Key points Mantras have been empirically studied and are proven as a tool for improved health and mental health. What you specifically recite when selecting a mantra is less important than the repeated focused attention. Through powerful, memorable, and concise mantras, we can train ourselves to continually tap into our joy, strength…

Key points The increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression in this country makes it necessary for us to work on decreasing its symptomology. We all experience anxiousness and hopelessness to varying degrees and levels of frequency and intensity. You can transform your thinking and mindset by asking yourself questions that help you…

Key points Self-acceptance is correlated with increased physical health and well-being, greater resilience, and lower rates of anxiety and depression. Individuals are reluctant to cultivate self-acceptance for fear of complacency, mediocrity, and a lack of motivation to change and grow. To effectively cultivate self-acceptance, we need to be consciously aware of and…

We all collectively spin out of control. The process manifests itself differently from person to person. We get triggered, viscerally impacted, and have the tendency to spontaneously react, and often overact. We lose sight of our relationship and turn narrowly into our thoughts and feelings. Many of us become defensive…

The abundance of reads on my most recent Psychology Today article was to me a real indication of a growing issue that has become pervasive…

Take these 8 critical steps to ease your anxiety. — Key points Our thoughts and feelings aren’t the problem. It’s the meaning we attach to them and the way we act on behalf of them that gets us stuck. Embracing negative feelings provides us with a variety of benefits to our psychological and emotional health. A combination of acceptance, compassion, and empowerment…

How to cope with and manage your devastating grief and trauma. — KEY POINTS Our biology, past experiences, level of support, as well as many other factors, impact our ability to cope following a trauma. Those experiencing trauma often vacillate between feelings and stages of grief. Society encourages the avoidance of negative feelings by perceiving these emotions as weak or flawed. We grieve once…

7 steps to infuse self-compassion into your parenting. — KEY POINTS There are no prescribed ways to mother based on the complexity of our role and the different needs our children have. Inevitably, a plethora of complicated thoughts and feelings get evoked in regard to our perceived role as mother. There are many benefits derived in ourselves and in our mothering…

Take these necessary steps toward self-compassion right now. — Key points Self-compassion has been empirically validated to increase general well-being and life satisfaction. We’re not directly taught how to acknowledge, appreciate, and accept ourselves and inevitably seek external sources for self-validation. Through intentionally practicing self-compassion, we can learn to increase our self-awareness and cultivate greater gratitude toward ourselves.