Clients give me all sorts of excuses for why they don’t reach their goals. One of the most popular is “I don’t have the time.” Lately, I’ve started believing them.

I’ve heard it said that life has two speeds: too fast and too slow. The harried workaholic and the perpetual slacker are both familiar archetypes in our culture.What factors differentiate the tortoises and the hares among us? How can we become more aware of these forces that drive us in order to get get more control of our own internal throttle?

We adults are supposed to be the responsible ones. We have a duty to protect those who are dependent upon us for their welfare. Ensuring the safety of our children is a duty we all share.

The human psyche has a darker side and, like Peter Pan, we would do well not to lose connection with that shadow. In order to be a better person, we need to acknowledge and ‘own’ those unconscious, repressed parts of self.

When clients feel they’ve been wronged, resentment, fear and anger are sure to follow. Working through these emotions, as well as the backlash against them, presents challenges for therapists and clients alike.

Here is the guidance I give my clients when they complain of confusion and disorganization in their lives.

The perspectives that come to dominate our thinking about the aging of our population will probably say more about us as a people and about our collective character than any issue we’ve had to confront in modern times.