Do you tell yourself, "I'm just a negative person"? If so, and if you believe this, your words can be a self-fulfilling prophecy. However, you aren't a victim (unless you choose to be) - there is an alternative. The truth is that with practice your...
There’s no denying that life throws us curves. Job loss, personal illness, or the end of an important relationship can understandably make us feel anxious, depressed, or angry. It’s crucial to acknowledge our feelings and be patient and compassionate with ourselves as we ride out...
You probably already know at an intuitive level that after feeling anxious and stressed for awhile, your mood tends to dip a bit. Maybe you’re just mildly dejected, or perhaps you develop a full-fledged depression. Researchers at the University of Washington have recently discovered that...
When it comes to food, the concept of healthy eating has a host of definitions. Some camps suggest avoiding particular foods entirely, such as sugar or desserts, and indeed there is research to indicate that high-sugar or high-fat foods can fuel addictive behaviors if indulged...
Feeding yourself supportive and realistic statements about how to handle your interactions with other people can go a long way toward reducing your stress level. Consider the following statements, taken from Dr. Marsha Linehan’s Skills Training Manual for Treating Borderline Personality Disorder (1993): It is...
A friend may have confided in you that they are "addicted" to sugar, flour, chocolate, some other food, or even food in general. Or perhaps you have had difficulty putting the lid on a pint of ice cream or closing up a bag of potato...
“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” (Buddha) Mindfulness can be defined as non-judgmental awareness of the present moment. So, being aware of your feelings, as opposed to stifling your emotions, is part of mindfulness....
Sometimes it can be a challenge to fit a practice of mindfulness into your life. You intend to put aside ten minutes in the morning or evening, for instance, to close your eyes, sit in silence, and focus on your breathing. However, what often happens...
“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.” (Andre Gide) It’s so tempting to fall into a “know-it-all” trap. In fact, it’s very enticing, since there’s something very comforting about feeling as if we...
“I’m too old not to be on my own side.” (Maya Angelou) Actually, you’re never too young to be on your own side. Developing self-compassion offers a multitude of benefits, some which may seem counterintuitive. For instance, you might think that taking the drill sergeant...