There was a time when calm came to us on its own. In fact, calm was our natural and prevalent state of mind. In prehistoric times a surge of adrenalin, our biological fight or flight response, struck only when a true emergency was at hand. A wild animal chasing us, for example. Or wicked weather, […]
I’ve come across many articles lately about solitude and loneliness, and the differences between the two. It’s interesting that we can be so lonely even when we’re with others. Or how we can be lonely, yet still crave the peace only found in solitude. One piece I read described people today as having the common […]
Are you in a relationship with someone who hesitates to take responsibility or make commitments? Do you know a grown person who behaves more like a child or teen? “Arrested development” is a term that describes this condition. It arises when a person is “stuck” at an early phase of emotional development. Causes of arrested […]
Most of my days are shaped by the many chores, errands and tasks that appear on my to-do list. It’s overwhelming, in fact, how many things there are to remember, keep track of, and find the energy to do. But it’s a great feeling when we get to check things off the list, isn’t it? […]
A while ago, I wrote a post about verbal abuse called How to Deal with Verbal Abuse. Ever since, I’ve been meaning to come back to the topic of the power of words. More specifically, how they can also be an awesome positive force in our lives. The words we use to communicate with others […]
We make decisions every day, from what we’re going to wear to how to approach a complex task at work. Decisions are a normal part of everyday life. However, our brain’s decision-making battery has finite power, and it can deplete rapidly. What does that mean, exactly? Essentially, the more decisions we make, the more likely we […]
We make so many decisions, all day, every day. Our brains call upon us to make choice after choice, often in a snap. To rise or hit the snooze? Shower or exercise? What should we wear? Eat breakfast or skip it? And these are the easy ones. Just think how much better our lives would […]
You read that correctly. There’s no denying, having work-life balance can be important to happiness and well-being. But I’ve never liked the term “work-life balance” or the things that phrase implies. It makes it sound like we only live when we are not working. And that work is not an integral part of our existence, […]
Moods are subjective things, hard to describe. But we all know what we’re talking about. And we certainly understand the term “mood swings”, too. Up one minute, down the next. Even though moods are hard to describe, we can usually relate when others name the state of mind they are in. We understand what someone […]
People who suffer from Imposter Syndrome doubt their own accomplishments. They live in fear of being discovered as a fake or a fraud. It doesn't matter how much proof exists of their skill or talents. People who suffer from Imposter Syndrome believe their achievements are a result of good fortune or a mistake. Many successful executives, as well as celebrities and performers experience these feelings.
Many strategies to boost happiness encourage us to “let go”. The message is often that we should let go of negative emotions like anger, resentment, pain and hurt. But letting go of any feeling is challenging for most of us. We often have a particularly hard time when we try to let go of the […]
We use the term often and too casually. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is not a subject that should be taken lightly. It’s not just about feeling more comfortable when books face the same way, or about having a desire for an orderly pantry. OCD is a serious condition that can completely overtake the lives of those […]
“Compassion fatigue” refers to symptoms we experience due to prolonged stress from caring for, comforting, or empathizing with others. This ailment has become prevalent in our society and can lead to feelings of overwhelm, helplessness and depression. Compassion fatigue may also impact our physical health and put us at greater risk for serious illnesses. In […]
Do you feel like you’re constantly under pressure? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of us struggle. But there are simple things we can do to reduce stress and anxiety in our daily lives. How to Reduce Stress and Anxiety Get Organized Clutter and mess can be major sources of stress and anxiety. Keeping our […]
Life is so busy. We all have responsibilities such as family and work that must be attended to and require the majority of our time and attention. To offset this busyness and resulting stress, many of us are constantly seeking strategies and secrets about how to be calmer. Any ideas are worth considering, just to […]
Many of us yearn to have more will power and admire people who seem to have an endless supply. Want to know some of their secrets? Read on.
Are you trying to enhance your life and health? Do you want to be happier? Finding ways to improve our mental health and well-being is one of the most important things that we can do to improve life. And it is also one of the key factors that can help us live a longer, and […]
Winter is a difficult time for many people. Seasonal changes can have a huge impact on our mental health and wellness in the colder months. It’s important to take extra steps to look after our health and well-being. Making good decisions about winter self-care can really help us to enjoy a more comfortable season. Winter […]
Scientists have discovered a gene that makes some of us more likely to develop dementia. But there’s something in our control that can influence whether or not that gene expresses itself. Simply put, people who have the gene can help avoid dementia – just by embracing one simple concept and attitude: positive thinking and optimism. If […]
We are all prone to be limited by blind spots in our thinking. We experience our routine, over and over. We’re presented with similar decisions, conversations, interactions. The way we think becomes a habit. Our ability to innovate, “think out of the box”, and pose new solutions to persistent problems becomes severely impaired. It’s a […]
Does it seem harder than ever to make decisions? Not just the complicated stuff. Easy stuff, too. What to cook for dinner. What to do first in the morning. Whether or not to go to the gym. There’s a reason for this. It’s called decision fatigue. What Is Decision Fatigue? As the name implies, decision […]
When people act together to achieve a goal, their effort may be considered a conspiracy. However, the term “conspiracy theory” takes the notion of conspiracy to a different level. With a nefarious twist. Conspiracy theories involve the belief that individuals are working together in secret. There’s a sinister aspect to most, and a sense that […]
Life, for most of us, involves highs and lows. While the peaks are exhilarating and wonderful, the troughs can be excruciating. When we experience trauma, or even just go through a difficult time, it’s important to prioritize both our physical and mental health. Many of us are reluctant to talk about mental well-being. But to […]
As humans, we experience a host of emotions throughout our lives. Unfortunately, one that many of us will need to cope with at some point is grief. We may experience grief when we lose a loved one or have another tragic development in our lives: a health issue, betrayal, or the end of a relationship. […]
Nearly everyone deals with some type of anxiety or nervousness. From our jobs to our personal lives, there’s always something that we feel we must worry about. Our minds want to keep running, thinking about the various tasks and responsibilities to finish. That’s why it can be so hard to wind down and relax at […]
Depression can overcome us unexpectedly and without explanation. Other times, we feel it coming for hours, days or weeks. We brace ourselves for the tangible sensation of the heavy curtain descending, blocking out the light. It feels as though we are fumbling in a dark room, looking for the light switch. We find it, only to […]
A while ago, I was talking to a friend who recently had a baby. While she was pregnant, we shared many conversations. It was a welcome opportunity to reflect on fond memories. I recalled many lovely experiences from when I was expecting and shortly after I had my children. Among other things we shared, I […]
Many of us fear change and try to avoid it at all costs. New ideas make us nervous. We push back on suggestions to do things differently. Shifts to our routine make us uncomfortable. But it’s constant, there’s no getting away from it. It makes sense to try to make the best of it. To not […]
People are naturally driven to collect things. Some psychologists believe it’s our way of ‘imposing order on the world’. That it helps us cope with things that are outside of our control. I’ve never considered myself a collector. If anything, I’m more of a “thrower-outer”. Except I can’t seem to get enough cookbooks. My collection […]
