There is a part of the brain called Amygdala that has only one job -- to react. Centuries ago, the job of the amygdala was to come up with a "flight or fight" response to threats. We have evolved now you generally don't need to exercise your "fight or flight" response often.

For people with depressed mood, memory and concentration difficulties are often a day-to-day reality, greatly affecting job performance and personal relationships. A recent study at University of Texas at Dallas is the first to substantiate memory deficits in individuals with depressed mood.

Managers come and go and we don't have a say in who they are so waiting for them to morph into that perfect director is an impractical option. So focus inward and begin thinking about ways that you could better manage yourself to help your manger be better at his or her role.

For those with bipolar disorder, it's an empowering message: No longer are you a prisoner of your genetics, thought to play a key role in the disorder. And through healthier lifestyle choices, you may be able to decrease your reliance on medication to manage your illness.

Altruistic behavior helps others and yourself, too. Helping others enhances our self-esteem and sense of life purpose, both of which are key factors in increasing our happiness. Make a habit of being considerate and giving to others. It will reward you with an increased happiness set point.

I created this group of black and white images to depict states of mind we are all familiar with.