Anxiety and worry. These two terms are often used interchangeably, and understandably so, as almost constant worry is a large factor in anxiety. However, there are important distinctions between a normal level of worrying and anxiety, and recognizing this distinction can help you determine whether your’s or a loved one’s … Read More
Self care – what exactly does it mean? Part 1
Ultimately, self-care is more than just taking one hour for yourself when you have a slow day at work. It’s the self-awareness of knowing what things in life are life-giving to you, and fiercely protecting time in your schedule for those things.
The Power of [Just] Listening Well
Recently I’ve seen countless examples of people who are hurting, struggling, confused or angry – and they feel completely alone. It seems like the cause for some of the isolation can be traced back to friends, family, or trusted confidants who have no idea how to just be present… how to just listen.
We’re busy. Our thoughts are going a million miles per hour. We’re used to having so much information flying at us, that to stop, press pause, focus, and just listen requires so much discipline.
Cracking the Code
Consciously or unconsciously, we each have a code we live by, a set of principles, beliefs, values, habits, and biases around which we make decisions and form opinions. In fact, the lack of either a cohesive code or a harmony between that code and subsequent behavior is a prominent source of anxiety. Equally stressful is trying to live by a code adopted through force or assimilation.
New Years Resolutions: Dreams, goals and habits
The idea of new year’s resolutions goes all the way back to the ancient Babylonians. They would make promises to their gods at the beginning of their new year. And it seems like the idea has stuck. Four thousand years later, our promises and commitments of how we’re going to change still tends to dominate the conversation at parties this time of year.
However, does it work? How often do we stick with our new year’s resolutions? For most of us, its pretty hit and miss at best. Maybe this year, instead of focusing on a new year’s resolution, you can focus on dreams, goals and habits instead.
The New Year Experience
There’s something invigorating about the New Year. Many of us have this sense of a “clean slate,” the turning of a page, a new opportunity, fresh air. Whether you set a New Year’s resolution (like 45% of Americans) or not, I think most of us would agree many times there is some sort of a relief when one year comes to a close and a new year begins.
First Things First: Elements of Healthy Relationships
We put ourselves in the unenviable position of trying to address our relational health by reacting to negative experiences; relational health becomes a process of reverse engineering, figuring out what not to do. My client’s question suggests a much better approach. To that end, I would argue that three conditions are required to foster and sustain healthy relationships
Thanksgiving as a Single Person
Imagine a large dining room table full of food, family, and maybe an animal or two trying to locate the best time to attack the turkey that is sitting way too close to the edge. One would think that this scenario is what most people will experience this Thanksgiving. However, what about the single people?
Letter to Parents of an Injured Student-Athlete
You are not alone. Did you know that according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control high school students account for an estimated 2 million injuries each year? Although this may be true, when it happens to your son or daughter you may feel very alone and alienated. After the panic and relief that your child is “ok” wears off, the disbelief and disappointment starts to set in. Does this sound familiar? Depending on the injury, you may begin to wonder how your child’s ability to play will be impacted in the future. You may have feelings of helplessness because you can’t “fix” the situation. All of these feelings and frustrations are very normal but may cause significant emotional distress without proper care. This difficult experience can be managed by a variety of coping skills.
Understanding the Value of Play for Adults
A recent post on Facebook of a toddler finger painting got me wondering; at what age do we decide finger painting is no longer an option. It’s not just finger painting, but what about playing chase, or jumping on a trampoline, or just lying in the grass watching the clouds go by. I’m not suggesting we all run off to Neverland and refuse to “grow up”. There is however, something to be said about the value of incorporating play into our lives.