Once you stop chasing after the wrong things or people, you give the right things or people a chance to catch you . Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to tell when certain things or people -- say, a stressful job or inconsiderate partner -- aren't right for us. Then again, some of us find ourselves in such a situation time and time again. Take the girl who can't help but fall for the bad boy, or a former alcoholic who repeatedly falls off the wagon. If you persistently engage in these damaging behaviors, how do you expect to progress in life? You'll continue to miss out on job opportunities, potential suitors, and hobbies/interests that can greatly enrich your life. Some people are simply in denial. They recognize something or someone as adverse and yet they still have a hard time extricating themselves from it. For example, they hang on to the idea that their insolent boyfriend will change for the better. Or, they justify smoking or drinking with the argumen...

In several of my posts, I've stressed the benefits of keeping a small circle of great friends as opposed to a large group of people you may not even be that close to. But here's the truth: the wider your circle of really good friends, the better. The reason for this is that even the people you call your best friends can flake out on you from time to time or behave uncharacteristically.  Maybe the person has hit a rough patch, is unusually busy, or just doesn't care to invest as much time in the friendship anymore. Thus, it's good to have back-up friends you can turn to in the event one proves unreliable.   The same can be said in the realm of dating. Most of us have witnessed people we're dating go from seemingly interested to flaky almost overnight. It's much easier to stomach the vagaries of one's behavior when you have other prospects lined up.  Think of it like job hunting. It's always easier to find a job when you already have a jo...