Articles

schedule Dr. Brooks to Speak

Dr. Brooks’ Monthly Articles

Dr. Brooks’ books and articles are written for both professionals and the lay public. They highlight realistic actions we can take to reinforce resilience, hope, responsibility, compassion, and stress hardiness in ourselves and others. His writings are noted for being reader-friendly and filled with real-life examples that illustrate the main points of his strength-based approach—an approach guided by the goal of helping people successfully meet challenges that are faced throughout our lives.

These monthly articles are exclusive to this Website. A new article is posted each month except for July and August.

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2026 

September 2026
“No One Should Have to Cry Alone”
June 2026
Do You Practice the “Zorro Circle”?
May 2026
Do You Follow “The 20-Second Rule”?
April 2026
Optimism: Reducing the Risk of Dementia
March 2026
Misconceptions of Positive Intentions
February 2026
“Do I Matter?” – Part III
January 2026
“Do I Matter?” – Part II

2025 

December 2025
“Do I Matter?” – Part I
November 2025
The Chicken or the Egg Question: Its Application to Success and Happiness – Part II
October 2025
The Chicken or the Egg Question: Its Application to Success and Happiness – Part I
September 2025
What Is the Most Valuable Thing They Teach at Harvard Business School? One Graduate’s Opinion
June 2025
How Does a Sense of Purpose Impact the Workplace? – Part III
May 2025
What Is the Mindset of Adults Who Nurture Motivation and Purpose in Children? – Part II
April 2025
What Can We Learn from the Three Stooges? A Story of Motivation and Purpose – Part I
March 2025
A Marketing Strategy: Include a Smile
February 2025
What Happens When You Say Hello to a Stranger?
January 2025
Negative Scripts, Resolutions, and the Obstacles to Change

2024 

December 2024
Is There Room for Realistic Optimism in a World of Divisiveness? – Part II
November 2024
Is There Room for Realistic Optimism in a World of Divisiveness? – Part I
October 2024
Coping with Life’s Transitions: What Is One Action that Will Help?
September 2024
Nurturing Civility in Our Children in an Uncivil World
June 2024
A Silver Anniversary: Words of Reminiscence and Appreciation
May 2024
What Is the Upstream Parable and Why Is It Relevant for Our Well-Being? – Part II
April 2024
What Is the Upstream Parable and Why Is It Relevant for Our Well-Being? – Part I
March 2024
The Loss of a Brother: The Presence of a Community of Caring
February 2024
The Pygmalion Effect: A Story of Rats, Children, and Others
January 2024
Of Micromoments and Indelible Memories: The Experiences that Change Our Lives

2023 

December 2023
Remaining Hopeful and Optimistic During Troubled Times – Part II
November 2023
Remaining Hopeful and Optimistic During Troubled Times – Part I
October 2023
Should We Be Optimistic about the Future? Ten Reasons that Indicate We Should
September 2023
What Makes Us Human?
June 2023
Kindness and Physical Exercise: What Do They Have in Common?
May 2023
A Child’s Death: “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?”
April 2023
Relationships: Essential in the Process of Healing from Disasters and Leading Resilient Lives – Part II
March 2023
Relationships: Essential in the Process of Healing from Disasters and Leading Resilient Lives – Part I
February 2023
Our Workplace: Psychologically Safe or Harmful?
January 2023
The Power of Awe: Some Updated Thoughts

2022 

December 2022
Unexpected Gestures: Memorable Experiences
November 2022
Do We Underestimate the Impact of Acts of Kindness?
October 2022
To Reward or Not to Reward?
September 2022
“You Just Have to Try Harder and Show More Grit!”
June 2022
How Do I Prepare Others for what I Want to Say? – Part III
May 2022
How Do I Prepare Others for What I Want to Say? – Part II
April 2022
How Do I Prepare Others for what I Want to Say? Part I
March 2022
The Power of Rituals and Traditions
February 2022
The Impact of Movement
January 2022
Your “Word” of the Year?

2021 

December 2021
Gratitude – Part II
November 2021
Gratitude – Part I
October 2021
Micromoments and the Impact of Empathy
September 2021
An Emotional Roller Coaster Ride
June 2021
Tenacity in Children: The “Unholy Trinity”
May 2021
Tenacity in Children: The Instinct of Compassionate Empathy
April 2021
Tenacity in Children: Nurturing The Seven Instincts for Lifetime Success
March 2021
What Does the Future Hold?
February 2021
Uncertainty and the Paths We Take
January 2021
Uncertainty and Hope: Coming to America

2020 

December 2020
Kindness: An Invaluable Attribute of Effective Leaders – Part II
November 2020
Kindness: An Invaluable Attribute of Effective Leaders – Part I
October 2020
The Stockdale Paradox: A Lesson for Leadership in a Time of Crisis
September 2020
Reflections
June 2020
Nurturing Hope during a Stressful Present and an Uncertain Future – Part II
May 2020
Nurturing Hope during a Stressful Present and an Uncertain Future – Part I
April 2020
An Interview about Resilience with My Son
March 2020
Resilience in the Face of COVID-19
February 2020
Optimism and Our Health
January 2020
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2019 

December 2019
Do You Feel Psychologically Safe and Happy in Your Workplace?
November 2019
Acceptance: A Parenting Challenge
October 2019
What Is the #1 Habit of Self-Made Millionaires?
September 2019
The Impact of PGDs in Schools
June 2019
A Thank You to Maya, Teddy, Sophie, and Lyla
May 2019
In Pursuit of Dignity
April 2019
Misguided Values, Misguided Parenting
March 2019
Creating Meaning at a Given Moment
February 2019
“Why Do You Put Yourself Down?” Part II
January 2019
“Why Do You Put Yourself Down?” Part I

2018 

December 2018
One Person
November 2018
Kindness
October 2018
A “Fit” or a “Mis-fit”?
September 2018
Microaffirmations in Schools and Beyond
June 2018
A Father’s Gift
May 2018
Are You Unhappy at Work?
April 2018
Do Generosity and Kindness Change Circuits in the Brain?
March 2018
“Have You Ever Been Rejected?”
February 2018
Similar to Smoking 15 Cigarettes a Day
January 2018
Are You Ready for Döstädning?

2017 

December 2017
Nurturing Resilience: Is There an Age Limit?
November 2017
Hudner and Brown: “Together in Heaven”
October 2017
Should We Engage in that “Touchy Feely Stuff”?
September 2017
Kindness in the Face of Devastation
June 2017
Testing for What? Part II
May 2017
Testing For What? Part I
April 2017
Grief, Connections, and Resilience
March 2017
Facing Our Mortality: To Lead a Meaningful Life
February 2017
Antidotes to Stress-Filled Times
January 2017
The Power of Awe

2016 

December 2016
A Call for Empathy from an Unexpected Source
November 2016
Our Response to Divisiveness and Anger during Uncertain Times
October 2016
Being Optimistic while Considering the Possibility of Failure: Are They Mutually Exclusive Beliefs?
September 2016
The Power of the Relationship and Theories of Mindset
June 2016
Improving Teacher Empathy to Improve Student Behavior
May 2016
Resilience in the Face of the Sudden Loss of a Husband
April 2016
A Day of Nostalgia and Reflection
March 2016
Civility and Respect: A Lesson from the Life of Gil Hodges
February 2016
What Is the Emotional Culture of Your Organization? – Part II
January 2016
What Is the Emotional Culture of Your Organization? – Part I

2015 

December 2015
Gratitude in the Face of Adversity: A Source of Resilience
November 2015
Continuing Thoughts about Resilience and Caring: What We Can Learn from Military Veterans
October 2015
Changing Mindsets about Stress
September 2015
Positive Emotions and Purpose in the Classroom
June 2015
Strategies to Reinforce Student Engagement
May 2015
Further Thoughts about Resilience
April 2015
Resilience: The Common Underlying Factor
March 2015
Revisiting the Treasured Insights of Morrie Schwartz
February 2015
Retiring to What?
January 2015
When Do Altruism and Kindness Begin in Our Lives?

2014 

December 2014
So Close and Yet So Faraway, So Connected and Yet So Disconnected
November 2014
Is the Process of Aging Significantly Influenced by Our Mindset?
October 2014
Why Not Choose Health?
September 2014
Of Greater Importance to Teens: Compassion or Achievement?
June 2014
Walking: Steps Towards Creativity and Longevity
May 2014
Four Questions: One Answer
April 2014
Nouns vs. Verbs and Other Studies about Teaching Children Moral Behaviors
March 2014
Questionable Values: Why Add More Stress and Pressure on Our Children?
February 2014
A Lack of Respect in the Work Environment
January 2014
How Engaged Are You in Your Work?

2013 

December 2013
Can This Happen in Your Workplace?
November 2013
The Stories Of Our Families: How Much Do We Truly Know?
October 2013
Cheating in Schools: To Take Punitive Actions and/or Implement Proactive, Preventive Strategies? Part II
September 2013
Cheating in Schools: To Take Punitive Actions and/or Implement Proactive, Preventive Strategies? Part I
June 2013
Reflections During a European Vacation
May 2013
“My Child Has Achieved More Than Your Child”
April 2013
What We Can All Learn from the Lifestyle of the Centenarian
March 2013
“Living in Peace with that which You Cannot Change”
February 2013
The Death of a Twin Brother
January 2013
So What Resolutions Have You Made for 2013 and How Successful Do You Think You Will Be?

2012 

December 2012
Stories about Charismatic Adults: Relationships that Change Lives
November 2012
Further Thoughts about Forgiveness
October 2012
The People from Whom We Gather Strength
September 2012
Searching for Strengths in the School Setting: To Enrich Dignity, Motivation, and Learning
June 2012
Regrets and Optimism
May 2012
Regrets
April 2012
Gratitude and Kindness: Small Gestures, Large Impact
March 2012
To Appreciate Acts of Courage in Our Children
February 2012
“Zero Tolerance” in Schools: How Effective Is it?
January 2012
A Tragic Loss: A Son’s Eulogy

2011 

December 2011
Realistic Lifestyle Changes: A Positive Approach to Nurturing Our Health
November 2011
Personal Control: The Lifestyle We Choose that Promotes Physical and Emotional Health
October 2011
Empathy: Turning Feelings and Beliefs into Action
September 2011
A Therapeutic Environment Called School
June 2011
“Race to Nowhere”: Stress and Our Youth – Part III
May 2011
“Race to Nowhere”: Stress and Our Youth – Part II
April 2011
“Race to Nowhere”: Stress and Our Youth – Part I
March 2011
“I Think the Cure Is Worse than the Disease”: The Importance of Realistic Expectations and Self-Compassion
February 2011
Choice and Input: We All Want Our Voices to Be Heard
January 2011
The Impact of Touch

2010 

December 2010
To Consider the Eulogy that Will Be Spoken at Our Funeral
November 2010
The State of Marriages: Are there Insights to Be Learned from Greeting Cards? – Part II
October 2010
The State of Marriages: Are there Insights to Be Learned from Greeting Cards? – Part I
September 2010
To Nurture Caring and Empathy in Children: Let’s Rely on Modeling and Action, Not Lecturing
June 2010
Life’s Transitions: Times of Joy, Times of Sadness, Times for Reflection
May 2010
Obedience or Responsibility? Further Thoughts about Motivation and Self-Determination
April 2010
The Complexities of Motivation: The Uncertainty of Predicting Behaviors – Part III
March 2010
The Complexities of Motivation: The Uncertainty of Predicting Behaviors – Part II
February 2010
The Complexities of Motivation: The Uncertainty of Predicting Behaviors – Part I
January 2010
A New Year: Any Planned Changes?

2009 

December 2009
Loving Your Work: Practices that Promote Job Satisfaction
November 2009
The Importance of “People” Skills in the World of Science
October 2009
The Play of Children: Lessening Stress and Increasing Self-Control
September 2009
A Grandfather’s Message for Maya, Teddy, Sophie, and Lyla
June 2009
The Vagaries of Fate: The Importance of Living Life in Concert with Ones Values and Priorities
May 2009
Be Cautious about First Impressions: The Case of Susan Boyle (and Many Others)
April 2009
Enriching the Lives of Children by Changing Our Ineffective Scripts and Avoiding “Prescriptions for Failure”: An Update
March 2009
Spanked with Words: More Damaging than We May Realize
February 2009
Reflections on a Career: The Power of Our Stories
January 2009
The Impact of Bad Bosses: A Major Health Issue

2008 

December 2008
Generativity: Helping Others and Ourselves to Thrive
November 2008
Forgiveness
October 2008
To Know My Name, to Know Me: The Impact on Learning at All Ages
September 2008
Physical Exercise in School: Fitness for Both Body and Mind
June 2008
A Commencement Address at Harvard: Insights from J.K. Rowling
May 2008
Changing Our Ineffective Scripts so that Children Will Change Theirs
April 2008
Money and Happiness: Truths and Myths
March 2008
Supporting Teachers to Enrich the Lives of Children
February 2008
Want to Enjoy Life? Research Says to Skip Your 40s
January 2008
Professional and Youth Sports: A Story of Drugs and Values

2007 

December 2007
The Holiday Season: Questions about Gifts and Giving
November 2007
A Rabbi and a Football Star: Hope and Commitment in the Face of Adversity
October 2007
Raising a Self-Disciplined Child: An Excerpt – Part II
September 2007
Raising a Self-Disciplined Child: An Excerpt – Part I
June 2007
The Color Red, Waiting On Hold, Volunteerism: The Application of Research Findings
May 2007
Giving Children an Allowance: Contrasting Views
April 2007
Engaging Children in “Contributory Activities”: A Preventive Disciplinary Approach
March 2007
Loneliness, Self-Efficacy, and Hope: Often Neglected Dimensions of the Learning Process
February 2007
Friendships and Self-Discipline: A Two-Way Street
January 2007
Saving a Starfish and Enriching Our Lives

2006 

December 2006
Disciplinary Practices, Parenting Styles, and The Development of Self-Discipline
November 2006
To Appreciate the Influence of Play
October 2006
Teaching and Displaying Manners: Just an Old-Fashioned Custom?
September 2006
Up-Dated Research and Reflections about Retention: A Questionable Educational Practice that Continues to Flourish
June 2006
Training Future Physicians: An Emphasis on Empathy
May 2006
A “Type D” Personality: The Impact of Stress and Loneliness on Our Health
April 2006
Creating Motivating Environments: Part III
March 2006
Creating Motivating Environments: Part II
February 2006
Creating Motivating Environments: Part I
January 2006
Seek What You Love: To Discover Our Dreams and Passions

2005 

December 2005
Timely Words, Small Gestures: Life Changing Moments
November 2005
700 Sundays: One Family’s Portrait, One Universal Message
October 2005
Coping with a Natural Disaster: The Aftermath of Katrina and Rita
September 2005
The Educator’s Mindset: The Basis for Touching a Student’s Mind and Heart
June 2005
The Search for Islands of Competence: A Metaphor of Hope and Strength
May 2005
Puppies and Prisons: Programs for Caring and Dignity
April 2005
The Violence At Red Lake: Further Reflections About Creating Safe Schools
March 2005
Messages of Thanks from a Super Bowl Star: Acts of Thoughtfulness and Gratitude
February 2005
The Study of Happiness: Why Not Examine the Brighter Side of Life?
January 2005
“Is It Ever Too Late?” – Nurturing Positive Mindsets Throughout Our Lives

2004 

December 2004
Pressurized Children, Pressurized Adults: Let’s Find Time for Play
November 2004
The Boston Red Sox of 2004: Connections to the Past and to the Future
October 2004
A Football Coach’s Lessons for Life: To Nurture Respect and Dignity in Our Youth
September 2004
The New School Year: Orienting Staff and Students for Success
June 2004
Hardwired to Connect: Nurturing “Authoritative Communities” – Part II
May 2004
Hardwired to Connect: Nurturing “Authoritative Communities” – Part I
April 2004
Hazing: Rituals of Bonding or Humiliation?
March 2004
Resilience and the Threat of Terrorism
February 2004
Resilience: A Common or Not-So-Common Phenomenon?
January 2004
Positive Psychology: A Belief in Human Strengths

2003 

December 2003
Nurturing Student Ownership and Responsibility: A Vital Ingredient of a Positive School Climate
November 2003
From Morrie to Heaven: To Appreciate the People who Enrich Our Lives
October 2003
The Power to Change Your Life: Ten Keys to Resilient Living
September 2003
The Power and Courage of “Superman”: Exemplifying the Concept of “Personal Control”
June 2003
Does It Matter How We Raise Our Children?
May 2003
Rejection
April 2003
Fear and Hope in Uncertain Times
March 2003
Making Sound Decisions about Nurturing a Sound Mind and a Sound Body
February 2003
Further Thoughts about Personal Control
January 2003
Chance Meetings: Opportunities Gained or Lost

2002 

December 2002
Different Mindsets, Different Perspectives
November 2002
School Retention: A Common Practice but Is It Effective?
October 2002
You Get What You Expect
September 2002
A Year of Tragedy, of Hope, of Reflection
June 2002
Stepping Outside the Box: Some Additional Thoughts – Part II
May 2002
Stepping Outside the Box: The Importance of a Different Perspective – Part I
April 2002
Violence Prevention in Our Schools: Promoting a Sense of Belonging
March 2002
Further Thoughts about Youth Sports – Part II
February 2002
Some Thoughts about Youth Sports – Part I
January 2002
The Lighter Side of Changing Negative Scripts: The Benefits of Humor and Laughter

2001 

December 2001
Compassion and Caring: Integral Features of Emotional Well-Being
November 2001
Terrorism: Helping Our Children Cope
October 2001
A Personal Reflection on the Aftermath of Terror
September 2001
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with the Impact of Terrorism
September 2001
Questions and Answers about Resilience
June 2001
Perspectives on Discipline: The Effectiveness of Natural and Logical Consequences – Part III
May 2001
Are You a Parent Possessing a Mindset to Foster Resilience in Your Children?
April 2001
Perspectives on Discipline: The Power of Prevention – Part II
March 2001
Perspectives on Discipline: Does Spanking Really Have a Role? – Part I
February 2001
Further Reflections on Connections
January 2001
Reflections on Connections

2000 

December 2000
Mistakes: Experiences from which to Learn or Feel Defeated? – Part III
November 2000
Mistakes: Experiences from which to Learn or Feel Defeated? – Part II
October 2000
Mistakes: Experiences from which to Learn or Feel Defeated? – Part I
September 2000
Education and “Charismatic” Adults: To Touch a Student’s Heart and Mind
June 2000
Differences from Birth – Part V
May 2000
Differences from Birth – Part IV
April 2000
Differences from Birth – Part III
March 2000
Differences from Birth – Part II
February 2000
Differences from Birth – Part I
January 2000
Changing “Negative Scripts”: We Are the Authors of Our Own Lives–A Message for the New Year

1999 

December 1999
Fostering Responsibility in Children: “Contributory Activities” and the Role of the School – Part II
November 1999
Fostering Responsibility in Children: Chores or Contributions? – Part I
October 1999
Helping Others to Feel Special and Appreciated: Overcoming a “Praise Deficit” – Part II
September 1999
Helping Others to Feel Special and Appreciated: Overcoming a “Praise Deficit” – Part I
June 1999
Stressed Out or Stress Hardy? – Part III
May 1999
Stressed Out or Stress Hardy? – Part II
April 1999
Stressed Out or Stress Hardy? – Part I
March 1999
The Importance of Empathy: A Significant Feature of the Mindset of Successful People – Part II
February 1999
The Importance of Empathy: A Significant Feature of the Mindset of Successful People – Part I

Books

The Power of Resilience for Autistic Adults: Thriving in a Neurotypical World

2026, Springer

Drs. Sam Goldstein and Robert Brooks, following up on their earlier book about raising resilient children on the autism spectrum, have written a comprehensive guide designed to empower autistic adults by fostering resilience in their daily lives.

Learn more
The Power of Resilience For Autistic Adults