I gave some suggestions last year on how to make and keep New Year’s Resolutions. Here are a few more suggestions: 1. Make the resolutions concrete and measurable. 2. Be realistic – don’t set the bar too high. 3. Some progress is better than none. If you did set the bar too high to begin …Read More
Holiday Connections
Dec 15, 2007
For these holidays, try taking 15-20 minutes to contact a long-time friend or relative with whom you’ve lost contact. Our best memories of the holidays are usually about the good times spent with friends and family members. Instead of (or in addition to) just sending the usual holiday greeting cards, give someone a call and …Read More
Don't Feed the Anxiety Beast
Dec 6, 2007
If you are prone to anxiety, there are some things that are best to avoid. One broad category of material that should be avoided is violence in the media. I know that this might sound very obvious, but I’m often surprised by how frequently I hear that a client is experiencing anxiety yet is watching …Read More
Our Worst Misfortunes Never Happen…
Nov 21, 2007
I’ve said before that I’m a big fan of quotables, empowering words, etc. I use them all the time myself. Some people think more in terms of images, but for me, it’s mostly words. This one came to me by way of a client. He was using this to help him with anxiety. This is …Read More
Sleep Loss Linked to Obesity in Kids & Adults
Nov 4, 2007
Ok, I promise that I’ll stop with this at some point, but some research just came out on a link between sleep loss and obesity in kids. In the November 2007 issue of Journal of Pediatrics, a study showed that every additional hour per night a third-grader spends sleeping reduces the child’s chances of being …Read More
Sleep Loss Linked to Psychiatric Disorders
Oct 22, 2007
I recently ran across a new study that illuminates the negative effects of sleep deprivation on emotional regulation (a link to it as at the bottom of this article). One of my first posts was on the importance of sleep to our emotional well-being. Basically, the sleep deprived brain is not able to regulate emotion. …Read More
Easy Technique for Practicing Breathing
Oct 4, 2007
In the last post, I discussed the importance of using the breath to anchor your awareness to the present. One easy way to practice this is when you are stuck at a traffic light. This often frustrating situation provides a golden opportunity to practice breathing. So, the next time you are stuck at a red …Read More
Breath as the Anchor
Sep 21, 2007
Many forms of meditation, including yoga, focus on the importance of breathing. While it is obvious that we must breath to live, there is much power hidden within the simple, often unconscious act, of breathing. One important aspect of breathing is that it always takes place in the present. Focusing on the past or future …Read More
It Is What It Is
Sep 3, 2007
Another favorite saying that I hear and use a lot is, “It is what it is.” This seemingly obvious statement holds great power if we can learn to accept the reality of its meaning and use it strategically. It neatly captures the essence of other things about which I’ve written. Simply put, there are certain …Read More
Practice and You'll Get Better Despite Yourself
Aug 27, 2007
I like to use “old sayings” for motivation. I have quite a few bouncing around in my head, and a few favorites that I regularly use. Many of these contain great truths that, if we learn to capitalize upon them, can help us lead happier, more fulfilling lives. A martial arts instructor once told the …Read More