In this technological age of instant news and social media at our fingertips, children are bombarded daily with news of school shootings, bombings, war, nuclear threats, genocide, and political extremism. At school and in their neighborhoods children experience peer pressure, bullying, and social isolation. As a result there is a continued increase in the diagnosis … More Reducing Anxiety in Children
, When people reach the point where they feel that there is no hope that things will get better or they feel that they have exhausted every option in an attempt to solve the problems they face daily, hopelessness grows. Unchecked, hopelessness fuels self-harm, addictions, and suicide. Life has become so unmanageable that it no … More Create a Life Worth Living: Finding your why
Or, fake it until you make it. Change is difficult. Smoothing out old patterns and creating new pathways doesn’t happen overnight. But is there danger in faking it? Yes, and no. When we use affirmations, we affirm statements that are how we want life to be. “I am healthy, strong, and fit.” We may not … More On Being or Acting As If
Sometimes you don’t want to deal with emotions. Sometimes you need to wait until you have more time to process. Sometimes you hope that they will just go away. Waiting until you have time alone to think things through or holding onto the emotions to share at your next counseling appointment can be a healthy … More Dealing with Emotions: An Analogy
August has arrived and brought extreme heat to the Pacific Northwest. We are not accustomed to triple digit temperatures in this region of the country. There is evidence that extreme temperatures can affect mood, and high heat can increase aggression. According to research, intergroup conflicts increase by 14% while interpersonal violence increases 4% during peak … More 6 Ways to Survive the Dog Days of Summer
Is your cup half empty or half full? More important than how full is your cup, is WHAT is your cup filled with? There have been times in my life where my cup has been filled with negative thoughts, poor self image, and painful memories. When our cups are filled with negativity, self-compassion is impossible. … More A Cup Full of Self-Compassion: Kindness Challenge Reflection
Self-love can be a difficult thing to find when you have spent your life feeling “less than.” A history of traumatic events can lead a person to erect a concrete wall around their heart. Love for others is difficult, but love of self can become nearly impossible. Short of breaking out a jack hammer, how … More Kindness Challenge Reflection: Self-Love
Creating wellness in our lives is simple, but not always easy. Our work life is often overlooked when considering self-improvement. Developing a plan to incorporate wellness into our work requires time for self reflection. Find a quiet space and make yourself comfortable. Take out a pen and paper and set aside an hour or two … More Creating a Personal Occupational Wellness Plan
Valentine’s Day is often filled with hearts, flowers and high expectations. A recent visit to the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle reminded me of the complexity of relationships. Like this chandelier art piece, life swirls and changes. The deeper you look into your life, the more you see. Take a few … More A Mindful Valentine’s Day
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Creating a Culture of Wellness in your life. Part one focused on improving emotional wellness. Today’s post will explore the concept of occupational wellness. University of California, Riverside defines occupational wellness as: “the ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time, addressing workplace stress and building … More Creating a Culture of Wellness: Occupational Wellness (Part 2)