A perfect test score, perfect credit, a face without blemishes, maybe even a problem-free life: these are ideals for many. Setting aside the question of whether these goals are achievable, on deeper reflection are they even desirable? Your parents, your teachers, and your bosses all want you to avoid mistakes. Here’s why they have it all wrong.

The same person who visits a dentist regularly, takes their children to the pediatrician for vaccinations, or hires an accountant to help work through the complexities of tax law might resolutely avoid seeing a therapist until the problem becomes critical.

Riding out the global recession means marshaling your emotional resources as much as managing your finances. You can use today’s economic setback as a catalyst for personal growth right now — even before the recovery takes hold.

Gratitude for what we have right now doesn’t have to mean giving up on dreams or aspirations. On the contrary, being thankful can help sustain us through the sometimes difficult and painful work of changing our lives for the better.

Smiling can actually add years to your life, counteracting the effects of stress, alleviating pain, lowering blood pressure, and boosting the immune system.

To paraphrase Harryman, sometimes, stuff just happens. How we respond determines whether we use that stuff to grow flowers or just end up smelling bad…

Creativity is linked in many complex ways both to general human wellness and to our sense of well-being. The more people do creative things simply because they love to do them, the greater their sense of satisfaction and joy.