Hey Optimist Minds! Has anyone ever told you to stop seeing yourself as a victim? Playing the victim is an exaggeration of victimhood used to justify unhealthy behaviour. Sometimes, people tend to play the victim card to excuse abuse and manipulation. But more often, they...

Hey Optimist Minds! They say, ‘to feel aroused is to feel alive’. Sexual excitement is an intense feeling that takes over your body and mind.  Arousal can be defined as the physiological and psychological responses in preparation for sexual intercourse or when exposed to sexual...

Hey Optimist Minds! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be truly in love?  Love doesn’t have to be a magical experience packed with romance and grand gestures. Sometimes, being excessively romantic can misrepresent what true love is about.  Additionally, it’s not uncommon for...

Hey Optimist Minds! Have you ever felt intensely attracted to anyone to the point that you’d use the word ‘obsession’? An obsession is defined as an idea or thought that continually preoccupies or intrudes on a person's mind. Sometimes, our feelings for another person can...

Hey Optimist Minds! Do you get a little confused about the rules of flirting?  Are you unsure of how to communicate to someone that you like them? Or, perhaps, you need some help recognising when others are hitting on you. Attraction can be communicated without...

Hey Optimist Minds! Have you been feeling pretty blue for some time but you’re not sure why? Research studies investigating the nature of unhappiness measure it in terms of life satisfaction or subjective wellbeing. Ed Diener coined the term, ‘subjective wellbeing’ in 1984. It describes...

Hey Optimist Minds! Isn’t it wonderful to have friends you can rely on for love and support? It’s easier to face your troubles if you have a friend you can talk to about them. However, not all friends show up for you when you need...

Hey Optimist Minds! When you’re at home, do you tend to feel uncomfortable? Is it easier to be your authentic self when you’re alone or away instead of when you’re with your family? If you answered yes to both these questions, it may be that...

Hey Optimist Minds! Is your relationship with your parents complicated? Do you find it hard to be yourself around them?  The way our parents interact with us as we’re growing up impacts how we look at ourselves, others, and the world. If their parenting deprives...

When you find yourself blocked on social media or more bluntly, cut off from a relationship, no matter the circumstances, it can be a painful experience. Dealing with the aftermath of being cut off involves actively dealing with the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that follow....

People who are worth your time and effort are people who are willing to work with you to set healthy boundaries, communicate, and grow together and individually. Relationships can be a challenge, especially when you have gone past the honeymoon phase and have now begun...

Hey Optimist Minds! Do you have a friend who has a knack for making everything about themselves? Maybe they’re good looking or successful, and they love talking about it.  Narcissists are people who are incredibly self-absorbed and entitled. They consider themselves the centre of the...