A few weeks ago, I was in a minor argument with a friend of mine. I, of course, was trying to get her to “see the light” by logically and systematically presenting evidence as to why she should take my advice. Despite what I thought were very convincing arguments, she remained unswayed and unconvinced. I …Read More
Putting Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
Jan 18, 2012
It is sometimes hard to remember when you are a parent that it is also important to take care of yourself and your own needs. Dr. Brooks recently discussed research that suggests that parents’ ability to manage their own stress is one of the top three predictors of positive outcomes for children. So when you …Read More
Mindfulness Book Recs – East Meets West
Jan 15, 2012
Mindfulness is an approach to living that involves an open, active attention to the present moment in a non-judgemental fashion. In this way, we can observe our thoughts and feelings without becoming swept away by them. We can experience various thoughts and emotions, but they are not who we are. By being able to observe our thoughts …Read More
Turning a Liability into an Advantage
Dec 24, 2011
We all run into negative thought “loops” at times that are difficult to shake. Sometimes these negative thought loops can contribute to our suffering because the way we think affects the way we feel. For instance, incessantly thinking about a romantic relationship that went south can lead to strong feelings of sadness, anger, regret, and jealously (if …Read More
THE Answers to God, the Universe, and Everything
Nov 24, 2011
Please read my story at the end of this blog that ties into Chopra and Mlodinow’s new book War of the Worldviews: Science vs. Spirituality – it’s surreal and makes you go, “Hmmmm.” Is the universe conscious? What’s the connection between mind and brain? Does the brain dictate behavior? What is the nature of time? …Read More
A Sure Way to Reduce Suffering in Life
Nov 14, 2011
Although I can’t claim that I’m Buddhist, I’m really drawn to Buddhist psychology, and I’ve read a number of books by the Dalai Lama. I count him among a short list of very influential people in my life. In one of his books, perhaps it was The Art of Happiness, he presents a simple (but not necessarily …Read More
The Downside of Distraction
Sep 20, 2011
It seems safe to say that everybody wants to be happy. Almost all of my clients at some point request help with feeling happier in their lives. Usually we think that happiness is something we will achieve “some day” when we finally get everything together and things work out for us at last. TV ads …Read More
Self-Esteem or Self-Compassion?
Aug 19, 2011
In our culture there is a lot of concern for self-esteem. As parents and teachers we are always trying to foster children’s self-esteem, and many of my clients come to me asking for help to improve their self-esteem. But is self-esteem really all it is cracked up to be? Psychologist and researcher Dr. Kristin Neff …Read More
Mindfulness and Being Nonjudgemental
Jul 11, 2011
In the previous post, I briefly discussed how mindfulness involves being nonjudgmental. In a manner of speaking, this is impossible. We are constantly making judgements: What do I want to eat? What do I want to wear? What TV show do I want to watch? Which friend do I want to try to hang out …Read More
No Time to Meditate? Here’s an Easy Solution!
Jul 5, 2011
Meditation has immeasurable benefits – decreasing stress, improving well-being, reducing cardiovascular disease, and so on. The society we live in seems so fast-paced sometimes that the idea of sitting down to meditate for 15-30 minutes a day seems out of reach. Ironically, many of the other things that keep us so busy that we can’t …Read More