We all know the thrill of starting something new. That spark of excitement when an idea hits, the rush of diving into a project, a goal, or a dream. But somewhere along the way, the shine fades. Obstacles appear. Doubt creeps in. And too often, we abandon ship, leaving a trail of unfinished novels, half-trained […]
Category Archives: Mindfulness
Choose Discipline Over Motivation
When it comes to achieving goals, choose discipline over motivation. Discipline is the steady commitment to do what needs to be done regardless of your emotional state or energy level. In other words, you go to the gym at 6 am everyday even when you don’t feel motivated to go. Motivation, on the other hand, […]
Drop the Narrative
Most of us have narratives or story lines we’ve constructed over the course of our lives about ourselves. Some of these story lines serve us better than others. The narrative “I’m a fighter, not a quitter,” can boost resilience and motivation to persist in the face of difficulty. But, “Nothing ever works out for me,” […]
Be Present, Not Perfect
If you’re a perfectionist, you may believe you need to be perfect to be loved. For some, this means being always upbeat and never expressing negative emotions. For others, this means achieving a physical ideal and so they stress about their body, their weight, face, skin and hair. For others, it’s having the perfectly decorated […]
Begin again
With so many self-improvement programs there are many stops and starts. We begin a practice to better our lives and then drift away from it. Maybe you start a running program, and after the initial enthusiasm wears off, one or 2 missed days turns into weeks without a single run. Or you start a gratitude […]
Invite sound in
So often it’s the case when we practice mindfulness we think we need to have silence. We may look for a quiet place in our living space to practice. Before the quarantine, we may have gone to a meditation studio. Then, when we hear noise we respond to it as an unwanted intrusion. Living in […]
Don’t judge your emotions
Our emotions rise and fall like waves. Sometimes they’re factual, e.g., we feel fear because there is actual danger, sometimes they aren’t. Emotions are part of what makes us human. But, sometimes, as a result of particular life experiences, we can develop negative views or beliefs about our own emotions. These beliefs can lead to […]
Practice gratitude
Even in the midst of the most challenging circumstances there are things and people in our lives to be grateful for. Through the practice of deliberately bringing our awareness to them, we can cultivate a mindset of gratitude. Gratitude can be a source of strength that helps us to better cope with challenging situations and […]
Mindfulness in a crisis
In the midst of a crisis, we’re driven to seek refuge—places of safety, peace and calm. But, for many of us, because of responsibilities in our daily lives, it’s not possible to escape the stressful situation we find ourselves in. The good news is that by practicing mindfulness you can create a refuge that’s always […]
Don’t worry! Problem solve!
Does your mind often leave the present moment and travel into the future anticipating negative events? Do you often feel anxious and restless, but have difficulty pinpointing why? If you answered yes, you may be a worrier. From a CBT perspective, worry is a mental habit or bias in thinking. It’s the tendency of your […]