Because women can identify and verbalize about how they feel easily, they naturally know when they are happy and when they aren’t. But they may not know what truly makes them happy. The secret to being happy varies from person to person and research has shown that we may be wired for happiness by our genetic makeup. But like everything else, we can learn to pursue happiness by putting forth some conscious effort to change the set point our genes have laid out for us.

The following are 5 strategies that contribute to increasing one’s happiness quotient... Read more.

Life has a way of surprising us with challenges we didn’t expect, especially when it comes to our health. Some women can deal with health issues with greater resiliency than others. They tend to rebound and take on difficult situations with confidence and hope. If you believe yourself to be strong in the face of stressful situations, you can classify your emotional hardiness as high. If not, you may want to develop and apply the characteristics of a hardy personality to better enhance your chances of successfully dealing with your health crises.

Clinical psychologist Susan Kobasa, from City University, New York, identified three elements to hardiness... Read more.

Amy Sherman, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor in private practice. She is the author of “Distress-Free Aging: A Boomer’s Guide to Creating a Fulfilled and Purposeful Life.” Visit www.bummedoutboomer.com and receive 75 Stress-Reducing Activities when you sign up for the free eNewsletter. Amy can be reached at amy@bummedoutboomer.com or 561-281-2975.