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The Worst Is Over Rated on Goodreads
February 12, 2011 | 
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Actually, I just re-read this book, which I first read in 2005 for job-related purposes. Re-reading it for practical, daily purposes enriched it for me. I love this book.
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Posted in Blog, Hypnosis, Verbal First Aid | 
Tags: emergencies, Goodreads, Hypnosis, The Worst is Over, Verbal First Aid | 
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"What Are We Supposed To Do?" News From The Front Lines of the Great New Mexico Gas-Out
Another piece, this time on self-sufficiency, both emotional and physical. And the story of one unfortunate fellow trapped in an icy cold trailer when the gas just stopped flowing.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judith-acosta/new-mexico-gas-outage_b_818323.html
Just got this hysterical comment from friend, Scott Clark:
Modern Medicine: Healing or Stealing?
In response to a new Huffington Post article, Lawson, a regular commentator, shared this beautiful story:
Hi Jude,
I read your wonderful, thoughtful article with mixed emotion. First, when I grow up, I want to write as well as you! Second, I am seriously saddened by the creeping loss of both trusting medical relationsh
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Posted in Blog | Tags: doctor-patient relationship, healing, Huffington Post, medicine | No Comments »
Be Happy Or Else
We posted a new article on Huffington Post, entitled "Be Happy or Else" and got the most wonderful comment from a reader that I wanted to share with you!
"Hi Jude, Mother Theresa said, "The most terrible poverty is
loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." The man who
cut himself off attempting to guard against suffering, in fact
fosters it. Many suffer with fear of regret, loss, or
rejection; living in the shadows of life from ignorance or a
misguided notion they are shielded from pain, unaware its
avoidance can itself be so painful. This “poverty” is worse
when self-inflected. Though loved, when you feel you are not,
that perception becomes you reality and the fog of loneliness
settles about you; you exist with your own self-defined
ouroboros. This search for constant happiness is epidemic,
driven by societal and parental apathy, exacerbated by the
visions of “being the best and brightest” if only you do
this or that, or buy this or that, or wear this or that, and
even think this or that… Our children learn to believe
life is defined by externals rather than from within, so no
other result is possible than the hollow, transient spike of
happy inclusion followed by the dip into more wanting. They
become "left out"; isolated from abundant options and
opportunities. Their choices contribute to their circumstance,
but lack of guidance and support exacerbates their plight, and
their fate is sealed. The cycles of ignorance remain unbroken;
the suffering without recognition of suffering continues, and
the “happy face” of living becomes a ghoulish mask hiding
the rictus of desperation. Well done, a great
article! Lawson"
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Posted in Blog | Tags: freedom, happiness, Huffington Post, loneliness, loved, suffering | No Comments »
A new article in Huffington Post : "Be Happy or Else."
One reader made this comment, which I thought I'd share with you, it was so well-written.
"Hi Jude, Mother Theresa said, "The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved." The man who cut himself off attempting to guard against suffering, in fact fosters it. Many suffer with fear of regret, loss, or rejection; living in the shadows of life from ignorance or a misguided notion they are shielded from pain, unaware its avoidance can itself be so painful. This “poverty” is worse when self-inflected. Though loved, when you feel you are not, that perception becomes you reality and the fog of loneliness settles about you; you exist with your own self-defined ouroboros. This search for constant happiness is epidemic, driven by societal and parental apathy, exacerbated by the visions of “being the best and brightest” if only you do this or that, or buy this or that, or wear this or that, and even think this or that… Our children learn to believe life is defined by externals rather than from within, so no other result is possible than the hollow, transient spike of happy inclusion followed by the dip into more wanting. They become "left out"; isolated from abundant options and opportunities. Their choices contribute to their circumstance, but lack of guidance and support exacerbates their plight, and their fate is sealed. The cycles of ignorance remain unbroken; the suffering without recognition of suffering continues, and the “happy face” of living becomes a ghoulish mask hiding the rictus of desperation. Well done, a great article! Lawson"
Against Our Natures: When Good People Do Bad Things.
It is an archetypal scenario: innocent knave falls victim to the chicanery of a malevolent, urbane and –most importantly — seemingly innocuous predator.
The archetype of the black widow seizing on the hapless victim has been in literature for thousands of years, but perhaps one of the most famous manipulators is Lady Macbeth, who tricks the irresolute Macbeth into killing Duncan. Convincing Macbeth that she is a victim and that he would in fact be doing something important, righteous and courageous, her implied promise is that he would also be bonding himself to her forever and protecting their monarchy.
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Posted in Blog, Psychotherapy, The Next Osama | Tags: human nature, manipulated, narcissism | No Comments »
The Media and Fear Part I: Huffington Post
'Tis the Season to Be Fearful: Confessions of an Ex-Ad-Woman (Part 1)
It was a long time ago. I was young. I was writing for Madison Avenue, hobnobbing with celebrities, going to parties. It was as far from a meaningful life as I've ever been, but it was the 1980's, Reagan was president, we were selling and everyone was buying. Life was "good."
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The Art of Spotting Narcissists
A woman recounted to me a marriage of alternating abuse and abandonment. I asked her how she'd met him and what led her to marry him. She said so innocently, "He was so nice then." I can't count how many times I've heard that.
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Posted in Blog | Tags: Gavin de Becker, gift of fear, manipulation, narcissism, nice girls, Verbal First Aid | No Comments »
Thank you…on Forgiveness and Narcissism.
Dear Judith,
I recently read and commented on your article, “Should You Forgive Narcissists Who’ve Hurt You?” and my life has changed. I want to thank you.
I always knew something was terribly wrong with my mother. I’m 50, and I’ve spent my life trying to figure it out and deal with it (what an understatement!). Your article led me to research Narcissistic Personality Disorder. My mother, without question, has it. She is also has Borderline Personality Disorder. I had known about the BPD, but not the NPT. After a lifetime of invalidation, finally I’m finding validation that what I experienced really did happen.
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Posted in Blog, Holistic Psychotherapy | Tags: forgiveness, narcissism, thank you, Verbal First Aid | No Comments »
Narcissism and The Art of Self-Defense…Why is No So Hard to Say?
The following is an excerpt from the new article in a series on narcissism on Huffington Post … It is the most personal part of it, but the reason why the article is so important.
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