Schluff Gezunt, Sleep Well

“Schluff Gezunt” a Yiddish expression, means “sleep well.” What a lovely way to put yourself in the best position to sleep well each and every night with a wish from a loved one to sleep well. While that sounds sweet, innocent, and childlike, for millions of people suffering with insomnia disorder and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (delayed type), about a third or more of the population, a simple wish before bedtime unfortunately isn’t enough to promote a restorative night’s sleep, essential for health and wellbeing. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

The Mantell CHAIR method

Henry David Thoreau once shared that he had three chairs in his home, “…one for solitude, two for friendship, and three for society.” Doesn’t that provide you with remarkable insight about the value of a chair? Chairs provide comfort, stability, relaxation, style and for Thoreau, “…solitude, friendship and society.” [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell

Torah, environmentalism, and political leadership

Shoftim tells us, “When you besiege a city for an extended period, to make war against it to capture it, do not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat from them, and you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of the field a man that you should besiege it?” The Ibn Ezra sees this as a statement, not a question, “Ki Haadam eitz hasadeh, the human being is a tree of the field.” He, like so many contemporary environmentalists, believes that we are intertwined with our environment. Destroy a tree, and we destroy ourselves. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

Seeing and choosing the righteous path

Is your glass half empty, half filled, or as mine is, filled with 6 ounces of water? Yes, “the link is what you think,” and this week’s Torah reading underscores this idea with its words, “See, this day I set before you a blessing and a curse…” Couldn’t this pasuk have begun, “This day I set before you blessing and curse…”? Why begin with “See”?[Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Jewish Religion, Michael Mantell

You won’t exercise without this

Whether you want to electrify your peak performance under pressure at work, at home, or in your local park, boost your confidence and mental toughness in your gym, amplify your leadership or ignite team cohesion in your company it takes motivation, goal setting, relaxation, concentration, imagery, and self-talk. It takes an exceptional mental workout to arouse a healthy, wellbeing promoting physical workout, wherever that may take place. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D}

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Lifestyles, Michael Mantell, Sports & Competitions

Gratitude to the One Who makes it all possible

After eating a fine meal at a friend’s home, we go out of our way to thank the host, send a thank you note, sometimes even send a gift after the meal, if we haven’t brought one in advance. But how much time do we spend thanking the true Host? In Birkat HaMazon, we have an opportunity to bring this week’s teaching alive, “And you will eat and be sated, and you shall bless the Lord, your God, for the good land He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:10). If you believe Hashem plays a personal role in your life and you genuinely recognize that whatever you have comes through His hand, you’re likely to be filled with Hakarat Hatov, recognizing the good, gratitude. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]

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Michael Mantell, Middle East