Let's face it: There's no escaping hardship in life. Whether we're dealing with an impossible project at work or tackling financial issues at home, life has a way of throwing a money wrench at us when least expected. But this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. Sure, we can feel lost and frustrated at first, but it's critical that we take the long view and realize we can emerge better -- stronger, wiser, more confident -- than before. And it starts with your mindset. If you can frame things differently in your mind, it goes a long way toward making it easier for you to surmount the challenge you face. Rather than meeting a challenge with trepidation, think of it as an exciting test of your will, drive, and mettle.  The former engenders feelings of fear and hopelessness. The latter approach fuels you with energy, motivation, and boldness. Sure, it isn't foolproof, but ask yourself these questions: If we didn't have challenges in li...

I recently stumbled upon this perspicacious quote by 18th century essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882): "The only person you're destined to become is the person you decide to be." Let's stop for a moment and acknowledge the undeniable truthfulness contained in this one statement. Essentially, Emerson is saying that you are in the driver's seat. You are manning the ship otherwise known as your life, and the direction you take the ship in is of your choosing. Your will is your meal ticket. Whether you wish to be raking in the big bucks as a businessman; making a big difference in the community as a teacher; or simply living a quiet, unassuming life by the lake, you can fulfill your dreams so long as you: Work hard Believe in yourself Resist other's efforts to impose their views and opinions on you, and  Never give up Do things always turn out exactly as we planned? Obviously not. But part of the deal is navigating the vagari...

For those of us in the U.S. who have to work today -- a federal holiday commemorating the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. -- getting out of bed was especially difficult. But don't despair! Rather than dwelling on the start of a new week as a bad thing, think of it as a fresh opportunity to do more of the things you want to do over the next couple of days. Maybe you're dead set on losing weight and welcome the chance to hit the gym early in the week, or look forward to squeezing in time to read your favorite book during your lunch breaks. Although everyone looks forward to the weekend, the bulk of the week is spread over the five days most of us have to go to work. That being said, we might as well do all we can to make Monday through Friday as enjoyable and productive as possible. That "I don't want to go back to work" feeling starts to set in as early as Sunday morning for many people. But rather than focusing on the most onerous aspects of the com...

I hadn't even heard of Uber until just a few months ago, when my friend told me he had signed up as a driver to supplement his income. My wife and I finally used it during our vacation in Boston earlier this month. While we saw the vast majority of the sites and attractions on foot -- mind you, Boston is a very walkable city -- we opted to use the service to travel further distances, e.g., from Boston to Cambridge and back. Let's just say I came away feeling as if Uber is the best thing since sliced bread. In case you've never used it, all you have to do is use the Uber app on your phone to indicate where you are and where you want to go. You'll be assigned to the driver nearest you, who will likely arrive in less than 5 minutes. The fare is charged to the credit card you have on file, and you can later rate the driver as well as your overall experience. Luckily, all our drivers were prompt and friendly, earning them high marks from us. I'm amazed at ho...

When you ask people which qualities they deem critical to success -- whether it's at work or in the realm of relationships -- most fail to mention a crucial trait: drive.  You can be the hardest working person in the world, but without the drive to see through an arduous task or experience, you will not prevail. You won't get very far by doing things in fits and starts. Success can only be attained when one has the drive, or will, to throw themselves into something wholeheartedly and never give up until their goal is achieved. I know I'm capable of great things -- like becoming the CEO of my company or earning a Ph.D. If I don't have the drive to achieve those things, however, all the potential in the world means little. Not only should I be passionate  about achieving the goal, but I must believe that the goal, however challenging, can be achieved . I must envision myself enjoying the sweet smell of success. And that's where being positive and believing in...

Some of us live in small towns. Others reside in big cities. I live in Florida, where traffic seems to be getting worse by the day. Last year, my wife and I bought our condo in an area known for being highly congested. We knew this ahead of time, but proceeded nonetheless because we got a great deal on the condo. Life is all about tradeoffs, right? Thankfully, we catch a bit of a break when kids go on summer vacation. Over that two month span, the drive to and from work is roughly 35 minutes. During the school year, though, I have a considerably longer commute: 45-60 minutes both ways, and that's assuming there are no accidents. We've been living in the condo for over 6 months now, and already the commute is starting to wear on me. It's gotten so bad that I decided to go to a Starbucks after work today (instead of driving straight home like I normally do) to wait out the traffic. I think I would rather have a shorter drive at the expense of getting home a bit la...

With all the rewards that sex has to offer, it's no surprise most of us are inclined to get as much of it as we can. It feels really good, it's free (assuming it's between you and your partner, of course), and, most important, it can be the key to a healthier, longer life. According to WebMD, the myriad benefits of sex include: 1. Boosting your libido 2. Lowering blood pressure 3. Helping keep your immune system working properly 4. Improving women's bladder control 5. Lowering heart attack risk 6. Lessening pain 7. Serving as good exercise 8. Improving sleep 9. Reducing men's chances of getting prostate cancer 10. Easing stress The health benefits associated with sex are well documented. Not only do sex and intimacy boost your happiness and self-esteem, they reduce anxiety and induce feelings of relaxation. Being that sexual intercourse can result in the conception of a child, it is arguably the most intimate thing you can do with another person. I...

And no, a strong sex drive and big muscles didn't quite make the cut. I know there are several contenders for the top 2 spots, but I would say the two qualities women desire most in men are honesty and self-confidence. I thought about sense of humor, but not every single woman necessarily seeks a man who can make her laugh. That would probably occupy 4th or 5th place on the list. However, every woman I've talked to says a man HAS to be sincere -- no ifs or buts about it. If she can't trust the guy, there's no way that a relationship could ever be possible with that person. With stories of infidelity dominating the tabloids and the divorce rate skyrocketing, it's no wonder that women are on high alert. Then there's self-confidence. Women desire men who are sure of themselves. Now, they don't have to be self-confident when it comes to every itty bitty thing they do (no one's perfect), but they should show passion and a drive to excel at something, wh...