A Better Life

De: Steven Stosny

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

How do we make a better life?

That’s the question this collection of essays attempts to answer in various and, I hope, interesting ways.

We know from the outset that a better life comes from a solid sense of self that can grow, contribute, appreciate, love fully, and parent well.

A solid sense of self must be able to cope with stress and regulate uncomfortable emotions in ways that facilitate growth and well-being. It must be able to use emotional pain as a means of transcendence, not imprisonment. It must have an internal locus of control, a belief that one’s own actions can change one’s life for the better. With internal locus of control, we reduce the incredible emotional reactivity that plagues these times. A solid sense of self builds on a foundation of values and character.

A better life means loving better. Many issues can keep us from experiencing the transcendence of love. Untreated, these block compassion and kindness, undermine trust, impair intimate connection, and slowly pollute the air that relationships need to breathe.

Nothing can disrupt the quest for a better life more than trouble with children. Most parents suffer unprecedented painful frustrations these days. Our children face ever increasing emotional challenges, threats to their identity, and social assaults on their developing sense of self.

Parents empower themselves by empowering their children. They empower their children by modeling how to cope with stress and regulate uncomfortable emotions. Most importantly, they model a solid, well-integrated sense of self, with a foundation of basic humanity and character.

These are the psychological elements of a better life. Now let’s see how to achieve them.

Steven Stosny,
September, 2023