Michael Mantell

That 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]

Heard 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]

Let’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]

Remember 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]

“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]

Nobody 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]

 Want 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]

Are 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]

COVID-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]

Whether you call it “mysophobia,” “germophobia,” “bacillophobia,” or “bacteriophobia,” pandemic fever has got lots of people just plain scared of contact with dirt, germs, other people, and even their own hands. These particular pathological fears are commonly associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, today in 2020 or at any time, including 2009 when I first began writing about pandemics. It seems if anxiety or depression run in families, people are more likely to experience these unhealthy fears. [Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D]