Goodfield Instituut Nederland

08/22/2026

Why?

I hear the news stories every day, just like you, about individuals or groups taking shocking, disturbing, and hard-to-understand actions.

I've spent decades in law enforcement and psychology, working for government and teaching, including in San Quentin, and I still ask: why do we do such things to one another? Are we inherently violent, or are we choosing violence? Despite the contradictory evidence, I still believe we are, as a people and a society, inherently good.

Well, here's what I think after all these years. We all have basic needs for understanding, self-respect, belonging, and purpose. Love is not enough, nor are platitudes that cover our inhumanity to one another. It boils down to this: we don't think we have the right to speak up for ourselves most of the time, so we shut up and shut down, denying ourselves what we feel we need and what is due to us and to those for whom we feel responsible.

It takes courage and action to establish the balance and boundaries necessary for life to work. Don't let anyone tell you that you're anything less than the master of your own destiny.
I got the proverbial brass ring: a wonderful life with a great family, health, and happiness. So what's the problem, what's the beef? It boils down to entitlement and a lack of gratitude and respect for what we have as people living in a free country with all the opportunity to "make it" or not on our own.

Of course, many don't have the luxury of an education or the freedom to explore the possibilities around them. I have seen that for many years while working and traveling around our world for almost 50 years.

What gives me some optimism about who we are and where we're going? When you boil it down, we are good people, loving people, and in most cases, people who want the best for one another.

Just leave me alone and let me know I'm safe and have an opportunity to explore and discover my possibilities, and I will be happy and leave you alone. I won't try to kill you if you don't try to kill me. It's quid pro quo, so to speak.

So what's the message? It boils down to this message I came up with when my grown son Eric turned 18, and I wanted to give him something useful for the rest of his life. They are as true today as they were then. I share them with you with love and respect.

Be open, be honest, be loving and be free, and let no one transgress with impunity! That's what life has taught me, and I wish it for you! It's not easy; it's not even fair sometimes, but it's what I have learned as a person over these years on our great earth.

One more thing: let them know you have been there and without apology!

Good luck and good travels!

08/10/2026

Proust effect

The connection between food and memory links us to our past experiences without the need for conscious thought.

Food that conjures up memories of dishes you ate in the past, usually associated with people and places that bring back childhood memories or past experiences.

They could be the smell of pancakes or cookies or something like that. Taste choices and resources are usually determining variables.

Several scientific studies have explored the relationship between food and memory recall, highlighting how specific neurons in the brain encode food-related memories and influence eating behavior.

What is your memory connection with a dish?

08/05/2026

A monument to the past is simply that- a past monument; we need to remember, but we must never close our eyes to the future standing before us!

08/04/2026

People get lost in a world that doesn't see their needs. We need to open our eyes to others' needs, reach out to them, and help them achieve their destiny.

07/21/2026

I have found, as a therapist for many years, that memories are shaped by the heart and clouded by time and perception.

And as I have said for years, memories are stored throughout the body. That's why the Goodfield Method™ helps you restore balance in your system, as my clients and students will attest to.

07/16/2026

I wrote an article in 2025 and like to share this with you.

Victory is a decision made prior to winning, as I have always asserted. But how is that assertion to be achieved?
Victory, often perceived as an achievement over an apparent adversary, is a complex concept. It is not a mere reality, but a perception of victory. This perception, while testable in fact, may be untrue in a broader context, adding layers to its understanding.

Click on link down below to read more:

Victory is a decision made prior to winning, as I have always asserted. But how is that assertion to be achieved? Victory, often perceived as an achievement over an apparent adversary, is a complex concept.

06/19/2026

Decision Making and the Unconscious

Is there an unconscious process at all? Often, our thoughts reflect the unconscious mind working through issues we have not yet fully resolved. Gnawing questions hang around in our minds like subconscious magnets, snapping to conclusions when events give us a chance to explain unresolved thoughts and emotions.

“Why did I do this or that? Why did that person think or say that?” The subtle whys and hows we ponder daily are often moments waiting for the mental snap of a finger that gives us an answer to a question we have pondered but never fully understood. “Yes, that explains it.” It may not be the “truth,” but it is an answer to a question that may have lingered in our unconscious mind for some time.

These subtle awareness answer questions and reduce tension within us, making life a little less stressful or uncomfortable. They are not necessarily true, but they reduce the anxiety we experience in daily life.

What does this say about us? It says that we look for answers to life’s daily challenges. Basically, any answer that reduces stress or anxiety is often the answer we have found for the moment. In life, it is the lean dog that runs a long way. Not necessarily in the correct direction, but often feeling like the person has found an acceptable answer to a question that has bothered them for some time. We all look for ways to reduce the stresses and challenges of daily life.

Sometimes a conversation with a family member, friend, or colleague is helpful. Do not hold your feelings inside; that road often leads to depression and anxiety. Reach out to family or friends to talk. We may feel alone, but often someone is waiting to hear from you and provide help and support if you are ready to take action and ask.

Here are three “four-letter words” that come to mind: Doit, love, and of course help, not necessarily in that order. In most cases, you are not alone; you just feel that way!

©June 19, 2026 Barry A. Goodfield, PhD

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06/19/2026

My bark is much worse than my bite.
A nice quote, not necessarily accurate. But still a nice quote. Who wants to be bitten anyway by anyone unless it’s a “love bite”.

05/06/2026

Five reasons for love
1) Love has at its core a basic need for communication
2) Love has also at its core a need for intimacy
3) Love also needs to feel validation
4) Love is also a reflection of our genuine need for contact
5) Love also reflects our need to overcome loneliness

Five reasons for hate
1) Hate grows when our needs are denied
2) Hate grows when we are judged unfairly
3) Hate grows when we deny our basic feelings
4) Hate grows when we do not talk about our pain
5) Hate grows when we give up on ourselves and feel abandoned

©5/5/2026 Barry A. Goodfield, Ph.D.

04/27/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-do-normally-sane-people-crazy-things-each-other-goodfield-ijlnc/

I just wrote this article after the 3rd attempt on President Trump's life.

This morning, my wife asked me this question after the 3rd attempt on President Trump’s life by Cole Allen who is charged with: Count 1: Attempt to assassinate the President of the United States Count 2: Transporting firearm across state lines Count 3: Discharge of a firearm during a crime violenc...